Optical Fiber Preforms

Description

1. Product Overview
This product is a consolidated glass rod (preform) composed of doped silica core and pure silica cladding, manufactured via modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) or VAD processes. It serves as the feedstock for drawing optical fibers used in high-speed telecommunications, data centers, and industrial laser systems. The key value proposition is exceptionally low signal attenuation (<0.2 dB/km) and high geometric uniformity, directly reducing network downtime and amplification costs. It is strategically critical as global bandwidth demand rises, making preform quality the single most important determinant of fiber network lifecycle economics.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical composition: GeO₂-doped SiO₂ core (0.2–25 mol% GeO₂) / pure SiO₂ cladding; fluorine-doped trench for bend-insensitive variants

• Purity level: Total transition metal impurities < 1 ppb; OH content < 0.5 ppm for low water peak (1383 nm) performance

• Physical characteristics: Cylindrical preforms; 30–200 mm outer diameter; 600–1,500 mm length; transparent glass; density ~2.20 g/cm³

• Packaging options: Individual ESD-safe foam-lined shipping tubes; vacuum-sealed antistatic bags; wooden crates for bulk palletized orders

• Shelf life: Indefinite if stored at 15–25°C, <60% RH, away from UV light and abrasive contact

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Telecommunications & data center fiber: Draws G.652.D (standard single-mode) and G.657.A2 (bend-insensitive) fiber; outperforms multimode alternatives by enabling 100G–400G wavelengths with lower repeater density, reducing capex per kilometer by 15–20%

• High-power fiber lasers: Yb-doped specialty preform variants for industrial cutting/welding; superior index homogeneity minimizes mode instability, extending laser diode life by 30% compared to rod-in-tube alternatives

• Sensing & medical imaging: Sapphire-like transmission in NIR; lower scattering loss than plastic optical fiber, enabling longer distributed temperature sensing (DTS) runs in oil/gas wells

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality consistency: All preforms 100% interferometrically tested for concentricity (<0.5 μm core-cladding offset) and refractive index profile (±0.0002 Δ); lot-to-lot CPk > 1.33

• Supply reliability: Dual-source MCVD/VAD lines in three geographies (Asia, EU, NA); 98% on-time delivery over 24 months

• Logistics capability: Dedicated shock-proof packaging and temperature-controlled freight for preform breakage rate < 0.1%

• Cost competitiveness: Vertical integration from silica soot to finished preform eliminates two intermediary margins, pricing 8–12% below European spot market

• Certifications: ISO 9001:2025, Telcordia GR-20, RoHS, REACH; full traceability batch reports delivered within 24 hours

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): 20 metric tons (approx. 1,200–1,500 preforms depending on outer diameter)

• Loading capacity: 20 MT per standard 20-ft dry container (palletized, 4 layers)