WAVELENGTH SHIFTING FIBER AND A METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
A wavelength shifting fiber and method of making the same is disclosed. A wavelength shifting fiber can include a plastic core; and a coating surrounding the plastic core. The wavelength shifting fiber has an optical attenuation length of at least 500 cm. A method of making a wavelength shifting fiber can include storing a plastic core precursor and cladding melt preform in an environment containing an inert gas; and drawing the plastic core precursor and cladding melt preform to form a wavelength shifting fiber, wherein drawing is performed under tension of less than 77 g/mm 2 and more than 40 g/mm 2 , and where the wavelength shifting fiber comprises an attenuation length of at least 500 cm.
1 . A wavelength shifting fiber, comprising:
a plastic core; and
a coating surrounding the plastic core, wherein the wavelength shifting fiber has an optical attenuation length of at least 500 cm.
2 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , wherein the optical attenuation length is at least 600 cm.
3 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , wherein the optical attenuation length is at least 700 cm.
4 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , where the optical attenuation length is at least 800 cm.
5 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , wherein the coating has a thickness of at least 3 μm.
6 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , where the plastic core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene (PS), polyvinyltoluene (PVT), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, and any combination thereof.
7 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glycerol ether acrylate, methacrylated polymer, fluoroacrylate, multifunctional acrylate, polyvinyltoluene (PVT), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate and a combination thereof.
8 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , wherein the coating can include an organic material.
9 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 6 , wherein the plastic core comprises a fluorescent dopant.
10 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , wherein the plastic core can have a diameter of at least about 0.01 mm and not greater than about 5 mm.
11 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 1 , wherein the core further comprises an anti-oxidant.
12 . The wavelength shifting fiber of claim 11 , wherein the anti-oxidant is butylated hydroxytoluene.
13 . A method of making a wavelength shifting fiber comprising:
storing a plastic core precursor and cladding melt preform in an environment containing an inert gas; and
drawing the plastic core precursor and cladding melt preform to form a wavelength shifting fiber, wherein drawing is performed under tension of less than 77 g/mm 2 and more than 40 g/mm 2 , and wherein the wavelength shifting fiber comprises an attenuation length of at least 500 cm.
14 . The method of making a wavelength shifting fiber of claim 13 , wherein the plastic core can include a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene (PS), polyvinyltoluene (PVT), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, and any combination thereof.
15 . The method of making a wavelength shifting fiber of claim 13 , wherein the plastic core precursor and cladding melt are heated above 240° C.
16 . The method of making a wavelength shifting fiber of claim 13 , wherein drawing is performed at a rate of between 2 m/min and 7 m/min.
17 . The method of making a wavelength shifting fiber of claim 13 , wherein the core comprises polystyrene and the cladding comprises polymethyl methacrylate.
18 . The method of making a wavelength shifting fiber of claim 13 , wherein the wavelength shifting fiber comprises an attenuation length of at least 600 cm.
19 . The method of making a wavelength shifting fiber of claim 13 , wherein the wavelength shifting fiber comprises an attenuation length of at least 700 cm.
20 . The method of making a wavelength shifting fiber of claim 13 , wherein the wavelength shifting fiber comprises an attenuation length of at least 800 cm.