Datasheet: Hard Clad Silica (Low OH)

With numerical aperature (N.A.) of 0.39 and a hard polymer cladding that allows a high core-to-clad ratio, the Anhydroguide APCH is the low cost fiber of choice. The pure fused silica (SiO2) used in the core of Anhydroguide fiber is made by reacting silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) with oxygen (O2) using a plasma arc rather than an oxy-hydrogen flame. This ensures that the residual hydroxyl concentration (OH) will be low in the core material resulting in superior infrared transmission as compared with flame prepared silica that is used in the companion product, Superguide, which has superior ultraviolet (UV) transmission.

FEATURES

Protects the fiber during buffer stripping to prevent fiber breakage.
• Provides efficient light coupling and superior transmission in tight bends due to high numerical aperture.
• Strong bonding of the hard polymer to silica prevents relative movement of these materials in the fiber structure as the ambient temperature changes. This movement is sometimes referred to as "pistoning" and it can cause serious problems at connectors and other types of fiber terminations if not properly dealt with.
• High concentricity and core-to-clad ratio.
• Allows for excellent connection alignment, fiber core positioning and high transmission bundles.
• Hard polymer cladding is removable, with acetone, enabling low-cost, highly reliable, custom end designs.
• Broad operating wavelength range from 550nm to 2100nm.
• Excellent for Holmium (2100nm) and Erbium (1540nm) laser delivery.
• All dielectric non-magnetic construction.
• The core, clad and buffer materials have been certified to USP Class VI for non-toxicity and biocompatibility.
• Optical fibers and assemblies can be sterilized by ETO and gamma.
• Radiation resistant.

SOURCE: Fiberguide Industries, Inc.