Method of purifying silica and depositing on an optical fiber preform
US6269663A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B37/01291
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The deposit of natural or synthetic silica comprises a preform (1) set into rotation (7) in front of a plasma torch (3) which moves back and forth substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction (L) of the preform (1), a feed duct (9) for feeding the plasma with grains of natural or synthetic silica (11), characterized in that the same feed duct (9) feeds the plasma with a fluorine or chlorine compound, preferably a fluorine compound, mixed with a carrier gas (15). Sodium or lithium contained in the grains of natural or synthetic silica reacts with the fluorine or chlorine of the fluorine or chlorine compound, making it possible to improve the optical quality of fibers built up with the natural or synthetic silica at reduced cost.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.