The main characteristics of quartz fiber include low loss, wide bandwidth, high mechanical strength, and good bending performance. Quartz fiber is mainly made of silicon dioxide (SiO2) as the raw material, and the refractive index distribution of the core and cladding is controlled by different doping amounts to form the fiber. Quartz optical fiber has a broad spectrum of light transmission from ultraviolet to near-infrared, suitable for the transmission of signals and energy at various wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared.
Quartz optical fibers have high strength without surface defects. Unfortunately, although a protective layer is applied immediately during the drawing process to prevent cracking, large lengths of quartz optical fibers inevitably have some random surface defects. The size of these defects determines the strength of the optical fiber. Under stress, these cracks will gradually expand. High humidity will accelerate this expansion. When the crack expands to a certain extent, the optical fiber will break.
In order to ensure that the initial crack of the optical fiber used is below a certain value, tension screening should be performed on the fiber during the production process. According to statistical rules, the screened optical fibers have a certain guaranteed strength. So the lifespan of optical fibers depends on the stress they are subjected to and the humidity in the environment they are in. Simply put, optical fibers are sensitive to moisture and stress.
On the other hand, the attenuation of quartz fiber will increase under a certain hydrogen pressure. Therefore, optical fibers are also afraid of hydrogen gas.
Advantages of Quartz Fiber Optic
Low loss: Quartz fiber has very low loss and is suitable for long-distance optical signal transmission, especially performing well in communication in the 1.3 μ m waveband.
Wide bandwidth: Quartz fiber optic has a wide bandwidth and can support high-speed data transmission, making it suitable for modern communication systems.
High mechanical strength: Quartz optical fiber has high mechanical strength and can withstand certain physical pressure and bending, making it suitable for use in various environments.
Good bending performance: Quartz fiber has minimal loss during bending and is easy to install and maintain.