Why are specialty coatings (like PI) harder to strip than standard ones? What requirements does this impose on field termination?
Specialty coatings like polyimide (PI) are indeed harder to strip than standard acrylate coatings due to their chemical composition and thermal stability. Polyimide forms a strong chemical bond with the optical fiber’s silica cladding, and it is designed to withstand much higher temperatures (up to 300°C or even 800°C with special processing, as seen in some OFSCN products) compared to acrylate (typically up to 100°C). This robust nature makes mechanical stripping more challenging.
These characteristics impose specific requirements on field termination:
- Specialized Tools: Standard mechanical stripping tools designed for acrylate coatings are often ineffective or can damage the fiber when used on PI coatings. Specialized thermal or chemical stripping methods and tools are typically required.
- Precision and Skill: Stripping PI coatings requires greater precision and skill to avoid damaging the delicate fiber cladding, which could compromise the fiber’s strength and optical performance.
- Safety Precautions: If chemical stripping is used, appropriate safety measures for handling chemicals must be observed.
- Time and Cost: The specialized tools and increased skill required can make field termination of PI-coated fibers more time-consuming and potentially more costly.
These coatings are essential for applications requiring high-temperature resistance, such as those found in demanding industrial or aerospace environments.
Here is an image illustrating optical fiber:
You can find more information about our polyimide-coated fibers here: