Fabrication of a Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) by Using Direct Core Solution Injection (DCSI)

We have fabricated a nonlinear plastic optical fiber (POF). Direct core solution injection (DCSI) into the hole of a cladding preform formed by polymerization of the cladding solution was proposed for making the nonlinear POF. The preform of the fiber was pulled into the fiber following polymerization of core solution. The cladding solution was made of methyl methacrylate (MMA), benzyl-Butyl Phthalate (BBP) and benzoyl Peroxide (BPO). Disperse red 1 (DR1) was added to the core solution to control the refractive index. The transmission characteristics of the fabricated POF and the temperature dependence, of the, loss were investigated. The thermo-optic coefficient of the POF was -0.0002/degrees C.