USH1461H - Abrasion resistant diamond like coating for optical fiber and method of forming the coating - Google Patents
Abrasion resistant diamond like coating for optical fiber and method of forming the coating Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- USH1461H USH1461H US08/059,784 US5978493A USH1461H US H1461 H USH1461 H US H1461H US 5978493 A US5978493 A US 5978493A US H1461 H USH1461 H US H1461H
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- coating
- optical fiber
- abrasion resistant
- fiber
- forming
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
- C03C25/10—Coating
- C03C25/12—General methods of coating; Devices therefor
- C03C25/22—Deposition from the vapour phase
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
- C03C25/10—Coating
- C03C25/104—Coating to obtain optical fibres
- C03C25/106—Single coatings
- C03C25/1061—Inorganic coatings
- C03C25/1062—Carbon
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/06—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the coating material
- C23C14/0605—Carbon
Definitions
- the invention relates to the art of coating an optical fiber, especially that of providing a coating that inhibits abrasion or scratching of the fiber's surface.
- Organic coatings are presently used to protect optical fibers from mechanical abrasion that leads to losses and mechanical failure via moisture and stress cracking. These soft coatings must be applied in thicknesses of tens of microns, and the coatings lack dimensional stability and become sticky with age. This causes failures, for example, when spooling the fiber for fiber optic-guided (FOG) missiles. The coatings have excessive volume and weight, limiting the missile range. Recently developed hermetic coatings for fibers provide protection against moisture attack, but do not provide protection against abrasion.
- the general object of this invention is to provide a coating for an optical fiber that will provide abrasion resistance for the fiber as well as act as a chemical barrier for the fiber, with the coating being no greater than 1 micron in thickness.
- a further object of the invention is to provide such a coating that will provide many applications such as protecting germanium infrared windows from rain erosion and dust abrasion, and protecting magnetic disks from damage due to high speed contact with recording heads.
- a particular object of the invention is to provide a coated optical fiber wherein the coating provides excellent abrasion protection for electro-optical components such as silicon solar cells.
- the coatings are extremely hard and slippery, with microhardness values above 3000 (Vickers) and coefficient of friction values below 0.2 when deposited under proper conditions. They are not attacked or permeated by moisture, brine, or any known acid or alkali at temperature below 100° C.
- a-C non-hydrogenated diamond-like amorphous carbon
- the method involves placing the substrate to be coated into an ultra-high vacuum (UHV, typically 10 -8 Torr) chamber.
- UHV ultra-high vacuum
- a high intensity laser is then focused on a graphite target in the chamber.
- Various carbon species from the target are ablated off the target surface and deposited on optical fiber substrates placed in the path of the ablation plume.
- the deposited material is a form of a-C with a high sp 3 bonded carbon content.
- the conventional optical fiber may be desirable to coat with a temporary abrasion resistant removable lubricating oil such as silicone oil, grease or benzene prior to spooling the hermetic coated or non hermetic optical fiber.
- a temporary abrasion resistant removable lubricating oil such as silicone oil, grease or benzene
- the vacuum chamber allows for two or more graphite or graphite-like targets to be ablated with CO 2 lasers for example to form a diamond or diamond like abrasion resistant coating on the surface of the fiber that is being drawn at the appropriate speed for complete coverage of the fiber as it is fed through the vacuum system prior to final spooling on the fiber.
- Possible uses of the coated optical fibers of the invention include use as optical connectors, heat sinks for a high power optoelectronic device and related circuitry, high tensile strength optical fibers for fish sensing when coupled to fishing gear having a light emitting diode coupled to its fishing lure, abrasion resistant-glass containers for chemicals including household washing fluids, soda, and liquor bottles, coatings for smart skins in aircraft, bullet proof vests, abrasion resistant high strength, impact resistant structural materials, and use in borehole logging operation (that is, of an oil well), where the fiber must function for a useful lifetime under the extreme temperatures on the order of 200° C. and extreme pressures on the order of 20,000 psi that can be encountered in a typical oil well. It is important that inorganic abrasion resistant coating be used for non-hermetic coated fiber as well as hermetic, having appropriate abrasion resistant characteristics.
Abstract
A coating is provided for an optical fiber that inhibits abrasion or scraing of the fiber's surface. The coating is obtained by depositing a thin film of non-hydrogenated diamond-like amorphous carbon (a-C) onto the optical fiber using a laser ablation technique employing graphite as a target material.
Description
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalties thereon.
The invention relates to the art of coating an optical fiber, especially that of providing a coating that inhibits abrasion or scratching of the fiber's surface.
Organic coatings are presently used to protect optical fibers from mechanical abrasion that leads to losses and mechanical failure via moisture and stress cracking. These soft coatings must be applied in thicknesses of tens of microns, and the coatings lack dimensional stability and become sticky with age. This causes failures, for example, when spooling the fiber for fiber optic-guided (FOG) missiles. The coatings have excessive volume and weight, limiting the missile range. Recently developed hermetic coatings for fibers provide protection against moisture attack, but do not provide protection against abrasion.
The general object of this invention is to provide a coating for an optical fiber that will provide abrasion resistance for the fiber as well as act as a chemical barrier for the fiber, with the coating being no greater than 1 micron in thickness. A further object of the invention is to provide such a coating that will provide many applications such as protecting germanium infrared windows from rain erosion and dust abrasion, and protecting magnetic disks from damage due to high speed contact with recording heads. A particular object of the invention is to provide a coated optical fiber wherein the coating provides excellent abrasion protection for electro-optical components such as silicon solar cells.
It has now been found that the foregoing objects can be attained by using diamond like coatings applied at or near room temperature. The coatings are extremely hard and slippery, with microhardness values above 3000 (Vickers) and coefficient of friction values below 0.2 when deposited under proper conditions. They are not attacked or permeated by moisture, brine, or any known acid or alkali at temperature below 100° C.
According to the method of the invention, it is possible to place a thin coating of non-hydrogenated diamond-like amorphous carbon (a-C) directly onto optical fibers with a laser ablation technique using graphite as a target material.
More specifically, the method involves placing the substrate to be coated into an ultra-high vacuum (UHV, typically 10-8 Torr) chamber. A high intensity laser is then focused on a graphite target in the chamber. Various carbon species from the target are ablated off the target surface and deposited on optical fiber substrates placed in the path of the ablation plume. In this system, the deposited material is a form of a-C with a high sp3 bonded carbon content. An advantage of this method is that the fiber optic substrates do not have to be heated. This a-C coating offers superior adhesion, flexibility, and wear resistance. In fact, on coated pieces of quartz windows, the coating is impossible to remove with abrasive alumina polishing compounds while applying significant force.
In some instances, it may be desirable to coat the conventional optical fiber with a temporary abrasion resistant removable lubricating oil such as silicone oil, grease or benzene prior to spooling the hermetic coated or non hermetic optical fiber. This allows ease of winding or rewinding glass fiber on a spool or drum without breaking prior to applying the permanent abrasion resistant coating on the fiber.
In the method of the invention, the vacuum chamber allows for two or more graphite or graphite-like targets to be ablated with CO2 lasers for example to form a diamond or diamond like abrasion resistant coating on the surface of the fiber that is being drawn at the appropriate speed for complete coverage of the fiber as it is fed through the vacuum system prior to final spooling on the fiber.
Possible uses of the coated optical fibers of the invention include use as optical connectors, heat sinks for a high power optoelectronic device and related circuitry, high tensile strength optical fibers for fish sensing when coupled to fishing gear having a light emitting diode coupled to its fishing lure, abrasion resistant-glass containers for chemicals including household washing fluids, soda, and liquor bottles, coatings for smart skins in aircraft, bullet proof vests, abrasion resistant high strength, impact resistant structural materials, and use in borehole logging operation (that is, of an oil well), where the fiber must function for a useful lifetime under the extreme temperatures on the order of 200° C. and extreme pressures on the order of 20,000 psi that can be encountered in a typical oil well. It is important that inorganic abrasion resistant coating be used for non-hermetic coated fiber as well as hermetic, having appropriate abrasion resistant characteristics.
In lieu of the laser ablation technique disclosed in the description of the preferred embodiment, one might use other diposition methods to coat the optical fiber substrates as for example, a heater filament technique, a direct current discharge, a direct current plasma jet, an RF low pressure, a microwave technique, a flame heated gas technique, etc.
We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
Claims (1)
1. An optical fiber with a thin inorganic abrasion resistant coating of a non-hydrogenated amorphous carbon that is extremely hard and slippery, with microhardness values above 3000 and coefficient of friction values below 0.2.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/059,784 USH1461H (en) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-05-10 | Abrasion resistant diamond like coating for optical fiber and method of forming the coating |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/059,784 USH1461H (en) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-05-10 | Abrasion resistant diamond like coating for optical fiber and method of forming the coating |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
USH1461H true USH1461H (en) | 1995-07-04 |
Family
ID=22025195
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/059,784 Abandoned USH1461H (en) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-05-10 | Abrasion resistant diamond like coating for optical fiber and method of forming the coating |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | USH1461H (en) |
Cited By (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2001066484A1 (en) * | 2000-03-05 | 2001-09-13 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Radiation-transmissive films on glass articles |
US20030053784A1 (en) * | 2001-09-19 | 2003-03-20 | Labrake Dwayne L. | Optical and optoelectronic articles |
US6696157B1 (en) | 2000-03-05 | 2004-02-24 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Diamond-like glass thin films |
US20040226677A1 (en) * | 2000-05-26 | 2004-11-18 | Voith Paper Patent Gmbh | Process and a fluffer device for treatment of a fiber stock suspension |
US20050254751A1 (en) * | 2002-12-16 | 2005-11-17 | Toshihiko Ushiro | Optical fiber having diffractive optical film on end and method for manufacturing same |
US7134381B2 (en) | 2003-08-21 | 2006-11-14 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Refrigerant compressor and friction control process therefor |
US7146956B2 (en) | 2003-08-08 | 2006-12-12 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Valve train for internal combustion engine |
US7255083B2 (en) | 2002-10-16 | 2007-08-14 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Sliding structure for automotive engine |
US7273655B2 (en) | 1999-04-09 | 2007-09-25 | Shojiro Miyake | Slidably movable member and method of producing same |
US7284525B2 (en) | 2003-08-13 | 2007-10-23 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Structure for connecting piston to crankshaft |
US7318514B2 (en) | 2003-08-22 | 2008-01-15 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding member in transmission, and transmission oil therefor |
US7322749B2 (en) | 2002-11-06 | 2008-01-29 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding mechanism |
US7406940B2 (en) | 2003-05-23 | 2008-08-05 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Piston for internal combustion engine |
US7427162B2 (en) | 2003-05-27 | 2008-09-23 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Rolling element |
US7458585B2 (en) | 2003-08-08 | 2008-12-02 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Sliding member and production process thereof |
US7500472B2 (en) | 2003-04-15 | 2009-03-10 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Fuel injection valve |
US7572200B2 (en) | 2003-08-13 | 2009-08-11 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Chain drive system |
US7771821B2 (en) | 2003-08-21 | 2010-08-10 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding member and low-friction sliding mechanism using same |
US8096205B2 (en) | 2003-07-31 | 2012-01-17 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Gear |
US8206035B2 (en) | 2003-08-06 | 2012-06-26 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding mechanism, low-friction agent composition and method of friction reduction |
WO2013098269A1 (en) * | 2011-12-29 | 2013-07-04 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Coating of optical waveguides |
RU2633924C2 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2017-10-19 | Филипс Лайтинг Холдинг Б.В. | Lighting device on basis of heat-conductive sheet with light-diffusing particles |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4735856A (en) * | 1986-03-31 | 1988-04-05 | Spectran Corporation | Hermetic coatings for optical fiber and product |
JPH0243540A (en) * | 1988-08-03 | 1990-02-14 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Silver halide color photographic sensitive material |
JPH0243539A (en) * | 1988-06-08 | 1990-02-14 | Eastman Kodak Co | Improved inhibition dye printed blank |
JPH02309306A (en) * | 1989-05-24 | 1990-12-25 | Mitsubishi Cable Ind Ltd | Optical fiber |
-
1993
- 1993-05-10 US US08/059,784 patent/USH1461H/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4735856A (en) * | 1986-03-31 | 1988-04-05 | Spectran Corporation | Hermetic coatings for optical fiber and product |
JPH0243539A (en) * | 1988-06-08 | 1990-02-14 | Eastman Kodak Co | Improved inhibition dye printed blank |
JPH0243540A (en) * | 1988-08-03 | 1990-02-14 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Silver halide color photographic sensitive material |
JPH02309306A (en) * | 1989-05-24 | 1990-12-25 | Mitsubishi Cable Ind Ltd | Optical fiber |
Cited By (31)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7273655B2 (en) | 1999-04-09 | 2007-09-25 | Shojiro Miyake | Slidably movable member and method of producing same |
US6696157B1 (en) | 2000-03-05 | 2004-02-24 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Diamond-like glass thin films |
US6795636B1 (en) | 2000-03-05 | 2004-09-21 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Radiation-transmissive films on glass articles |
US20040228578A1 (en) * | 2000-03-05 | 2004-11-18 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Radiation-transmissive films on glass articles |
WO2001066484A1 (en) * | 2000-03-05 | 2001-09-13 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Radiation-transmissive films on glass articles |
US7496255B2 (en) * | 2000-03-05 | 2009-02-24 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Radiation-transmissive films on glass articles |
US20040226677A1 (en) * | 2000-05-26 | 2004-11-18 | Voith Paper Patent Gmbh | Process and a fluffer device for treatment of a fiber stock suspension |
US20030053784A1 (en) * | 2001-09-19 | 2003-03-20 | Labrake Dwayne L. | Optical and optoelectronic articles |
US7106939B2 (en) | 2001-09-19 | 2006-09-12 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Optical and optoelectronic articles |
US7255083B2 (en) | 2002-10-16 | 2007-08-14 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Sliding structure for automotive engine |
US7322749B2 (en) | 2002-11-06 | 2008-01-29 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding mechanism |
US8152377B2 (en) | 2002-11-06 | 2012-04-10 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding mechanism |
US7181106B2 (en) * | 2002-12-16 | 2007-02-20 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Optical fiber capped at end with diffractive film, and manufacturing method therefor |
US20050254751A1 (en) * | 2002-12-16 | 2005-11-17 | Toshihiko Ushiro | Optical fiber having diffractive optical film on end and method for manufacturing same |
US7500472B2 (en) | 2003-04-15 | 2009-03-10 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Fuel injection valve |
US7406940B2 (en) | 2003-05-23 | 2008-08-05 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Piston for internal combustion engine |
US7427162B2 (en) | 2003-05-27 | 2008-09-23 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Rolling element |
US8096205B2 (en) | 2003-07-31 | 2012-01-17 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Gear |
US8206035B2 (en) | 2003-08-06 | 2012-06-26 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding mechanism, low-friction agent composition and method of friction reduction |
US7146956B2 (en) | 2003-08-08 | 2006-12-12 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Valve train for internal combustion engine |
US7458585B2 (en) | 2003-08-08 | 2008-12-02 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Sliding member and production process thereof |
US8575076B2 (en) | 2003-08-08 | 2013-11-05 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Sliding member and production process thereof |
US7572200B2 (en) | 2003-08-13 | 2009-08-11 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Chain drive system |
US7284525B2 (en) | 2003-08-13 | 2007-10-23 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Structure for connecting piston to crankshaft |
US7771821B2 (en) | 2003-08-21 | 2010-08-10 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding member and low-friction sliding mechanism using same |
US7134381B2 (en) | 2003-08-21 | 2006-11-14 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Refrigerant compressor and friction control process therefor |
US7650976B2 (en) | 2003-08-22 | 2010-01-26 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding member in transmission, and transmission oil therefor |
US7318514B2 (en) | 2003-08-22 | 2008-01-15 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Low-friction sliding member in transmission, and transmission oil therefor |
WO2013098269A1 (en) * | 2011-12-29 | 2013-07-04 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Coating of optical waveguides |
US10436985B2 (en) | 2011-12-29 | 2019-10-08 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V. | Coating of optical waveguides |
RU2633924C2 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2017-10-19 | Филипс Лайтинг Холдинг Б.В. | Lighting device on basis of heat-conductive sheet with light-diffusing particles |
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