Redrawable Core Glass Composition for Low-Attenuation Light Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibre optic light guides face challenges with high manufacturing costs due to the use of expensive raw materials and toxic constituents, and there is a need for improved reliability, particularly in mobile applications, with high thermal and chemical resistance, and low attenuation across various wavelengths, especially in UV-A radiation and UV disinfection applications.
Innovation Solution
A glass composition comprising SiO2, Gd2O3, and Y2O3, with specific ratios and limited amounts of Ta2O5, ZrO2, and B2O3, is used to create low-attenuation light guides, ensuring compatibility and preventing crystallization at the core-cladding interface, enhancing mechanical strength and transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If expensive pure raw materials are used to achieve low attenuation, then light transmission quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the core glass by incorporating specific metal oxides (Gd2O3, Y2O3, Ta2O5, ZrO2, B2O3) in controlled amounts. This allows achieving low attenuation at UV and visible wavelengths without requiring extremely pure traditional raw materials, thus reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining transmission quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite glass system by combining multiple oxide components (SiO2 base with Gd2O3, Y2O3, Ta2O5, ZrO2, B2O3). This composite approach enables the glass to achieve desired optical properties at lower cost by leveraging the synergistic effects of different materials rather than relying on expensive pure materials
2Reliability
If toxic constituents are used to achieve desired optical properties, then light transmission is improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explicitly removes toxic constituents (PbO, CdO, As2O3, BeO, HgO, Tl2O, ThO2) from the glass composition. By extracting these harmful materials and replacing them with non-toxic alternatives (Gd2O3, Y2O3, Ta2O5, ZrO2, B2O3), the patent achieves the desired optical transmission properties without environmental harm
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and toxic materials with cheaper, non-toxic alternatives that can be safely disposed of or recycled. The use of common oxides like B2O3 and ZrO2 instead of rare toxic materials makes the product more environmentally friendly and economically viable
3Productivity
If core and cladding glass are heated to high viscosity range for fibre drawing, then fibre production is enabled, but crystallization risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the core glass to include specific oxides (Gd2O3, Y2O3, Ta2O5, ZrO2, B2O3) that alter the glass's thermal and structural properties. This enables the glass to maintain stability at high temperatures during fibre drawing while suppressing crystallization, thus preserving mechanical strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses specific oxide components as intermediary substances that mediate between the conflicting requirements of high-temperature processing and crystallization prevention. These oxides act as stabilizers that allow the glass to withstand drawing temperatures without crystallizing, maintaining both producibility and mechanical 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
The glass composition achieves high transmission at low wavelengths, improving reliability and reducing manufacturing costs by using non-toxic materials, while maintaining mechanical and chemical resistance, suitable for applications like UV curing and disinfection.
Implementation Method 1
The individual light guide fibres guide the light by total internal reflection. Total internal reflection occurs at the interface between the core and cladding glass.
Implementation Method 2
In particular, it must be impossible for reactions between core and cladding glass, e.g. diffusion or crystallization, to occur at the interface between fibre core and fibre cladding
Data Source
AI summary
A redrawable glass, in particular for light guide elements (1) such as glass fibres, is provided. In particular, highly transparent glasses, a method for producing same, and uses thereof. The glasses are preferably used as core glass in a light and/or image guide (1). A light and/or image guide (1) that includes the glass as core glass (2), and a cladding glass (3) is also provided. The use of such a glass in the fields of medical technology, in particular for endoscopic applications, imaging, projection, telecommunications, optical data transmission technology, mobile drive, laser technology and disinfection, and also optical elements or preforms of such optical elements.