Perfecting the Properties of Optical Fiber Coatings

正在解决的研究问题具有商业敏感性，与新型光纤涂层的设计有关，这些涂层可以解决当前与其坚固性，寿命和功能相关的局限性。因此，该项目的目标是设计和开发新的涂层，以便在需要在高应力环境中发挥作用时更好地保护光纤，或者在制造时增加光纤的功能。所采取的方法涉及一个跨学科团队，以(i)确定当前的限制，（ii）以适用于新产品线制造的安全和成本有效的方式解决这些限制。具体的专业知识包括光纤制造和涂层，由Fibercore的工作人员提供；化学合成，表征和反应动力学由南安普顿大学的工作人员提供。该项目的新物理科学内容集中在(i)制备新的，合理设计的光纤涂层，其中包含新的化学成分；（ii）提高对高应力环境下光纤失效的理解；（iii）将光纤涂层的关键性能与其组成部分联系起来的能力。与该项目相关的EPSRC研究领域（按字母顺序排列）：(i)化学反应动力学和机制；化学结构；制造技术；（四）合成有机化学。

The research questions being addressed are commercially sensitive and relate to the design of new optical fibre coatings that address current limitations associated with their robustness, longevity and function. Thus, the objectives of the project are to design and develop new coatings that better protect an optical fibre when it is required to function in a high-stress environment or, that add functional capability to an optical fibre at the point of manufacture.The approach taken involves an interdisciplinary team to (i) define current limitations and (ii) resolve them in a safe and cost effective manner that is applicable to the manufacture of a new product line. The specific expertise assembled includes optical fibre manufacture and coating, provided by staff at Fibercore; and chemical synthesis, characterisation and reaction dynamics provided by staff at The University of Southampton. The novel physical sciences content of the project centres on (i) the preparation of new, rationally designed optical fibre coatings that incorporate novel chemical constituents; (ii) developing an improved understanding of optical fibre failure in high-stress environments and (iii) the ability to relate key properties of an optical fibre coating to its constituent parts.The EPSRC research areas relevant to the project are (in alphabetical order): (i) Chemical reaction dynamics and mechanisms; (ii) Chemical structure; (iii) Manufacturing technologies; (iv) Synthetic organic chemistry.