Optical characteristics and reliability of plastic split alignment sleeves for single-mode optical fiber connectors

Split alignment sleeves for single-mode (SM) optical fiber connection are fabricated with a precise injection-molding technique using a thermosetting epoxy resin. The fabricated plastic sleeves exhibit dimensional accuracy of <4 /spl mu/m, and SC-type adaptors incorporating the plastic sleeves show an average connection loss of 0.09 dB and a return loss of >50 dB. The plastic sleeves exhibit good resistance in 500-cycle mating tests using zirconia and/or glass ceramic ferrules, and in vibration and impact tests as well. The initial optical characteristics are maintained in both short-term and long-term environmental durability tests.