Method of reducing break sources in drawn fibers by active oxidation of contaminants in a reducing atmosphere
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsJames E. Dickinson, Jr., G. Scott Glaesemann, James A. Snipes, Tinghong Tao, Donald J. Wissuchek, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In connection with drawing a fiber in a drawing portion of a drawing device having a refractory, oxide component, a method and apparatus provide an environment in the drawing portion that causes active oxidation of a refractory contaminant on a blank. The active oxidation of the refractory contaminant causes it to corrode away during drawing.
Claims44
A method of producing a fiber in a drawing device having a refractory, oxide component in a drawing portion, comprising the steps of:
- disposing a blank having a refractory contaminant in the drawing portion;
- providing an environment in the drawing portion that causes oxidation of the contaminant to form a gaseous reaction product;
- and
- drawing a fiber from the blank in the environment.
A method of reducing refractory, contaminant break sources of a fiber drawn from a blank disposed in a drawing portion of a drawing device, the drawing portion having a refractory, oxide component, comprising the step of:
- providing an environment in the drawing portion that causes oxidation of the contaminant break source to remove the contaminant break source by corrosion.
A method of removing an oxidizable, refractory contaminant from a blank disposed in a fiber drawing device having a refractory, oxide component in a drawing portion, comprising the step of:
- providing an environment in the drawing portion that causes oxidation of the contaminant to form a gaseous reaction product and suppresses passive oxidation of the contaminant.
A method of drawing a fiber from a blank in a drawing device having a refractory, oxide component in a drawing portion, comprising the steps of:
- inhibiting passive oxidation of an oxidizable, refractory contaminant in the blank;
- promoting oxidation of the contaminant to form a gaseous reaction product;
- and
- drawing the fiber from the blank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.