Effect of weave structure on the side-emitting properties of polymer optical fiber jacquard fabrics

Abstract

Instead of mechanical and chemical treatments, the side-illuminating effect of polymer optical fiber (POF) jacquard fabric was achieved by using the bending of POF in the weave structure. The relationship between side-emitting intensity and bending radius of POF was explored via theoretical derivation, simulation experiments and POF fabric experiments. A theoretical equation was deduced to quantify the correlation between the light emission efficiency and the bending radius of POF based on the bending losses theory in optical fiber. The results of simulation and fabric experiments reached good agreements with the theoretical analysis. In the real fabric structure, the side-emitting intensity was mainly determined both by the bending radius and the float of POF. Significantly, it was just right for designing side-illuminating figure POF jacquard fabric with the effect of a relative degree of lightness or darkness based on the weave and side-emitting intensity database.