Liquid nitrogen strengths of coated optical glass fibres

Abstract

The strengths of plastic-coated glass fibres have been measured at liquid nitrogen temperatures using a bending technique. The method yields data on the strengths of coated optical fibres in the absence of stress corrosion. Pristine strengths corresponding to a breaking strain of 21% have been measured for silica fibre and 12% for sodium borosilicate compound glass fibre, corrected to 50 cm gauge length. The low temperature strength was found to be directly related to the tensile strength measured at room temperature, and the relationship was valid for a variety of glass compositions with differing amounts of surface damage. © 1980 Chapman and Hall Ltd.