Investigation of oversized channels in tubular fibre drawing

Abstract

In a previous study, we compared experiments on drawing of axisymmetric tubular optical fibres to a mathematical model of this process. The model and experiments generally agreed closely. However, for some preforms and operational conditions, the internal channel of the drawn fibre was larger than predicted by the model. We have further investigated this phenomenon of an oversized channel with to determine the mechanism behind the size discrepancy. In particular we have explored the possibility of channel expansion similar to ‘self-pressurisation’ in fibres drawn from preforms that have been first sealed to the atmosphere, as previously described by Voyce et al. [J. Lightwave Technol. 27, 871 (2009) 10.1109/JLT.2007.916489]. For this, two pieces from each of two preforms with different inner to outer diameter ratios were drawn to fibre, one open to the atmosphere and the other with a sealed end. In addition, we have sectioned a cooled neck-down region from a previous experiment, for which the fibre had an oversized channel compared to the model prediction, and measured the cross-sectional slices. We here compare this new experimental data with the predictions of the previously derived model for drawing of an unsealed preform and a new model, developed herein, for drawing of a sealed tube. We establish that the observed oversized channels are not consistent with the self-pressurisation model for the sealed tube.