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Low‐Temperature Aging of Zirconia Ferrules for Optical Connectors
Author(s) -
Lance Michael J.,
Vogel Eva M.,
Reith Leslie A.,
Can W. Roger
Publication year - 2001
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.1151-2916.2001.tb01085.x
Subject(s) - cubic zirconia , ferrule , materials science , polishing , composite material , monoclinic crystal system , scanning electron microscope , optics , crystallography , optical fiber , chemistry , crystal structure , ceramic , physics
Zirconia ferrules for optical connectors were examined after aging at 85°C and 95% relative humidity. Two degradation mechanisms were the roughening and the deformation of the zirconia ferrule surface. Raman microscopy revealed that this relatively low‐temperature degradation of zirconia ferrules is caused by the tetragonal to monoclinic transformation of zirconia, and is accelerated by stress relief during polishing. The surface upheavals associated with low‐temperature aging may significantly degrade the performance of optical connectors over time.