Optical fibers glass materials

Solution Studies. The solubility of additives within an optical fiber coating material is of prime importance since particulates can damage the surface of the glass (14) in addition to causing pinholes or tears in the coating. Solubility data for a number of commercial stabilizers are summarized in Table I. The most soluble stabilizers in the acrylate diluent are monomeric materials, particularly those with long alkyl chains. 

Relatively smaller amounts of very high purity A1F. are used ia ultra low loss optical fiber—duotide glass compositions, the most common of which is ZBLAN containing tirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium (see Fiber optics). High purity A1F. is also used ia the manufacture of aluminum siUcate fiber and ia ceramics for electrical resistors (see Ceramics AS electrical materials Refractory fibers). 

Within the limitations on the physical properties which generally restrict plastics to low precision optics, plastics materials have found wide applications in optical products that range from lights to binders for electroluminescent phosphors to fiber optics and lasers. They represent an easily worked material with a wide range of desirable optical properties in simple to complex shapes. In this review the discussion has been limited to the differences between plastics and optical glass materials and to some of the unique design possibilities that are especially important for plastics. Using the optical arts and the... 

The entire spectrum of inorganic fibers can be divided into two classes, based on differences in the crystallinity of the solids (Ray, 1978). Synthetic fibers have been known as man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) and manmade vitreous fibers (MMVF). But fibrous materials can be approached or divided in other ways. For example, in the Concise Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (1985) the entry for chemical fibers includes both manmade and natural polymers, with the discussion centering on carbon-based compounds such as acetates, acrylics, and cellulose. Fibers of other inorganic compounds were not mentioned in the encyclopedia under this entry, but silica glass fibers were described under the heading Optical Fibers. ... 

Optical fibers are widely used in the telecommunication industry for fhe fransmission of digital pulses of voice, video, and dafa. In order to keep losses in signal strength at a minimum, the fiber (usually a doped silica glass) has to be coated with a material of lower refractive index than its own refractive index. This layer is protected by a "buffer," which acts as a cushion. The buffer is encased in one or more protective layers (see Figure 7.18). Both the primary and protective coatings are very often UV radiation curable. 

Silicon is the most important constituent of igneous and many sedimentary rocks, occurring in combination with oxygen in feldspars, micas, quartz, sands and shales. The element is used in electronic devices, while silicon in combination with oxygen as silica and silicates finds application in concrete, bricks, pottery, enamels, glasses, optical fibers for telecommunications, and refractory (high-temperature resistant) materials. 

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