MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FLUORIDE OPTICAL FIBERS
R. El ABDI *
Département Mécanique & Verres–CS74205-35042 Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, IPR, France
A. DUMITRACHE RUJINSKI
Universitatea Politehnica din Bucuresti, Splaiul Independentei, 313, IMST, 060042 Bucarest, Romania
M. POULAIN
Université de Rennes 1, Lab. Matériaux Photoniques – CS 74205 - 35042 Rennes, France
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Mechanical dynamic tests were performed on fluoride glass fibers and silica optical fibers to examine the mechanical strength. These fibers were tested on ambient atmosphere and after aging in a vacuum desiccator with silica gel used as the desiccant.
A higher value of the ratio of Young’s modulus to hardness indicates a greater tendency to plastic behavior in the case of fluoride fibers. For tensile tests, the strength of silica fiber is nine times greater than that of fluoride fiber and eight times greater in the case of bending tests. Aging in a desiccator decreases the residual water content and improves the fluoride fiber strength.
Keywords: Optical fibers, mechanical tests, fluoride glasses, failure strength