Process for polishing end face of gigabit plastic optical fiber

A process for polishing an end face of a plastic optical fiber made of perfluorinated polymer material, comprising:

• (a) abrading a dry end face of the plastic optical fiber for a first time duration using a first abrasive film having a first mean particle size approximately equal to 15 microns;
• (b) after step (a), abrading the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber for a second time duration using a second abrasive film having a second mean particle size approximately equal to 3 microns;
• (c) after step (b), abrading the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber for a third time duration using a third abrasive film having a third mean particle size approximately equal to 1 micron;
• and
• (d) after step (c), abrading the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber for a fourth time duration using a fourth abrasive film having a fourth mean particle size approximately equal to 0.3 micron.

A process for polishing an end face of a plastic optical fiber made of perfluorinated polymer material, comprising:

• (a) pressing a dry end face of the plastic optical fiber against a first abrasive film with a first pressure, wherein the abrasive particles of the first abrasive film have a first mean particle size approximately equal to 15 microns;
• (b) moving the first abrasive film relative to the dry end faces for a first time duration while the dry end face is being pressed against the first abrasive film with the first pressure;
• (c) pressing the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber against a second abrasive film with a second pressure, wherein the abrasive particles of the first abrasive film have a second mean particle size approximately equal to 3 microns;
• (d) moving the second abrasive film relative to the dry end face for a second time duration while the dry end face is being pressed against the second abrasive film with the second pressure;
• (e) pressing the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber against a third abrasive film with a third pressure, wherein the abrasive particles of the third abrasive film have a third mean particle size approximately equal to 1 micron;
• (f) moving the third abrasive film relative to the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber for a third time duration while the dry end face is being pressed against the third abrasive film with the third pressure;
• (g) pressing the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber against a fourth abrasive film with a fourth pressure, wherein the abrasive particles of the fourth abrasive film have a fourth mean particle size approximately equal to 0.3 micron;
• and
• (h) moving the fourth abrasive film relative to the dry end face of the plastic optical fiber for a fourth time duration while the dry end face is being pressed against the fourth abrasive film with the fourth pressure.