Coating on optical fiber

08.11.2021, 17:27 navro.org

Light is directed down the core of the fiber by an optical cladding with a low refractive index that traps the light in the core through total internal reflection. The cladding is coated by a buffer that protects it from moisture and physical damage. The buffer coating is what separates the fibers for termination or splicing. These coatings are UV-cured urethane acrylate composite or polyimide materials that are applied to the outside of the fiber during the drawing process. The coatings protect the very delicate strands of glass fiber—about the size of a human hair—and allow it to survive the rigors of construction, proof testing, cabling, and installation. Today’s glass optical fiber draw