Optical fiber and fibre-optic cable comprising at least one intermetallic element that absorbs hydrogen

US6597850B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ALCATEL · FR

Inventors

• Xavier Andrieu · Fontaine-l'Évêque, BE
• Anne Decaumont · Brétigny-sur-Orge, FR
• Bernard Knosp · La Garenne-Colombes, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 2002
• Grant date: Jul 22, 2003
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/44382
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a covering outside its light-guiding portion, an optical fiber includes at least one crystalline intermetallic compound made up of at least two metals, the compound having a plateau pressure during hydride formation that is less than equal to 5×10−2 atm (where 1 atm=1.013×105 Pa) as measured at 30° C. by a PCT method, the compound being of the form ABxMy where A is constituted by at least one element from columns IIa, IIIb, or IVb of the periodic classification of the elements (CAS version), B is constituted by at least one element from columns Vb, VIII, or IIIa of said classification, and M contains at least one element from columns VIb, VIIb, Ib, or IIb of said classification, where:0≦x≦10,0≦y≦3 if A contains elements from column IIa only, and0.2≦y≦3 if A contains at least one element from columns IIIb or IVb.The optical fiber cable is characterized in that it includes such a crystalline intermetallic compound.