Hydrogenated amorphous carbon films used for carbon-sealed double-coated optical fibers

The carbon-sealed double-coated optical fiber is constructed from double-coated optical fiber sealed with a hydrogenated amorphous carbon film fabricated by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The pure methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) were selected as the precursor gases, and eight kinds of carbon film thicknesses by different deposited times were prepared with fixed CH4/H2 ratio. The radio-frequency power, substrate temperature, and working pressure were 200 W, 298 K, and 17 Pa, respectively. Characteristics of the carbon-sealed double-coated optical fibers prepared with different carbon film thicknesses were investigated. Experimental results indicated that when the carbon-film thickness was 113 nm, the carbon-sealed double-coated optical fibers had the highest mechanical strength, high resistance to moisture penetration, and good ability to withstand thermal loading. Additionally, external mechanical damage protection, abrasion resistance, bending flexibility, adhesion, stripping force, and bending insensitivity meet the fiber coating requirements. The carbon-sealed double-coated optical fiber is an optical fiber for optical transmission, and their properties are better than or equal to those of conventional double-coated optical fiber. Moreover, the carbon-sealed double-coated optical fiber is superior to nickel-sealed double-coated optical fiber in terms of water repellency and bending flexibility.

► Carbon-sealed optical fiber is produced by coating carbon film on optical fiber.
► The carbon-sealed optical fiber is an optical fiber for optical transmission.
► The carbon-sealed optical fiber is better than the conventional optical fiber.
► Carbon is superior to nickel in terms of water repellency and bending flexibility.