Gliding Plasma Fiber Coating Stripper for Acrylate and Polyimide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical fiber coating stripping methods, such as mechanical and chemical stripping, can damage the fiber by introducing cracks or chemical exposure, and existing non-contact methods like plasma and laser stripping are limited to stripping polyimide coatings only, requiring a solution that can strip various coatings under ambient conditions with low maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A gliding plasma (GP) based stripper using a pair of electrodes and magnets with a specially designed GP head that generates a controlled, non-thermal plasma arc capable of stripping multiple coating types, including acrylate and polyimide, under ambient conditions, utilizing a tongue-shaped plasma flow and Lorentz force control to maintain stability and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical or thermal-mechanical stripping is used, then coating removal is achieved, but fiber glass cracks are introduced and tensile strength is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical stripping systems with a plasma-based system that uses ionized gas to remove coatings. The plasma discharge between electrodes creates a controlled environment that chemically etches and physically removes coating material without mechanical contact, thereby preventing fiber glass cracks and preserving tensile strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes controlled changes in plasma parameters (temperature, ion density, gas composition) to achieve selective coating removal. By adjusting the plasma discharge conditions, the system can remove coatings at controlled rates while maintaining fiber integrity, avoiding the extreme conditions that cause damage.
2Productivity
If chemical stripping is used, then coating removal is achieved, but chemical solutions may enter between cladding and coating causing core damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical stripping with a plasma-based process that uses ionized gas reactions instead of liquid chemicals. The plasma environment creates reactive species that chemically react with and remove coating material without requiring liquid chemical solutions, thereby eliminating the risk of chemicals penetrating to the fiber core.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an inert or controlled gas atmosphere (such as nitrogen or oxygen plasma) to perform coating removal. This controlled atmospheric environment prevents unwanted chemical reactions and ensures that only the coating material is affected, protecting the fiber core from chemical exposure while maintaining effective coating removal.
3Ease of operation
If traditional plasma or laser stripping is used, then non-contact stripping is achieved, but only polyimide coating can be stripped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a plasma stripping system with adjustable parameters and multiple gas options that can handle various coating materials including acrylate, polyimide, and other fiber coatings. By controlling plasma power, gas composition, and discharge conditions, the single device achieves universal applicability across different coating types while maintaining non-contact operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves versatility by enabling dynamic adjustment of plasma parameters (power level, gas flow rate, pressure, electrode configuration) to match the specific requirements of different coating materials. This parameter control allows the same non-contact plasma system to effectively strip diverse coating types by optimizing conditions for each material.
4Ease of operation
If existing plasma-based strippers are used, then non-contact stripping is achieved, but vacuum or partial vacuum ambience is required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves atmospheric pressure plasma operation by controlling key parameters including gas flow rate, power density, electrode spacing, and pressure. These parameter adjustments enable stable plasma discharge in ambient air or atmospheric conditions, eliminating the need for complex vacuum systems while maintaining effective non-contact coating stripping.
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
The GP stripper effectively removes various fiber coatings with minimal damage, maintaining high fiber tensile strength and requiring low maintenance, as demonstrated by successful stripping of acrylate and polyimide coatings without debris residues, and achieving consistent tensile strength results.
Implementation Method 1
The pair of magnets may exert a Lorentz force on ions in the GP flow in a direction opposite to a direction of the GP flow
Implementation Method 2
a gliding plasma (GP) based stripper using a pair of electrodes and magnets with a specially designed GP head that generates a controlled, non-thermal plasma arc
Implementation Method 3
generates a controlled, non-thermal plasma arc capable of stripping multiple coating types
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber coating stripper includes a pair of electrodes, each of which having a discharge head portion and an electrode portion, and a gliding plasma (GP) head housing the electrodes therein. The GP head includes internal airflow channels. The pair of electrodes are disposed at a front end of the GP head and form an air gap therebetween. Each of the discharge head portion includes a curved portion with a rib-shaped protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction of the discharge head portion. In operation, the electrodes are connected to non-alternating electrically positive and negative polarities. When a gas flows through the internal airflow channels in a direction a back end of the GP head toward the front end, a tongue-shaped GP flow is formed in the air gap between the rib-shaped protrusions of the discharge head portions.