Glass Preform Density Control to Prevent Cracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing glass preform manufacturing method for optical fibers often results in low yield due to breakage during the deposition step, where the glass soot body is produced by depositing glass particles on the circumference of a starting member and a tubular handle, leading to cracks and reduced production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves controlling the mean density of the glass soot body deposited on the starting mandrel and tubular handle to ensure a higher density on the tubular handle than on the starting mandrel, with specific density ranges to minimize longitudinal variation and prevent cracks, followed by a series of steps including fixing, deposition, extraction, vitrification, and collapsing to produce a solid glass preform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If glass particles are deposited on the circumference of a starting member and tubular handle by relative two-way motions, then a glass soot body is produced, but the glass soot body breaks due to low density and poor adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the deposition conditions for different regions of the starting member. Specifically, the density of glass particles deposited on the tubular handle is controlled to be higher than that on the starting mandrel. This creates region-specific properties where the tubular handle area has enhanced density and adhesion strength, preventing breakage at this critical interface region while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by controlling the density distribution of deposited glass particles. The mean density of glass soot body on the tubular handle is made larger than on the starting mandrel through adjusted deposition parameters. This density differentiation addresses the adhesion problem at the tubular handle interface, preventing glass soot body breakage during the manufacturing process and improving overall yield.
2Strength
If the density of glass soot body is increased on the tubular handle, then adhesion strength improves, but deposition control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the deposition conditions for different regions of the starting member. Specifically, the density of glass particles deposited on the tubular handle is controlled to be higher than that on the starting mandrel. This creates region-specific properties where the tubular handle area has enhanced density and adhesion strength, preventing breakage at this critical interface region while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the yield of glass preforms by reducing the occurrence of cracks and ensuring the glass preform is manufactured with high strength and smooth inner surfaces, resulting in a higher success rate of producing optical fiber preforms.
Implementation Method 1
a glass soot body is produced by depositing glass particles on the circumference of a starting member
Implementation Method 2
the glass soot body is heated to be dry and consolidated
Implementation Method 3
a collapsing step for making a solid glass preform by reducing a pressure inside of the consolidated glass pipe and heating the consolidated glass pipe
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for manufacturing glass preforms with high yield. In the glass-preform manufacturing method according to the present invention, a glass preform is produced through a fixing step, a deposition step, an extraction step, a vitrification step, and a collapsing step in the enumerated order. At the deposition step, the mean density of the glass soot body deposited on the circumference of the tubular handle 12 is made higher than the mean density of the glass soot body deposited on the circumference of the starting mandrel 11. It is preferable that the longitudinal variation in the mean density of a glass soot body deposited from the start of deposition to the tenth layer of glass particles within the range of ±50 mm from the boundary position between the starting mandrel and the tubular handle be 0.01 g/cc/mm or less.