US 9,309,143 B2 · Methods of making optical fiber with reduced hydrogen sensitivity

Abstract

A method of making optical fibers that includes controlled cooling to produce fibers having a low concentration of non-bridging oxygen defects and low sensitivity to hydrogen. The method may include heating a fiber preform above its softening point, drawing a fiber from the heated preform and passing the fiber through two treatment stages. The fiber may enter the first treatment stage at a temperature between 1500° C. and 1700° C., may exit the first treatment stage at a temperature between 1200° C. and 1400° C., and may experience a cooling rate less than 5000° C./s in the first treatment stage. The fiber may enter the second treatment stage downstream from the first treatment stage at a temperature between 1200° C. and 1400° C., may exit the second treatment stage at a temperature between 1000° C. and 1150° C., and may experience a cooling rate between 5000° C./s and 12,000° C./s in the second treatment stage. The method may also include redirecting the fiber with a fluid bearing device or an air-turn device.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of processing an optical fiber comprising:

cooling an optical fiber having an average temperature of 1700° C. or greater at a first cooling rate, said first cooling rate being less than 5000° C./s, said cooling at said first cooling rate reducing said average optical fiber temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature, said first temperature being in the range from 1500° C. to 1700° C. and said second temperature being in the range from 1200° C. to 1400° C.;
and
cooling said optical fiber at a second cooling rate, said second cooling rate being greater than 5000° C. Is and less than 12,000° C./s, said cooling at said second cooling rate reducing said average temperature of said optical fiber from a third temperature to a fourth temperature, said third temperature being in the range from 1200° C. to 1400° C. and said fourth temperature being in the range from 1000° C. to 1175° C.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods of making optical fiber with reduced hydrogen sensitivity

Life of this patent

Methods of making optical fiber with reduced hydrogen sensitivity

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19