What is POF ?
Abbreviated as POF, Polymer Optical Fiber (POF) (also called plastic optical fiber) looks like a nylon rope and is transparent to visible light. POF is a type of optical fiber that uses Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) , Polystyrene (PS), and Polycarbonate (PC) as the core material, and use Fluorineresin as the cladding materia that allows the transmission of light inside the core of a polymer optical fiber. The cladding is the external layer responsible for the light-guiding effect, which forces light to travel through the length of the fiber.
Thanks to its huge core diameter, POF is immune to misalignments and strong vibrations, and can be installed in rugged industrial and automotive environments without any loss of communication capacity. POF is ideally suited for deployment either by a professional installer or a do-it-yourself installer using basic tools, such as a pair of scissors or a cutter, and inexpensive plastic connectors.
What is step-index POF?
The PMMA (poly-methylmetacrylate) core is enclosed by a thin cladding (10/nbsp;µm) made from a fluorinated polymer. Through total reflection the light is guided inside the core.The lowest attenuation values occur at 520 nm (green), 560 nm (yellow) and 650 nm (red).
Differences in transit time of different rays in the core lead to a broadening of the launched light pulses. Possible bit rates are limited to about 100 Mbit/s over 100 m for SI types (correspondingly higher for shorter distances). Modified index profiles permit higher data transmission rates. The maximum operational temperature ranges from +70°C up to +85°C, depending on the application.
Why use POF ?
In comparison to traditional optical fiber and copper wires, POF has following advantages:
Low cost ↗
POF core is made of plastic material, and transmits at visible light(520~650nm), which offer lower cost than tranditional copper wires in short distance transmission.
Light weight ↗
Plastic material is much lighter than tranditional copper wires, which can be used in automotive, airplane, aerospace etc.
Flexibility ↗
POF core is soft and non-brittle, offering greater bending without much cracks. Moreover it can be cut with an ordinary razer.
Immune to EMI↗
POF transmits light only, which does not have any electronic emissions. Therefore, it is immune to EMI interferences and noises.
Easy operation ↗
Thanks to its large core, POF is easy to be cut, terminated, pre-assemblied, installed and maintained.
Durability ↗
Withstand stress,tolerating bend radii of less than 20mm, and works from -40°C to +85°C including humidity and salted atmospheres. At least 20 years lifespan.
Typical Applications of POF
Fiber Optic Lighting
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