Method of applying hermetic coating on optical fiber

The coating according to claim 21 wherein the reactants for the nickel metallic material include nickel carbonyl.

A hermetically protected high strength optical fiber comprising:

• an optical fiber;
• and
• a primary coating, having a fine grained structure without growth cones, formed on the outer surface of the fiber at a time when the fiber is formed and retains sufficient heat to cause said material to form at the surface of said fiber, said material being formed from reactants at a temperature of at least 200.degree. C. said material being selected from the group consisting of a metallic material and a dielectric material.

A hermetic coating for an optical fiber comprising:

• a material formed on the outer surface of the fiber from reactants at a temperature of at least 200.degree. C., said material being selected from the group consisting of a metallic material and a dielectric material wherein the metallic material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and nickel and the reactants for the aluminum metallic material include tri-isobutyl aluminum and isobutylene, the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of tin oxide, silicon nitride, oxynitride, and boron nitride.