Specialty High Performance Coatings for Optical Fiber Applications via Perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) Aryl Ether Polymers
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1030-G03-09
Specialty High Performance Coatings for Optical Fiber Applications via Perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) Aryl Ether Polymers Stephen M. Budy1,2, Scott T. Iacono1,2, Wade Hawkins2,3, Paul Foy2,3, John Ballato2,3, and Dennis W. Smith, Jr. 1,2 1 Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29631 2 Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Anderson, SC, 29625 3 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29631 ABSTRACT There is a growing need for optical fiber coatings that can sustain higher temperatures than present materials permit. To date, polyimides are used predominantly but they generally are difficult to process and usually require multiple depositions to achieve the desired film thickness. Perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers have demonstrated much success as processable and amorphous fluoropolymers, with particular emphasis on high performance optical applications. This work discusses recent efforts into PFCB aryl ether polymer-based optical fiber coatings. A series of silica-based optical fibers were drawn with different PFCB aryl ether polymer coatings compositions and molecular weights on a Heathway draw tower. Results showed a 150 °C higher usage temperature of coating (decomposition temperatures (Td) in nitrogen and air were above 450 ºC) without affecting fiber mechanical properties and comparable isothermal stability to conventional coatings, except with a >150 °C higher temperature. Preliminary results of the first successful coating of optical fibers by PFCB aryl ether polymers will be presented.
INTRODUCTION Perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers are prepared from step-growth, free radical thermal [2+2] cyclodimerization of aryl trifluorovinyl ethers (TFVE) (Scheme 1).[1,2] The polymerization event produces a stereorandom, amorphous polymer possessing excellent solubility and processability. PFCB aryl ether polymers are known to exhibit some of the best optical properties of any organic polymer investigated to date.[1−4] PFCB aryl ether polymers are also promising for organic nanomaterials,[5] polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs),[6] space survivability,[7] polymeric proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cells,[8] photolithography,[9] high-use temperature fluorosilicones,[10] and liquid crystalline polymers.[11]
F F
F O
F
F
Ar O
F
F
∆
F Ar O
F F
F
F F O
F O Ar
F F
F F O Ar
n
CF3 Ar = CF3 1
2
Scheme 1. Thermal cyclodimerization of TFVE to form PFCB polymers. BP (1) and 6F (2) PFCB aryl polymers. Poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and PMMA-modified polymers are commercially used in typical fiber coating applications.[12] More so, polyimides (PIs) provide exceptional thermal stability for coatings, particularly by the incorporation of aryl functionality in the polymer.[13] While PIs offer superior thermal stability in excess of 500 °C, most are difficult to process due to rigidity of the aromatic polymer backbone. Also, removal of PIs from substrate surface
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