Fusion splicing

Fusion splicing is the act of joining two optical fibers end-to-end using heat. The goal is to fuse the two fibers together in such a way that light passing through the fibers is not scattered or reflected back by the splice, and so that the splice and the region surrounding it are almost as strong as the virgin fiber itself. The source of heat is usually an electric arc, but can also be a laser, or a gas flame, or a tungsten filament through which current is passed.

The process of fusion splicing normally involves using localized heat to melt or fuse the ends of two optical fibers together. The splicing process begins by preparing each fiber end for fusion.

Stripping is the act of removing the protective polymer coating around optical fiber in preparation for fusion splicing. The splicing process begins by preparing both fiber ends for fusion, which requires that all protective coating is removed or stripped from the ends of each fiber.

Fiber optical stripping is usually carried out by simply passing the fiber through a mechanical stripping device similar to a wire-stripper. Otherwise, a special stripping and preparation unit that uses hot sulphuric acid or a controlled flow of hot air is used to remove the coating. Under a process patented by Edward J Forrest, Jr (7,125,494) and assigned to Illinois Tool Works, Glenview, Illinois, there is a timed chemical removal process that does not require use of hot sulphuric acid or hot air. The process is patented as a "solvent capture method" primarily conceived to remove the "matrix" that holds individual fibers and creates a "ribbon fiber". This same procedure can be "timed" to remove not only matrix, but also coatings and claddings. Cleaning the stripping and cleaving tools is also important.

The customary means to clean bare fibers is with alcohol and wipes. However, high purity isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is hygroscopic: it attracts moisture to itself. This is problematic as IPA is either procured in pre-saturated wiper format or in (host) containers ranging for USA quart to gallon to drums. From the host container the IPA is transferred to smaller more usable containers. The hydroscopic nature of IPA is such that the highest quality at 99.9% is also the most hygroscopic. This means that moisture absorption into both the host container as well as the actual user's container begins with the time the original container is opened and continues as amounts are transferred and removed from both. A 2003 laboratory study by ITW Chemtronics noted that 99.9% IPA began to absorb moisture (at 72F and 65% Relative Humidity) within fifteen minutes. Since there is no provision to deter this, this unique quality of IPA makes it less desirable than chemicals such as HFE-7100 based products or precision hydrocarbons. There is work being done to qualify aqueous based cleaners for this application.

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Wikipedia