Buffer (optical fiber)
Encyclopedia
In a fiber optic cable
, a buffer is one type of component used to encapsulate one or more optical fiber
s for the purpose of providing such functions as mechanical isolation, protection from physical damage and fiber identification.
The buffer may take the form of a miniature conduit, contained within the cable and called a "loose buffer", or "loose buffer tube". A loose buffer may contain more than one fiber, and sometimes contains a lubricating gel
. A "tight buffer" consists of a polymer
coating in intimate contact with the primary coating applied to the fiber during manufacture.
Buffer application methods include spraying, dipping, extrusion and electrostatic methods. Materials used to create buffers can include fluoropolymer
s such as polyvinylidene fluoride
(Kynar), polytetrafluoroethylene
(Teflon), or polyurethane
.
Optical fiber cable
An optical fiber cable is a cable containing one or more optical fibers. The optical fiber elements are typically individually coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be deployed....
, a buffer is one type of component used to encapsulate one or more optical fiber
Optical fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...
s for the purpose of providing such functions as mechanical isolation, protection from physical damage and fiber identification.
The buffer may take the form of a miniature conduit, contained within the cable and called a "loose buffer", or "loose buffer tube". A loose buffer may contain more than one fiber, and sometimes contains a lubricating gel
Gel
A gel is a solid, jelly-like material that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state...
. A "tight buffer" consists of a polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
coating in intimate contact with the primary coating applied to the fiber during manufacture.
Buffer application methods include spraying, dipping, extrusion and electrostatic methods. Materials used to create buffers can include fluoropolymer
Fluoropolymer
A fluoropolymer is a fluorocarbon based polymer with multiple strong carbon–fluorine bonds. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.-History:Fluoropolymers were accidentally discovered in 1938 by Dr. Roy J...
s such as polyvinylidene fluoride
Polyvinylidene fluoride
Polyvinylidene fluoride, or PVDF is a highly non-reactive and pure thermoplastic fluoropolymer.PVDF is a specialty plastic material in the fluoropolymer family; it is used generally in applications requiring the highest purity, strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases and heat and low...
(Kynar), polytetrafluoroethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that finds numerous applications. PTFE is most well known by the DuPont brand name Teflon....
(Teflon), or polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
.