Poly plastic optical fibers

Optics. Good optical properties and low thermal resistance make poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers well suited for use as plastic optical fibers. The manufacturing methods and optical properties of the fibers have been reviewed (124) (see Fiber optics). Methods for the preparation of Fresnel lenses and a Fresnel lens film have been reported (125,126). Compositions and methods for the industrial production of cast plastic eyeglass lenses are available (127). 

Recently, optical telecommunications tliat transmit large amounts of information via light signals have been rapidly replacing conventional electrical telecommunications. Optical polymers, such as poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC) are used for plastic optical fibers and waveguides. However, these polymers do not have enough Ihermal... 

Figure 15.4 Transmission loss spectra of commercial plastic optical fiber. Lumileen is a trademark of Poly-Optical Products, Irvine, CA. (With permission.)...

Makino, K., and Koike, Y. (2012) Poly(styrene)-based graded-index plastic optical fiber for home networks. Opt. Lett, 37 (11), 1853-1855. 

In addition, highly water-absorbing and oil-absorbing resins are of interest. These have developed rapidly in recent years by unique grafting and cross-linking of hydrophilic polymers. Transparent polymeric materials with optical functions are also noteworthy. Some are biocompatible, such as poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), which serves as a material for soft contact lenses. Plastic optical fibers are also widely used as substitutes for glass and quartz devices in various fields of technology, especially the biomedical and communication sciences. 

Kawabata Y., Tahara R., Imasaka T., Ishibashi N., Fiber-optic potassium ion sensor using alkyl-acridine orange in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane, Anal. Chem. 1990 62 1528. 

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate). Poly(trimethylene terephthal-ate) (PIT) is a crystalline polymer that is used for fibers, films, and engineering plastics. The polymer has an outstanding tensile elastic recovery, good chemical resistance, a relative low melting temperature, and a rapid crystallization rate. It combines some of the advantages of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Disadvantageous are the low heat distortion temperature, low melt viscosity, poor optical properties, and pronounced brittleness low temperatures. 

Numerous patents have appeared in the last few years which deal with 1,2,3-triazoles and benzotriazoles as part of optical brightening molecules. These consist in most cases of stilbene moieties with suitable heterocyclic chromophores attached , and as a consequence hundreds of brighteners are available today on the world market. Special applications are whitening of fibers [e.g. poly(ethyleneterephthalate), cellulose acetate and poly(acrylonitrile)], lacquers and plastics. Several examples of the structural types involved are shown in Scheme 13. 

HP is chemically a three-carbon, optically inactive, specialty chemical with commercial interest. It is the structural isomer of lactic acid (Kxunar et al., 2013). It can be used as an intermediate for the synthesis of other important chemicals, such as malonic acid, 1,3-propanediol (PDO), acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, and acrylamide. These compounds are used for making adhesives, polymers, fibers, plastic packing, resins, and cleaning agents, as listed in Fig. 6.1.3-HP acts as a starting material for the synthesis and production of poly-3-hydroxy... 

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