What is VAD fiber fabrication?
Understanding VAD Fiber Fabrication
Vapor Axial Deposition (VAD) is a prominent method used in the production of optical fibers. This technique is renowned for its efficiency in creating high-quality, low-loss fibers, which are essential for telecommunications and various optical applications.
Process Overview
The VAD process involves the deposition of glass soot particles onto a rotating target rod from the vapor phase. This is achieved by introducing chemical precursors, typically in gas form, into a reaction chamber. The gases react and oxidize to form ultrafine, amorphous particles of silica (SiO2) and other dopants, which are then deposited axially onto the target.
Key Steps in VAD
- Synthesis of Glass Soot: The first step involves the synthesis of glass soot through the reaction of silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) and other chemicals in an oxygen-hydrogen flame.
- Axial Deposition: The synthesized soot is deposited axially on a rotating rod, forming a porous preform.
- Sintering: The porous preform is then sintered in a high-temperature furnace to create a dense, transparent glass.
- Drawing: The solid preform is heated and drawn into a thin fiber, maintaining the desired optical properties.
Advantages of VAD
The VAD method offers several advantages, including:
- High purity and uniformity of the optical fiber.
- Flexibility in the dopant composition, allowing for tailored refractive index profiles.
- Scalability for mass production.
Due to these benefits, VAD is a preferred method for fabricating optical fibers, especially for applications requiring high performance and reliability.