GLOBAL SAPPHIRE FIBER MARKET

INTRODUCTION

Sapphire is the toughest synthetic fiber accessible and has the melting temperature of any transparency substance. Because sapphire is a chemical and scratch resistance substance, it is preferred when fiber optic sensors are employed in demanding situations.

This paper covers packaging techniques, such as irradiation hardened (Rad-Hard), improper treatment, as well as other issues related to using detectors in difficult settings, in addition to the qualities of sapphire itself.

GLOBAL SAPPHIRE FIBER MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND INNOVATIONS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

However, sapphire FBGs have their own set of problems. These fibers are extremely thin, measuring less than half a millimetre in width, yet they are still much thicker than the wavelength of light, allowing injected light to bounce about at multiple wavelengths throughout.

Since this sensors depends on a particular wavelength of reflected sunlight to measure temperature, for example, the added noise confuses the signal and renders the sensor worthless. In the case of aerospace, this would allow temperature monitoring throughout a jet engine, allowing for on-the-fly modifications to engine conditions to increase flying efficiency.

Micromaterials Inc. is a leading mobiliser of the self-sensing composites solutions involving various industrial application and solutions requirements in the market. Sapphire fibers with diameters ranging from 75 to 500 m are available in LHPG grade.

Furthermore, fibers with larger end(s) enabled by taper(s) seem to be obtainable. Because the suppleness of the fiber changes as the inverse 4th power of the length (e.g., a 100 m fiber is 16 times greater malleable than a 200 m fiber), this is an essential property. In both power transmission and spectroscopic purposes, the tapered fibers provide large bandwidth despite losing flexibility.

Laser Components  is part of the component manufacture trending companies in the current industry. Its latest addition has been brought in through the edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) technology was used to generate sapphire fibers from a single crystal.

This method preserves sapphire's remarkable material qualities. Simultaneously, the fiber maintains the necessary flexibility. The fibers come in lengths up to 2 meters and diameters of 100, 250, 325, and 425 meters.

COMPANIES PROFILED

• Edmund Optics
• Precision Micro-Optics
• MicroMaterials Inc.
• 3M Company
• Clariant AG
• Debiotech SA
• DowDuPont, Inc.
• Gentex Corporation