Environmental stress effects on fiber optic cable end faces

Abstract

The PC and PC-NC termini studied here showed tolerable changes in optical transmittance under temperature cycling, vibration testing or mating/de-mating cycles with periodic cleaning. The flat-NC termini studied here showed much greater average change, and much greater variability, from all stimuli than the other types. We hypothesize that this is due to variation in fiber height, and was in contrast to expected variations fiber height for the PC-NC termini as well. There are substantial differences between the designs of the PC-NC and the flat-NC termini which could cause the discrepancy: 1) end face shape, 2) very short fiber attachment region inside the flat-NC terminus, 3) possible inconsistent fiber coating adhesion, or 4) stress caused from use of tight buffered cable with the flat-NC terminus. Failure analysis did not detect epoxy failure. The mate/demate test results highlight the importance of regular cleaning to prevent end face damage.