The hero behind the fiber optic network - fiber optic coating

As data traffic continues to explode, global operators are upgrading mobile broadband networks and fixed broadband networks to meet the bandwidth needs
of users.
4G networks and FTTH networks are being built on a large scale around the world, and optical fiber networks are the foundation of all high-speed interconnection networks, which are critical
to the service quality of 4G and FTTH.

As the construction of global optical fiber networks continues to accelerate, the role of optical fiber coatings in them is becoming increasingly important, it is no exaggeration to say that without high-quality optical fiber coatings, there will be no high-quality optical fiber networks, and there will be no existence of today's high-speed Internet
.

In this regard, Zhang Zhongxiao, Asia-Pacific sales director of DSM Optical Fiber and Cable Materials Department, said in an exclusive interview with reporters that the development of low-loss optical fiber and ultra-low-loss optical fiber has become a general trend, and low-loss optical fiber will be mainly used in the backbone network, and will soon replace ordinary optical fiber; Ultra-low loss fibers may not be available in the short term, but the evolution to ultra-low loss fibers has become a general trend, and fiber coating technology is critical
to enabling these new fiber designs.

The hero behind fiber optic networks: fiber coatings are the key to enabling new fiber designs

In the field of telecommunications, optical fiber is the cornerstone of modern high-speed interconnection networks, and high-quality optical fiber coatings are the key to
long-term reliability and stability of optical fiber networks.
Optical fiber coatings can protect glass fibers from environmental and external forces, so that the fiber strength is increased, the microbending resistance is improved, and it is more durable
.
Optical fibers have many properties closely related to coatings, such as micro-bending properties, Nd value (dynamic fatigue parameters), bending characteristics, attenuation, low temperature characteristics, strength, welding characteristics and service life
.

Low-quality fiber coatings can directly cause major network failures, while high-quality fiber coatings protect fiber life for up to 25 years
.
According to Zhang Zhongxiao, "In May this year, DSM cooperated with a European operator to analyze
an optical cable junction box that was put into use in 1988.
The results show that optical fibers that have been deployed for up to 25 years still perform
well under the protection of high-quality fiber coatings.
After chemical composition analysis, it was confirmed that the paint was produced by DSM
.
”

In fact, DSM has always been the behind-the-scenes hero
of the basic materials of the optical communication industry.
As the founder of the optical fiber coating industry, in the 70s of last century, DSM invented the first generation of ultraviolet curable optical fiber coatings, which made the large-scale production and application of optical fibers possible
.

In the past 40 years, DSM has always adhered to technological innovation and has developed dozens of new products, including loose cable fiber coatings in the 80s, multimode fiber coatings and fiber strip materials in the 90s, and tight cable fiber coatings and high-speed coatings at the beginning of this century
.

Low-loss/ultra-low-loss fiber optic is a development trend: the fiber coating market is ushering in opportunities

At the same time, in order to meet the various needs and challenges of today's and future broadband network development, many new optical fiber types have emerged in the industry, such as low-loss fiber, ultra-low-loss fiber, 200 micron fiber, G.
657 bent insensitive fiber, and G.
655 fiber
.
Especially at present, 100G has begun to be deployed on a large scale, and 400G may also be commercially available in the next few years, and the current ordinary optical fiber can not meet this demand, so the development of low-loss optical fiber and ultra-low-loss optical fiber has become a general trend
.

"Low-loss optical fiber will be mainly used in the backbone network and will soon replace ordinary optical fiber; Ultra-low loss fibers may not be available in the short term, but the evolution to ultra-low loss fibers has become a general trend, and fiber coating technology is critical
to enabling these new fiber designs.
Zhang Zhongxiao pointed out that taking 200 micron optical fiber as an example, its glass fiber core diameter remains unchanged, completely relying on reducing the coating thickness to reduce the optical fiber diameter, which requires that the optical fiber still provide comprehensive protection under the premise of reducing the amount of coating, especially excellent microbending protection
.

In this regard, DSM launched a new generation of anti-microbending optical fiber coating DeSolite Supercoatings in 2009, which has three advantages
over traditional coatings: excellent micro-bending performance, high Nd value and high wire drawing speed.
Its excellent microbending performance can minimize microbending loss, increase the dynamic fatigue parameter of Nd value of optical fiber by 30%, and extend the service life of optical fiber, so as to achieve the industry's most advanced optical fiber design, such as low-loss optical fiber, ultra-low-loss optical fiber, 200-micron optical fiber, etc
.

Talking about the development of China's optical fiber market, Zhang Zhongxiao believes that throughout the world, China's optical fiber manufacturing industry has been in the international leading position in scale and production capacity, but there is still a certain gap
between technological innovation and product quality and the international first-class level.
We suggest that domestic optical fiber enterprises can focus on the following three aspects in the future development: pay attention to product quality and achieve quality growth; Pay attention to the development of new technologies and new products; Improve production processes and reduce production costs
.