光纤通信与石英材料的关联

Core Viewpoint - Optical fiber communication plays a crucial role in modern communication networks, utilizing light waves as signal carriers and glass fibers as transmission media, allowing for high capacity and low loss transmission [1]. Group 1: Optical Fiber Production Process - The production of optical fibers primarily involves two core processes: preform preparation and fiber drawing [1]. - Preform is the "mother body" of optical fibers, and its manufacturing methods can be categorized into chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and external deposition methods [3]. Group 2: Preform Preparation Techniques - CVD methods include: - MCVD (Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition): Uses a quartz glass tube as a substrate to deposit silica on the inner wall through hydrogen-oxygen flame heating [4]. - PCVD (Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition): Utilizes plasma instead of hydrogen-oxygen flame, offering higher deposition rates but with more complex equipment [4]. - VAD (Vapor Axial Deposition): Forms a porous body on a rotating seed rod, suitable for large preform production [4]. - OVD (Outside Vapor Deposition): Deposits silica powder on the outer surface of the seed rod, achieving high purity and low cost, although it has a lengthy process and high energy consumption [5][6]. Group 3: Natural Quartz Processing - PSOD (Plasma Solid Deposition): Uses high-purity quartz sand to produce thick-walled quartz tubes without introducing hydroxyl groups or toxic gases, providing significant cost advantages [8]. - Hydrogen-oxygen melting method: A simpler process but results in larger size fluctuations and higher hydroxyl content [9]. - Electric melting method: Utilizes electricity to melt quartz sand, with various sub-methods like vacuum electric melting and continuous melting, but commercial applications are limited [11]. Group 4: Fiber Drawing Process - Fiber drawing involves heating the preform above 2000°C and precisely controlling temperature and tension to draw fibers with a diameter of approximately 125 micrometers [14]. - Polarization-maintaining fibers require the introduction of stress rods into the preform, increasing the complexity of the process [14]. Group 5: Requirements for Quartz Materials - Optical fiber quartz glass is categorized into natural and synthetic quartz materials, with synthetic quartz being preferred due to its high purity and low hydroxyl content [16]. - The purity of quartz materials is critical, as impurities can lead to excessive fiber attenuation and signal distortion [16]. - A new standard for high-purity quartz sand for optical fiber processing has been proposed, applicable to both main and auxiliary materials [16][17].