Aluminum oxide optical fiber coating
AssigneeAetna Telecommunications Laboratories
InventorDilip K. Nath
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Abstract
A process whereby an optical fiber is hermetically coated with a layer of aluminum oxide. The fiber is reacted pyrolytically with organo aluminum derivatives or other aluminum compounds, either in the form of vapor or atomized spray, to produce the desired coating. The thickness can be varied by changing reaction parameters. A buffer is also applied to the coated fiber. The end product is a glass fiber impervious to gases and fluids in the environment, especially H.sub.2 O, and one of improved abrasion resistance, hardness and strength.
Claims18
A process for providing a coated optical fiber comprising:
- providing a glass preform of a type adapted to be drawn into an optical fiber;
- drawing the preform into the dimensions of an optical fiber;
- and
- pyrolytically decomposing an aluminum ester or derivative thereof in the presence of said optical fiber immediately after drawing said fiber to form an aluminum oxide coating thereon.
An optical fiber having a high purity aluminum oxide coating produced according to the process comprising:
- providing a glass preform of a type adapted to be drawn into an optical fiber;
- drawing the preform into the dimensions of an optical fiber;
- and
- coating said optical fiber immediately after drawing with a pyrolytically decomposed aluminum ester compound or derivative thereof to form an aluminum oxide coating thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.