Optical fibers with mid and high temperature coatings for harsh environment applications

One of the fastest growing application areas for optical fiber is for use in sensing applications in harsh environments. The designation of harsh environment includes temperatures above 85C, hydrogen atmosphere, tight bending radii, radiation, chemically aggressive environments, etc. Actual operating environments may include a combination of several of the above listed factors. Fibers deployed in a harsh environment require specialized design of both the optical fibers and cabling to ensure long term, reliable operation. Optical fiber development for harsh environment operation includes both glass and coating material development. Glass development includes changes to the core and cladding composition and refractive index profile design changes. Coating development includes material changes to improve the thermal characteristics.