POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRES
A. Chevalier
B. P. Ceccato
C. D. Pauwels

PLAN
I – Optical fibre
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Origins
Global functioning
Different kind of fibres

II – Polymer Optical Fibre (POF)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)

Polystyrene
Polycarbonate
PMMA
CYTOP
Production

III – Utilisations
14)
15)
16)
17)

Comparison with silica
Domestic application
Automotive applications
Illumination and decoration

I) Optical fibre
1) Origin « light doesn’t spread in a straight line »
 1854 – John TYNDALL
 Since 600 millions years – Nature – Rossella racovitzae

2) Global functioning
Fibre's constitution :

3) Different kind of fibres
Multi-mode fibre with step index

Index of refraction changes directly
Straight light path

Multi-mode fibre with graded index

Graded index
Losses on long distances

Single-mode fibre

Path in the fibre’s axis
Photonic crystal. Research for polymer

II) Polymer Optical fibre (POF)
 POLYSTYRENE
 (C8H8)n

 Significant loss – lighting field

 POLYCARBONATE

The overall reaction :

Produced in two different way :
(HOC6H4)2CMe2 + 2 NaOH → (NaOC6H4)2CMe2 + 2 H2O
(NaOC6H4)2CMe2 + COCl2 → 1/n [OC(OC6H4)2CMe2]n + 2 NaCl
(HOC6H4)2CMe2 + (C6H5O)2CO →1/n [OC(OC6H4)2CMe2]n + 2 C6H5OH

 PMMA . Poly(methyl methacrylate)
 Most used
 Cheaper than polycarbonate
 Radical initiation in an anhydrous medium

 Length light between 530-570 nm

 CYTOP & fluoropolymers
 C-F better than C-H

 Japanese company & the university Keie
 Doped to get a graded index

1) Production

The reactive continue extrusion
 Higher productivity
 Polymer synthesis in the machine

III) Utilisations
1) Comparison with silica

POF advantages :
 cheaper
 installation easier
 flexibility
POF disadvantage :
 losses

1) Domestic applications

Home networks
HDMI : high-definition multimedia interface

7) Automotive applications

High-end cars & avionic
Data network inside
High immunity to electromagnetic disturbances
Low weight

1) Illumination & decoration

Last generation lighting systems
Low energy consumption
Safety
Cold light
Visually attractive