• Laser & Optoelectronics Progress
  • Vol. 59, Issue 5, 0500002 (2022)
Yuan Zhuang1、2, Ciming Zhou1、*, and Dian Fan1
Author Affiliations
  • 1National Engineering Laboratory for Fiber Optic Sensing Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan , Hubei 430070, China
  • 2School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan , Hubei 430070, China
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    DOI: 10.3788/LOP202259.0500002 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Yuan Zhuang, Ciming Zhou, Dian Fan. Review of Metal-Coated Methods for Optical Fiber[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2022, 59(5): 0500002 Copy Citation Text show less
    A model of interaction between water molecules and Si—O—Si bonds[21]. (a) Adsorption of water to Si—O bond; (b) concerted reaction involving simultaneous proton and electron transfer; (c) formation of silanol group Si—OH
    Fig. 1. A model of interaction between water molecules and Si—O—Si bonds[21]. (a) Adsorption of water to Si—O bond; (b) concerted reaction involving simultaneous proton and electron transfer; (c) formation of silanol group Si—OH
    Sketch of potential energy vs. reaction coordinate for Si—O bond break without water (black line) and with molecular water (gray line)(Estress and Estress' denote the energy barrier to be overcome without and with molecular water, respectively)[22]
    Fig. 2. Sketch of potential energy vs. reaction coordinate for SiO bond break without water (black line) and with molecular water (gray line)(Estress and Estress' denote the energy barrier to be overcome without and with molecular water, respectively)[22]
    Dynamic TGA curves obtained for polyimide coating (solid line) and dual-acrylate coating (dashed line) in air at a heating rate of 0.5 ℃/min[23]
    Fig. 3. Dynamic TGA curves obtained for polyimide coating (solid line) and dual-acrylate coating (dashed line) in air at a heating rate of 0.5 ℃/min[23]
    Schematic of the aluminum-coated and gold-coated optical fiber structure produced by Fiberguide Industries[57]
    Fig. 4. Schematic of the aluminum-coated and gold-coated optical fiber structure produced by Fiberguide Industries[57]
    Coating materialMaximum long-term service temperature T /℃
    PolymerStandard acrylate856
    High-temperature acrylate1501
    Silicone2001
    Polyimide3001
    MetalAluminum40016
    Copper alloy60017
    Gold70017
    Table 1. Coating material and maximum long-term service temperature
    MethodMaterialProcedure and resultsReference
    Flash evaporationAl, PbPlating 80 nm aluminum and lead, respectively. Optical fiber is obtained good sensitization effect.27
    Magnetron sputteringZnOCoating a layer of ZnO. FBG sensor has excellent surface quality and strain sensing performance.30
    Vacuum evaporation combined with electroplatingAu, NiGold is evaporated first, then nickel is electroplated. Coating has good compactness.33
    Al, Cu, ZnVacuum evaporation aluminum plating and then electroplating of copper and zinc respectively. Coating has excellent performance34
    Electroless platingNi-PElectroless plating is used to plate Ni-P alloy on the surface of bare fiber. Fiber surface can be welded to metal40
    Ni, AuElectroless plating is used to form 2‒3 μm nickel coating and 0.3‒0.7 μm gold coating. Coating has a good bonding performance.41
    Ni, AgProcesses of electroless nickel plating and electroless silver plating on the ends of various optical fibers were studied. Bonding strength of the coating and the substrate has been improved.42
    Electroless plating combined with electroplatingAg, NiAdopt the method of combining electroless silver plating and electroplating nickel. FBG surface metallization.35
    Ag, Ni, AuPalladium silver activation, electroless nickel plating followed by gold plating. Optical fiber with smooth surface, high tin soldering performance and high adhesion is obtained.44
    Freezing methodAlA layer of 15‒20 μm aluminum is coated. Fracture stress is found to be independent of the strain rate, the metal coating is effectively blocking water from reaching fiber surface.58
    CuA layer of 5‒30 μm copper is coated. Produced optical fiber has high bending strength and tensile strength, and excellent welding performance, but when temperature exceeds 600 ℃, the loss increases significantly.5960
    AuReliability of gold-coated optical fiber in harsh environment is analyzed. Gold-coated fiber is suitable for industrial applications where temperature and thermal changes are slow and stable.10
    Table 2. Comparison between different coating methods
    Yuan Zhuang, Ciming Zhou, Dian Fan. Review of Metal-Coated Methods for Optical Fiber[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2022, 59(5): 0500002
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