Plastic Optical Fibers

Introduction to optical fiber

Plastic optic fiber, also called POF, or PMMA fiber.

The fiber core is made of polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) and the coating is fluorine resin. The basic principle is to use the total reflection of light to transmit optical signals. The optical signal is fully reflected several times inside the fiber, so as to achieve the transmission of information or light. Compared with glass fiber, plastic fiber has higher flexibility and lower manufacturing cost.

 

Development history of plastic fiber

The development history of plastic fiber can be traced back to the 1960s.

Early 1960s:

Early research began to look at the potential of plastic fiber, but its application was limited due to limitations in manufacturing technology and material quality.

Early 1970s:

Dupont invented the first low-loss glass fiber, opening a new era in optical communication. This invention greatly promoted the development of fiber optic communication technology, but it also stimulated the research of plastic fiber.

Mid-1970s:

Japanese researchers first reported in 1972 that plastic fiber manufactured using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), despite its high loss, showed the potential of plastic fiber.

Late 1970s and early 1980s:

Through improved manufacturing processes and material selection, plastic fiber losses have been reduced and are beginning to find use in short-range communication and sensing applications.

1990s to date:

With the continuous progress of technology, the performance and application range of plastic fiber are constantly expanding. In the home network, automobile manufacturing, medical equipment and other fields, plastic fiber is widely used in data transmission and sensing technology.

 

While glass fiber is still dominant in long-distance communication, plastic fiber has unique advantages in some specific application scenarios and is still developing and evolving.

 

Structure of plastic fiber

1-Core :

The optical guide core is the central part of the plastic fiber, which is used to transmit optical signals. It is usually made of a polymer material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polystyrene (PS). The light signal is transmitted through a photoconductive core, which usually has a higher refractive index than the external medium to achieve total reflection of light.

 

2-Cladding:

Cladding is a layer of material covering the outside of the photoconductive core to protect the core and reduce the loss of the optical signal. The refractive index of the cladding material is usually lower than that of the optical conductor core to ensure that the light signal is fully reflected and does not escape the fiber. Commonly used cladding materials include polymers or fluorides.

 

3-Jacket:

When plastic fiber is made into optical cables, a coating layer is often added to protect the fiber to meet the application needs in a variety of environments. The material of the coating can be selected from a variety of materials, including but not limited to PE,PVC,PUR,PA.

These jacket materials can be selected according to the specific application needs to ensure that the cable will work stably in a variety of environments and protect the fiber from mechanical damage, moisture and chemical erosion.

 

 

Advantages of plastic optical fiber

Plastic optical fibers have unique advantages over traditional glass optical fibers and copper wires.These advantages make plastic optical fibers have broad application prospects in various application scenarios.The following introduction can give you a comprehensive understanding of the advantages of PMMA optica fiber.

 

Flexibility and ease of installation:

Compared with glass optical fiber and copper wire, plastic optical fiber is softer and easier to bend and install. This makes them suitable for scenarios where cabling needs to be routed through complex paths or in tight spaces. In comparison, glass fiber optics are more fragile and copper wires are more rigid, so the installation process can be more difficult and time-consuming.

 

Anti-interference:

Plastic optical fibers have excellent anti-electromagnetic interference capabilities, which makes them more reliable in high electromagnetic interference environments. Compared with copper wires, plastic optical fibers are not affected by electromagnetic fields and therefore can provide more stable signal transmission in environments with strong electromagnetic interference, such as factories and power facilities.

 

Safety:

Compared to copper wires, plastic optical fibers are safer because they do not conduct electricity and cannot cause fires. This makes plastic optical fiber more popular in environments where the risk of electric shock and fire need to be avoided, such as in hospitals, aerospace, etc.

 

Bandwidth and Speed:

Although plastic optical fiber may have lower transmission speeds and bandwidth compared to glass fiber, it still offers significant advantages over copper wire. Plastic optical fiber has fast transmission speed and large bandwidth, making it excellent in applications that require large amounts of data transmission, such as high-definition video transmission, data center connections, etc.

 

Corrosion resistance:

Compared to copper wire, plastic optical fiber is not susceptible to corrosion because plastic is less susceptible to chemicals. This makes plastic optical fibers more suitable for use in some special environments, such as chemical factories, marine environments, etc.

 

 

 

In the future, plastic optical fiber technology will achieve breakthroughs in transmission efficiency, cost, flexibility and environmental protection. Through material innovation and process improvements, optical fiber transmission efficiency will be improved, costs will be reduced, and flexibility will be enhanced. This will promote the progress of communications, data processing, intelligent manufacturing and other industries, and promote the digital and intelligent development of society. At the same time, paying attention to environmental sustainability will become an important trend and contribute to the development of green industries.

 

 

 

 

Contact us

Jiangsu TX Plastic Optical Fibers Co., Ltd.

Contact person: Cynthia Wang

Email: cgy@txpof.com   Mobile: +86 19505282860 (also for What'sApp)

Skype: TXcynthia427   Wechat: txcynthia

 

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