Fluoride glass etching method for preparation of infra-red fibres with improved tensile strength

Abstract

A method for the congruent dissolution of zirconium fluoride glass using an aqueous solution with zirconium ions as a complexing agent is described. Preform cleaning by this technique leads to IR fibres with mean tensile strength values as high as 400 MPa, which is an improvement by a factor of 2. The transmission loss of Teflon-jacketed fibres could be reduced by a factor of ten in comparison to fibres from untreated preforms.