
- Photonics Research
- Vol. 10, Issue 4, 1011 (2022)
Abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
In the recent years, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) inscribed in polymer optical fibers (POFs) have been increasingly popular among the research community due to their numerous intrinsic features, particularly in biomedical applications [1–3]. In addition to sharing the same virtues of silica-based optical fibers, such as immunity to electromagnetic interference, a light weight, and multiplexing capabilities, POFs are also biocompatible and have low Young’s moduli. They are extremely flexible, not brittle in nature, and possess extensively large elongation levels. In the realm of POF-based fiber optic sensing, substantial research has been carried out in the fabrication of POFs based on different grades of polymers; namely, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) [4], polycarbonate (PC) [5], cyclic transparent optical polymer (CYTOP) [6], and various combinations of them together with other photosensitivity-enhancing dopants including diphenyl disulfide (DPDS) [1] and benzil dimethyl ketal (BDK) [7]. While all the aforementioned polymers have an aptitude for moisture absorption, the advent of a new class of polymers referred to as cyclo olefin polymers (e.g., ZEONEX) and cyclic olefin copolymers (e.g., TOPAS) have demonstrated very low affinity toward water, mitigating the humidity cross sensitivity. This makes them ideal for biomedical applications where measurements are often conducted in aqueous environments.
FBG inscription in these POFs is usually carried out with the use of continuous wave helium cadmium (HeCd) lasers with an operational wavelength of 325 nm, despite their long inscription durations that typically are approximately several minutes for a single FBG [8] compared to a few seconds when using 248 nm excimer lasers [4]. This is aside from circumstances such as the incorporation of the special photosensitive dopant DPDS, which significantly reduces the 325 nm based FBG inscription time to 7 ms [1]. The mechanism responsible for the photosensitivity of undoped PMMA with UV irradiation using the former has proven to be a competitive process between photodegradation and polymerization [9]. On the other hand, UV irradiation by the latter is ascribed to a photolysis process that results in a complete scission of the side chain of PMMA [10]. With the use of low repetition rates and low UV fluences at 248 nm, Bragg gratings below the threshold of PMMA ablation have been inscribed in PMMA-based microstructured POFs [11]. Furthermore, research findings on high-strain measurements carried out on DPDS-doped PMMA POFs have verified that 325 nm and 248 nm based UV irradiation has a minimal impact on the mechanical properties in the elastic regime [12].
The recent unveiling of FBG inscription in ZEONEX-based, single-mode POFs composed of two grades of ZEONEX (namely, E48R and 480R) in mere nanoseconds using 248 nm UV irradiation can be regarded as a technological breakthrough that lays the foundation for mass production of FBGs in these chemically inert POFs [13]. Their superior drawability, low moisture affinity, and ability to withstand high temperatures make them excellent candidates for high-temperature, humidity-insensitive sensor development. These characteristic features of ZEONEX-based POFs coupled with the innate benefits of POFs could be beneficial in minimally invasive surgeries. For instance, in an extremely stringent minimally invasive procedure such as catheter mediated radiofrequency ablation (RFA), temperatures exceeding 100°C result in the formation of char, and the development of coagulum around the ablation site, which is considered a main surgical drawback [14,15]. This can also lead to undesirable harmful complications such as tissue perforations and steam popping [15]. Hence, real-time temperature monitoring is of utmost importance since it provides critical information on the adequacy of tissue heating, and the prevention of localized blood coagulation and maximization of the lesion size [14].
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Although, POFs have distinct benefits compared to glass fibers, their ability to operate at high temperatures is limited by the low glass transition temperature (Tg) of the host material. At temperatures exceeding Tg of the POFs, the main chain of the polymer molecules becomes mobile and leads to a deformation of the polymer material. Regarding survival at elevated temperatures, FBGs inscribed with 325 nm UV irradiation in TOPAS grade 5013 are limited to 110°C [16], in ZEONEX 480R to 123°C [17], and in PC to 125°C [5]. On the other hand, FBGs in PMMA-based POFs fall short at 92°C [18]. High-temperature-resistant gratings referred to as regenerated fiber Bragg gratings (RFBGs) [19] and resurgent regenerated fiber Bragg gratings (
In this study, we report, for what we believe is the first time to the best of our knowledge, a new class of Bragg gratings in ZEONEX-based POFs referred to as regenerated polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (RPOFBGs) that are suitable for high temperature and strain measurements. A thermal treatment process is proposed in an effort to tune the regeneration temperature of these RPOFBGs and a detailed comparison of regeneration characteristics of POFBGs when subjected to different thermal treatments is demonstrated. Furthermore, the thermal stability of these RPOFBGs over a wide range of temperatures is investigated along with the maximum sustainable temperature to assess the operational temperature range of these sensors. Moreover, the strain responses of these RPOFBGs also are extensively characterized at elevated temperatures. Additionally, a structural analysis is conducted with the use of micro-Raman spectroscopy to unravel the underlying mechanisms of grating regeneration in these 248 nm UV irradiated ZEONEX-based POFs. We believe the findings of this study will provide a progressive leap into conceptualization of the dynamics of high-temperature-resistant POFBG technology.
2. THERMAL TREATMENT PROCEDURE
During the fiber drawing process, a rearrangement of the polymer molecules occurs in which they tend to align along the fiber axis [22]. The degree of this alignment is governed by various drawing conditions and the thermal history of the fiber preform, which both contribute toward a residual freezing in stress after the drawing process. Thermal annealing reverts the polymer chains to a thermodynamically favorable configuration that results in stress relaxation and an alteration of the mechanical properties of these POFs. When the local temperature exceeds the shrinking threshold, it can also cause a permanent shrinkage in the fiber [22,23], which will impact the response of the FBG, since the reading of the sensor is directly tied to the Bragg wavelength, and is undesirable for practical implementation. Nevertheless, thermal annealing is not necessarily detrimental. Several studies have used it as a technique to reduce the grating inscription time [4] and tune the Bragg wavelength to a desired wavelength after FBG inscription [5]. Furthermore, improved thermal and strain responses with the absence of hysteresis have been achieved for FBGs inscribed in annealed POFs [23]. Moreover, the shrinking of the fiber can be avoided by annealing the POFs prior to FBG inscription, which also helps to increase the linear operational temperature range of the FBGs [18]. Although, the basic influence of thermal annealing has received partial recognition, it is prudent to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the impact of the pre-annealing temperature on the thermal response and stability of FBGs in POFs.
The ZEONEX-based POFs used in this study were fabricated in-house and are composed of two grades of ZEONEX, where the core consists of E48R and cladding of 480R, as illustrated in Fig. 1(a). The core and cladding diameters of the fiber are 9.3 μm and 160 μm, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1(b). The NA of the fiber is 0.16, with a minimum attenuation of 4.5 dB/m at 847.5 nm. The detailed fabrication procedure of these fibers is described in our previous research study [13]. Prior to FBG inscription, four batches of fibers labeled A, B, C, and D were subjected to a thermal treatment process at four different temperatures, 85°C, 105°C, 115°C, and 128°C, respectively, for a time duration of 48 h inside an oven. The FBGs inscribed in the respective POFs were labeled as
Figure 1.(a) Schematic illustration of core and cladding compositions and (b) cross-sectional microscopic image of ZEONEX-based POF. (c) Experimental configuration of the thermal annealing setup; evolution of reflected peak power of POFBGs during thermal regeneration inscribed in (d) untreated and (e) thermally treated ZEONEX-based POFs. Reflection spectral profiles of
3. REGENERATED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBER BRAGG GRATINGS
A. Fabrication of RPOFBGs
POFBGs that were 4 mm long were inscribed in both thermally treated and untreated fibers using a phase-mask technique (Ibsen Photonics) with the aid of a 25 ns pulsed 248 nm KrF excimer laser (BraggStar M, Coherent) simply with the use of two UV pulses with a pulse energy of 50 mJ. The POFBGs were connectorized with silica SMFs for optical coupling using a UV curable adhesive (Norland, NOA 86H). They were then placed inside an in-house fabricated miniature oven consisting of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor with a temperature resolution of 0.02°C for a thermal annealing procedure, as illustrated in Fig. 1(c). An external thermocouple was also placed in close proximity to the grating for accurate temperature detection. The reflection spectra of the POFBGs were monitored using an optical sensing interrogator (sm125, Micron Optics) with a wavelength accuracy of 1 pm and a sampling rate of 2 Hz. The spectra were recorded with the aid of a LabVIEW program throughout the annealing process. Figure 1(d) shows the thermal response of an FBG inscribed in a ZEONEX-based POF that was not subjected to any prior thermal treatment process. An initial decay in the peak power is observed with increasing temperature when the temperature is continuously raised from 25°C at a ramping rate of 1°C/min, followed by a sudden increase in the peak power at 70°C. It continues to rise to a level that exceeds its original reflected peak power before plummeting at 100°C. This phenomenon is referred to as regeneration of the POFBG. A further increase in temperature continues to deteriorate the reflected peak power of the newly created RPOFBG. After
Afterward, the FBGs inscribed in batches A, B, C, and D also were subjected to the same annealing procedure. Figure 1(e) shows the evolution of the grating reflectivity of
Figures 1(f)–1(i) show the spectral comparisons of the original seed gratings (SGs) and the RPOFBGs. With increasing annealing temperatures, the drift in the wavelengths between
Thermal History of the Fabricated RPOFBGs
Type of | Thermal Treatment Temperature of | Regeneration Temperature (°C) | Wavelength Shift |
---|---|---|---|
85 | 85 | 1.39 | |
105 | 105 | 2.48 | |
115 | 115 | 3.84 | |
128 | 118 | 1.30 |
B. Thermal Sensitivity of RPOFBGs
The temperature sensitivities of the fabricated
Figure 2.Temperature measurements for two heating and cooling cycles each: (a)
C. Thermal Stability of RPOFBGs
One specific complication associated with the use of POFBGs is their restricted thermal stability, even at temperatures lower than their Tg. Beyond a certain temperature, a rapid decrease in the Bragg wavelength with increasing temperature is observed for POFBGs regardless of the type of polymer material. It should be noted that stability of a Bragg wavelength at any given temperature is also affected by the humidity of the surrounding environment, except for cyclo olefin polymers or copolymers.
Several research studies have attributed this permanent wavelength drift to fiber shrinkage with rising temperatures [16,18,22]. At a controlled humidity level of 10% RH, a rate of Bragg wavelength shift of 0.3 nm/h has been observed for PMMA-based mPOFBGs at a temperature of 80°C after 20 h of annealing [25]. PC-based mPOFBGs have exhibited wavelength shifts of 10.7 nm and 6 nm at annealing temperatures of 120°C (for 24 h) and 130°C (for 12 h), respectively [5]. Humidity-insensitive TOPAS-based mPOFBGs have exhibited a total wavelength drift of 5 nm after 7 h of annealing at 110°C [16]. A total blueshift of 33.7 nm at 120°C for an annealing time of 36 h has been observed for ZEONEX 480R based mPOFBGs [26]. The recent study on ZEONEX-based POF with the combination of E48R/480R has reported a wavelength shift of 11.7 nm after annealing the POFBGs in a two-step process, at 115°C for 20 h and at 125°C for 15 h [17]. Even in POFs that underwent a pre-annealing process at 80°C for two days, a total wavelength drift of
Thermal Stability of POFBGs in Different Types of POFs
Type of POF | Pre-annealing | Pre-annealing | Annealing | Annealing | Wavelength |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMMA mPOF [ | – | – | 80 | 20 | 75 |
PC mPOF [ | – | – | 120130 | 2412 | 10.76 |
TOPAS mPOF [ | – | – | 110 | 7 | 5 |
ZEONEX mPOF [ | – | – | 120 | 36 | 33.7 |
ZEONEX E48R/480R [ | – | – | 115125 | 2015 | 11.7 |
Polystyrene doped PMMA [ | 80 | 48 | 85 | 5 | 8 |
ZEONEX E48R/480R (this study) | 128 | 48 | 110 | 7 | 0.18 |
In spite of the reported efforts of numerous temperature stabilization techniques of POFBGs, analysis on their thermal stability remains orphaned due to the lack of comprehensive research investigations and characterizations on the thermal behavior of these POFBGs at elevated temperatures; hence, there is a missing crucial study for their long-term repetitive usage. Furthermore, the role and impact of a pre-annealing temperature are not yet fully understood. In this context, several experiments were conducted in an attempt to investigate the thermal stability of RPOFBGs at various temperatures. Stepwise heating and cooling procedures were carried out from 25°C to the regeneration temperatures of
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) demonstrate the shift in Bragg wavelengths and normalized reflected peak powers of
Figure 3.(a) Normalized Bragg wavelength and (b) peak power stability of
Steam sterilization is a commonly used protocol in medical and healthcare facilities where moist heat sterilization is accomplished in autoclaves to destroy microorganisms that include bacteria, fungi, and viruses. A typical standard steam sterilization of surgical instruments and medical devices is achieved using saturated steam at 121°C for 30 min or at 132°C for 4 min [27]. In this regard, to assess the suitability of integrating ZEONEX-based RPOFBGs with medical instruments and implants that undergo steam autoclave procedures, the thermal response and stability of ZEONEX RPOFBGs were investigated at 121°C and 132°C. Figure 3(e) demonstrates the wavelength shifts during three cycles of heating from 25°C to 121°C and back to 25°C at a temperature ramping rate of 1°C/min while maintaining the temperature at 121°C for 30 min. The spectral profiles at each step of the annealing process denoted by a–g are shown in Fig. 3(f). At the positions of b, d, and f, where the temperature is 121°C, an average wavelength drift of 0.2 nm was recorded over 30 min of annealing. As demonstrated in Fig. 3(g), another cycle at 132°C with a dwell time of 4 min also was conducted. A rapid drift in the Bragg wavelength can be observed during the annealing process at 132°C. The wavelength continues to blueshift even during the cooling process until 125°C. Then, there is a resumption of a redshift with decreasing temperatures. Furthermore, an overall decay of 2.3 dB of the reflected peak power can be observed from the spectral profiles in Fig. 3(h) along with a broadening of the spectra. Compared to spectrum a, an increase of 0.02 nm in the 3 dB spectral bandwidth was recorded for spectrum c. These findings signify that these RPOFBGs in ZEONEX-based POFs can successfully withstand temperatures up to 132°C, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest sustainable temperature reported for any type of POFBG. However, successive uses would require the sensor to be recalibrated.
D. Thermal Response of RPOFBGs under Low- and High-temperature Sensing
In light of the aforementioned discoveries, further thermal characterizations were conducted in an attempt to evaluate the characteristic behavior of the RPOFBGs under low- and high-temperature conditions. Therefore,
Figure 4.(a) Temperature sensitivity calibration for two cooling and heating cycles from 24°C to 2°C, (b) wavelength shift with increasing temperature, and (c) corresponding reflection spectrum profiles of
Afterward, another sample of
E. Strain Response of RPOFBGs at Various Temperatures
The strain response of the RPOFBGs was calibrated by mechanically elongating them and monitoring the drift of the Bragg wavelength with increasing strain. A supercontinuum source (SC-5, YSL Photonics) and an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA, AQ6370D, Yokogawa) were incorporated to continuously track the reflected peak of each RPOFBG. The fiber was glued to two three-axis translation stages (MAX350/M, 1 μm resolution, Thorlabs), each 12 mm apart, as shown in Fig. 5. For
Figure 5.Configuration of the experimental setup used for strain calibrations.
Figure 6.Strain sensitivity calibrations for two loading and unloading cycles: (a)
Figures 6(i)–6(l) show the evolution of the reflection spectra of
F. Structural Analysis through Micro-Raman Spectroscopy
To elucidate the morphology of core and cladding materials in ZEONEX-based POFs used in this study and to evaluate the dynamics of grating regeneration, three different batches of ZEONEX-based POF samples subjected to different test conditions were prepared. The first batch consisted of unannealed segments of ZEONEX POFs. The second batch underwent a thermal treatment procedure at 115°C for 48 h and was subsequently subjected to UV irradiation, identical to the process that was used to fabricate
Figures 7(a)–7(d) show the Raman spectra of the unannealed core (E48R) and cladding (480R) of ZEONEX POFs, where their vibrational modes are assigned to various vibrational regions. The inset shows the generic chemical structure of ZEONEX cyclo olefin polymers, where two substituents
Figure 7.Raman spectra of ZEONEX material in the core (E48R) from (a) 250 to
Afterward, the variations between the UV irradiated and regenerated samples were investigated in both the core and cladding of the fiber, as shown in Figs. 8(a)–8(d). The peak shift in the Raman spectra is associated with stress changes [33] in the polymer material and, therefore, a series of Raman spectra were acquired from across the fiber cross section. An overall shift in the Raman peaks and a decrease in the widths of the vibrational bands can be observed both in the core and the cladding of the regenerated sample compared to that of the sample subjected to UV irradiation. The insets further emphasize these changes. A slight decay in the peak intensities is observed in the regenerated core and cladding as well. Moreover, a prominent growth of the Raman peak at
Figure 8.Comparison of Raman spectra between UV irradiated and regenerated fiber cross sections in the core from (a) 700 to
4. CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we have presented the discovery of FBG regeneration in ZEONEX-based POFs, which arises at various temperature regimes and is heavily reliant on thermal treatment procedures conducted prior to FBG inscription. Comprehensive thermal investigations were carried out to evaluate the sensitivity and wavelength stability of these RPOFBGs at different temperatures together with their spectral evolutions. These RPOFBGs are suitable for long-term temperature operations up to 110°C, where an impressive wavelength drift of only 0.18 nm/h was recorded at 110°C. This is a 28-fold advancement compared to that of TOPAS-based POFBGs. The results accentuate the importance of the thermal treatment procedure of the POFs preceding FBG inscription. A survival temperature of 137°C was recorded for the RPOFBG that underwent a thermal treatment process at 128°C at which substantial wavelength drifts occur that indicate its suitability simply for short-term usage (up to 4 min) at 132°C. This is the highest feasible temperature reported for a POFBG, regardless of the type of polymer material.
Additionally, the axial strain properties of the RPOFBGs were also inspected at high temperatures, up to a strain limit of 3%. The experimental findings indicate that strain measurements of up to 2% are recommended at 110°C, because exceeding this strain limit leads to considerable degradations in the spectrum profile of the RPOFBG. Furthermore, a structural analysis on the two grades of ZEONEX (E48R and 480R) in the core and cladding of the POFs was carried out with comparative elucidations of the spectral variations of UV irradiated and regenerated samples with the aid of micro-Raman spectroscopy. The overall shift in the Raman peaks of the regenerated fiber core and cladding compared to that of UV irradiated samples suggests that regeneration of POFBGs is largely driven by the relaxation of dominant stresses through thermal annealing. Thus, we address the speculations and controversy of potential long-term use of POFBGs at elevated temperatures here and have attempted to close the research gap on the investigation of a maximum sustainable temperature of ZEONEX-based POFBGs. We believe that the merits of this study will undoubtedly shape the future of biomedical sensing applications that require low stiffness levels, biocompatibility, and the ability to withstand high temperature and strain levels.
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