Ageing and Degradation in Microstructured Polymer Optical Fiber

Ageing and degradation has been accomplished on Microstructured Polymer Optical Fiber (MPOF) by changing simulated ambient environmental condition to ascertain their suitability in possible automotive application. Both single Moded Microstructured Polymer Optical Fiber (SM-MPOF) and Graded Index Microstructured Polymer Optical Fiber (GI-MPOF) has been studied for physical ageing and chemical degradation at elevated temperature in presence of humidification. An acceleration factor of approximately eight has been used to carry out accelerated ageing on specimen under test which is compatible to Australian winter environmental condition. Physical ageing exhibits hole expansion, defect in polymer side chain along hole and asymmetric hole expansion. Chemical ageing exhibits possibility of degradation product formation that is confirmed by observing peaks of different conformation functional groups (-OH, CH, >CO/-COOH) involved in polymer chain in the both type fiber. Experimental data on chemical ageing satisfy good agreement with Arrhenius rate equation and that degradation products are likely to be accumulated in polymer matrix as sub molecular debris. Experimental data returns empirical correlation of durability versus ageing that manifests necessity of using cable sheath. Given that this would be resistance enough to absorb thermal shock retaining optical performance of the fiber concerned during the entire life span of the equipment.