Abstract

Several published studies discuss titania doping of the surface of silica-clad optical fibers as a means of limiting subcritical crack growth of surface flaws, thereby, leading to greater long-term reliability. Dynamic fatigue measurements have shown n values increase from approximately 20 for pure silica-clad fibers to near 30 when doped with titania ^1,2. Static fatigue n values have been reported as high as 200³. In this study the dependence of fatigue behavior on titania concentration is presented as well as some insight into mechanisms that resist subcritical crack growth in titania-doped silica-clad fibers.

© 1990 Optical Society of America