What specific protective functions do they each perform within the optical fiber structure?
Within the optical fiber structure, the “coating” and “jacket” serve distinct and sequential protective functions.
The coating is the primary protective layer applied directly to the bare glass fiber. Its main functions are:
- Micro-bending protection: Prevents signal loss caused by microscopic bends and stresses on the fiber surface.
- Physical protection: Shields the delicate glass from abrasions, scratches, and minor impacts.
- Environmental isolation: Provides a barrier against moisture and other environmental contaminants that can degrade fiber performance over time.
- Mechanical enhancement: Contributes to the overall mechanical strength of the fiber.
- Temperature resistance: Different coating materials offer varying temperature operating ranges.
For instance, OFSCN offers various coated fibers:
- OFSCN® Polyacrylate Fiber Bragg Gratings / Fiber Bragg Grating Strings (bare) use polyacrylate coating, suitable for temperatures up to 100℃.
- OFSCN® 300 SM Polyimide Optical Fiber features a polyimide coating, extending the temperature range up to 300℃.
- OFSCN® Gold-coated Optical Fiber provides exceptional temperature resistance, suitable for applications up to 700℃.
The jacket is an outermost protective layer that encases one or more coated optical fibers, typically forming an optical fiber cable. Its main protective functions, which go beyond the coating, include:
- Enhanced mechanical strength: Provides significant tensile strength, crush resistance, and impact protection, making the cable robust for deployment in harsh environments.
- Comprehensive environmental protection: Offers broader protection against UV radiation, water ingress, chemicals, and extreme temperatures.
- Ease of handling and installation: The jacket provides a durable and manageable outer layer for routing and installing optical fibers.
Examples of jacketed optical fibers can be found in our standard product lines, such as:
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