Polishing member and method for polishing end faces of optical fibers

A method of polishing an end face of an optical fiber, the method comprising the steps of:

• i) bringing an end face of an optical fiber connector, which comprises a ferrule having a center hole and an optical fiber having been inserted and secured in the center hole of the ferrule, into contact with a polishing member having a polishing layer, which comprises a binder and silica particles dispersed in the binder,
• ii) subjecting the end face of the optical fiber connector to sliding movement on the polishing member, while the end face of the optical fiber connector is being in contact with the polishing member, and
• iii) supplying a silica slurry, which acts as a polishing liquid, to the sliding contact area, at which the end face of the optical fiber connector is in sliding contact with the polishing member, the silica slurry containing fine-particle silica, which has a mean particle size falling within the range of 1 nm, inclusive, to a value smaller than 20 nm, and water,
• whereby the end face of the optical fiber connector is finish-polished into a convex spherical surface shape.

A method of polishing an end face of an optical fiber, the method comprising the steps of:

• i) bringing an end face of an optical fiber connector, which comprises a ferrule having a center hole and an optical fiber having been inserted and secured in the center hole of the ferrule, into contact with a polishing member having a polishing layer, which comprises a binder and silica particles dispersed in the binder,
• ii) subjecting the end face of the optical fiber connector to sliding movement on the polishing member, while the end face of the optical fiber connector is being in contact with the polishing member, and
• iii) supplying a silica slurry, which acts as a polishing liquid, to the sliding contact area, at which the end face of the optical fiber connector is in sliding contact with the polishing member, the silica slurry containing coarse-particle silica, which has a mean particle size falling within the range of 20 nm, inclusive, to 500 nm, inclusive, and water, and having a pH value falling within the range of 8 to 12,
• whereby the end face of the optical fiber connector is finish-polished into a convex spherical surface shape.