Researchers use 3D printing to make optical fiber preforms

Researchers at two Australian universities have collaborated to develop a 3D printed preform that can be drawn into quartz glass fiber for use in new telecommunication networks and other applications. Partners at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of New South Wales have shown that this new manufacturing method “can not only simplify the production of these fibers, but also enable designs and applications that were previously impossible.” The work is in OL Journal (Payment Zone) First reported in the middle.

3D printing method "direct light projection" for the manufacture of silicon fiber preforms

John Canning, researcher at the University of Technology, Sydney, said: "The manufacture of quartz fiber involves a labor-intensive process of rotating tubes on a lathe, which requires precise centering of the core of one or more fibers." 3D printing manufacturing eliminates the need to center the fiber geometry. This eliminates one of the biggest limitations of fiber design and greatly reduces the cost of fiber manufacturing.” Canning's team and Peng Gang-Ding Peng of the University of New South Wales, Sydney The team collaborated and reported on the creation of their “first batch of quartz glass fibres made from 3D printed preforms”. Canning said: "Additive manufacturing methods such as 3D printing are well suited as the entire method of changing fiber design and use." "For example, this may broaden the range of applications for fiber optic sensors in terms of lifetime, calibration and maintenance. Fiber optic sensors far outperform electronic counterparts but are not widely used due to their expensive manufacturing processes."

Convert polymer 3-D printing to glass

The new research was based on early work in which researchers used a polymer material to demonstrate the first fiber extracted from a 3-D printed preform. The application of this method to silica has proven challenging due to the enormous material challenges involved, including 3-D printed glass requiring temperatures in excess of 1900 ° C (3450 ° F). “Because of the novel combination of materials and nanoparticle integration, we have demonstrated the possibility of 3D printed silica preforms.” “We hope this progress will lead to a range of activities, including other additive manufacturing methods,” Canning said. To accelerate the development of this field." In the latest work, the researchers used a commercially available direct-acting 3D printer [unspecified brand]. This type of additive is extremely precise and is typically used to create polymer objects by polymerizing photoreactive monomers using a digital light projector.

Silica nanoparticles

To make silica objects, researchers added silica nanoparticles to 50% or more by weight. They designed a 3D printed cylindrical object that contained a hole. They then insert a mixture of polymer and nanoparticles into the pores while adding cerium silicate to the silica nanoparticles to produce a higher refractive index. In this way, a variety of dopants can be integrated. Next, the researchers used a unique heating step called degreasing to remove the polymer, leaving only the silica nanoparticles, which were held together by intermolecular forces. Finally, raising the temperature further fuses the nanoparticles into a solid structure that can be inserted into a draw tower and then heated and pulled therein to form an optical fiber.

Researchers use their new technology to make preforms comparable to standard bismuth silicate fibers, which can be used to make multimode or singlemode fibers depending on stretching conditions. Although they did observe high optical losses in the originally manufactured fiber, they have identified the causes of these losses and are working to resolve them.

Commercial opportunity

Canning said: "This new technology is excellent and can be applied to a range of glass materials to improve other types of optical components." "Through further improvements to limit light loss, this new approach may replace traditional based The method of manufacturing silica fibers for lathes. This not only reduces manufacturing and material costs, but also reduces training and hazards, thus reducing labor costs.” Researchers commented that they are interested in working with “mainstream commercial fiber manufacturing companies”. To improve the technology and commercialize it. They also plan to explore other ways to speed up 3-D printing by optimizing for diffe