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Strength, Degradation, and Coating of Silica Lightguides
Author(s) -
Kurkjian Charles R.,
Simpkins Peter G.,
Inniss Daryl
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1993.tb03727.x
Subject(s) - materials science , brittleness , composite material , coating , reactivity (psychology) , corrosion , degradation (telecommunications) , mechanical strength , stress (linguistics) , absorption of water , bond strength , flexural strength , adhesive , layer (electronics) , medicine , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , alternative medicine , pathology , computer science
Silica and germania–silica glasses are most appropriate for use in making lightguide fibers because of their special optical and mechanical properties. They can be prepared easily in a highly pure state and thus exhibit very low optical absorption losses. In addition, because of their high bond strength and complete three‐dimensional bonding, they have a very high theoretical (and practical) mechanical strength. The two most serious drawbacks from a mechanical point of view are brittleness and reactivity with water. Their brittleness allows them to be easily damaged, while their reactivity with water gives rise to stress‐accelerated reaction or inhomogeneous corrosion in the presence (fatigue) and absence (aging) of stress. By the development of suitable polymeric and metallic coatings, both problems can be largely overcome.