High performance optical fiber coatings based on perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers

POLY 110

Stephen M. Budy, sbudy@clemson.edu1, Scott T. Iacono, siacono@clemson.edu1, Wade Hawkins, hawkin2@clemson.edu2, Paul Foy, pfoy@clemson.edu2, John Ballato, john.ballato@ces.clemson.edu2, and Dennis W. Smith Jr., dwsmith@clemson.edu1. (1) Department of Chemistry, Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, (2) School of Materials Science and Engineering; Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, Clemson, SC 29634
There is a growing need for optical fiber coatings that can sustain higher temperatures than present materials permit. To date, polyimides are used principally but they generally are difficult to process and usually require multiple depositions to achieve the desired film thickness. This work discusses recent efforts into perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymer-based optical fiber coatings. A series of optical fibers were drawn with differing PFCB polymer compositions and molecular weights. Results include a more than doubled usage temperature of coating without affecting fiber mechanical properties and comparable isothermal stability to conventional coatings, except with a >150 °C higher temperature. Preliminary results of the first successful coating of optical fibers by PFCB polymers will be presented herein, as well as future endeavors.
 

General Papers: Functional Materials
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Sci-Mix

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007