Graded index polymer optical fiber and a method of making the same

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is a multi layer GI POF where each layer comprises essentially one polymer and one or more dopants. Each layer may comprise the same or different polymers although it is preferred that each layer comprise the same homopolymer. Useful dopants include cyclic or acyclic organic compounds of less than about 20 carbons, alkyl metal oxides or rare earth alkyl oxides. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of making the GI POF according to the invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical fiber comprising: 
 a. at least 3 concentrically arranged layers wherein each said layer further comprises at least one polymer and at least one dopant and    b. wherein said optical fiber has a graded index of refraction.    
     
     
         2 . The optical fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers of methacrylate, stryrene and their halogenated derivatives.  
     
     
         3 . The optical fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers selected from the group consisting of: methyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; benzyl methacrylate; phenyl methacrylate; vinyl benzoate; styrene; p-fluorostyrene; 2-chloroethyl methacrylate; isobomyl methacrylate; adamantyl methacrylate; tricylodecyl methacrylate; 1-methylcyclohexyl methacrylate; 2-chlorocyclohexyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; methyl α-chloroacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,2,-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl methacrylate; 1,3-dichloropropyl methacrylate; 2-chloro-1-chloromethylethyl methacrylate; 1-phenylethyl methacrylate; 2-phenylethyl methacrylate; diphenylmethyl methacrylate; 1,2-diphenylethyl methacrylate; 1-bromoethyl methacrylate; benzyl acrylate; α,α-dimethylbenzyl methacrylate; bornyl methacrylate; cyclohexyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfyl methacrylate; allyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate; vinyl chloroacetate; 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl methacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl α-fluoroacrylate; o- or p-difluorostyrene; vinyl acetate; tert-butyl methacrylate; isopropyl methacrylate; hexadecyl methacrylate; isobutyl methacrylate; α-trifluoromethacrylates, β-fluoroacrylates, β,β-difluoroacrylates, β-trifluoromethacrylates, β,β-bis(trifluoromethyl) acrylates and α-chloroacrylates.  
     
     
         4 . The optical fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said dopant is an organic molecule of less than 20 carbons, and alkyl metal oxide or a rare earth alkyl oxide.  
     
     
         5 . The optical fiber of  claim 4 , wherein said one or more dopants comprise approximately 0-30% by weight of each said layer.  
     
     
         6 . An optical fiber comprising: 
 a. at least 3 concentrically arranged layers wherein each said layer comprises a homopolymer and at least one dopant and    b. wherein said optical fiber has a graded index of refraction.    
     
     
         7 . The optical fiber of  claim 6 , wherein said polymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers of methacrylate, stryrene and their halogenated derivatives.  
     
     
         8 . The optical fiber of  claim 6 , wherein said homopolymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers selected from the group consisting of: methyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; benzyl methacrylate; phenyl methacrylate; vinyl benzoate; styrene; p-fluorostyrene; 2-chloroethyl methacrylate; isobornyl methacrylate; adamantyl methacrylate; tricylodecyl methacrylate; 1-methylcyclohexyl methacrylate; 2-chlorocyclohexyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; methyl α-chloroacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,2,-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl methacrylate; 1,3-dichloropropyl methacrylate; 2-chloro-1-chloromethylethyl methacrylate; 1-phenylethyl methacrylate; 2-phenylethyl methacrylate; diphenylmethyl methacrylate; 1,2-diphenylethyl methacrylate; 1-bromoethyl methacrylate; benzyl acrylate; α,α-dimethylbenzyl methacrylate; bornyl methacrylate; cyclohexyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfyl methacrylate; allyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate; vinyl chloroacetate; 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl methacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl α-fluoroacrylate; o- or p-difluorostyrene; vinyl acetate; tert-butyl methacrylate; isopropyl methacrylate; hexadecyl methacrylate; isobutyl methacrylate; α-trifluoromethacrylates, β-fluoroacrylates, β,β-difluoroacrylates, β-trifluoromethacrylates, β,β-bis(trifluoromethyl) acrylates and α-chloroacrylates.  
     
     
         9 . The optical fiber of  claim 6  wherein said one or more dopants are selected from the group consisting of: diphenyl phthalate, phenyl benzoate, benzylbutylphthalate, benzyl benzoate, diphenyl sulfide, 3-phenyl-1-propanol, benzyl methacrylate, halogenated cyclic or acyclic compounds with less than 20 carbons, such as bromobenzene, 1,4 dibromobenzene, bromonapthalene, 1,2,4-trichloro benzene, o-dichlorobenzene, m-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dibromethane, phthalic acids, benzoic acids, naphthalenes, cyclic ethers such as dibenzyl ether, phenoxy toluene, diphenyl ether, bicyclic compounds such as biphenyl, diphenyl sulfide, diphenyl methane 1-methoxyphenyl-1-phenylethane, alkyl metal oxides and rare earth alkyl oxides.  
     
     
         10 . The optical fiber of  claim 9  wherein said one or more dopants comprise approximately 0-30% by weight of each said layer.  
     
     
         11 . The optical fiber of  claim 6 , further comprising a protective layer.  
     
     
         12 . The optical fiber of  claim 11 , wherein said protective layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: Teflon PFA, Teflon AF, and Teflon FEP  
     
     
         13 . An optical fiber comprising: 
 a. at least 3 concentrically arranged layers wherein each said layer comprises the same homopolymer and at least one dopant and    b. wherein said optical fiber has a graded index of refraction.    
     
     
         14 . The optical fiber of  claim 13 , wherein said polymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers of methacrylate, stryrene and their halogenated derivatives.  
     
     
         15 . The optical fiber of  claim 13 , wherein said homopolymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers selected from the group consisting of: methyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; benzyl methacrylate; phenyl methacrylate; vinyl benzoate; styrene; p-fluorostyrene; 2-chloroethyl methacrylate; isobornyl methacrylate; adamantyl methacrylate; tricylodecyl methacrylate; 1-methylcyclohexyl methacrylate; 2-chlorocyclohexyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; methyl α-chloroacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,2,-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl methacrylate; 1,3-dichloropropyl methacrylate; 2-chloro-1-chloromethylethyl methacrylate; 1-phenylethyl methacrylate; 2-phenylethyl methacrylate; diphenylmethyl methacrylate; 1,2-diphenylethyl methacrylate; 1-bromoethyl methacrylate; benzyl acrylate; α,α-dimethylbenzyl methacrylate; bornyl methacrylate; cyclohexyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfyl methacrylate; allyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate; vinyl chloroacetate; 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl methacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl α-fluoroacrylate; o- or p-difluorostyrene; vinyl acetate; tert-butyl methacrylate; isopropyl methacrylate; hexadecyl methacrylate; isobutyl methacrylate; α-trifluoromethacrylates, β-fluoroacrylates, β,β-difluoroacrylates, β-trifluoromethacrylates, β,β-bis(trifluoromethyl) acrylates and α-chloroacrylates.  
     
     
         16 . The optical fiber of  claim 13 , wherein said one or more dopants are selected from the group consisting of: diphenyl phthalate, phenyl benzoate, benzylbutylphthalate, benzyl benzoate, diphenyl sulfide, 3-phenyl-1-propanol, benzyl methacrylate, halogenated cyclic or acyclic compounds with less than 20 carbons, such as bromobenzene, 1,4 dibromobenzene, bromonapthalene, 1,2,4-trichloro benzene, o-dichlorobenzene, m-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dibromethane, phthalic acids, benzoic acids, naphthalenes, cyclic ethers such as dibenzyl ether, phenoxy toluene, diphenyl ether, bicyclic compounds such as biphenyl, diphenyl sulfide, diphenyl methane 1-methoxyphenyl-1-phenylethane, alkyl metal oxides and rare earth alkyl oxides.  
     
     
         17 . The optical fiber of  claim 16 , wherein said one or more dopants comprise approximately 0-30% by weight of each said layer.  
     
     
         18 . The optical fiber of  claim 13 , further comprising a protective layer.  
     
     
         19 . The optical fiber of  claim 18 , wherein said protective layer comprises a copolymer of approximately 65-95% by weight vinylidene fluouride and approximately 5-35% by weight of tetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         20 . An optical fiber comprising: 
 a. at least 5 concentrically arranged layers wherein each said layer comprises the same homopolymer and bromobenzene and    b. wherein said optical fiber has a graded index of refraction.    
     
     
         21 . The optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said polymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers of methacrylate, stryrene and their halogenated derivatives.  
     
     
         22 . The optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said homopolymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers selected from the group consisting of: methyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; benzyl methacrylate; phenyl methacrylate; vinyl benzoate; styrene; p-fluorostyrene; 2-chloroethyl methacrylate; isobornyl methacrylate; adamantyl methacrylate; tricylodecyl methacrylate; 1-methylcyclohexyl methacrylate; 2-chlorocyclohexyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; methyl α-chloroacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,2,-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl methacrylate; 1,3-dichloropropyl methacrylate; 2-chloro-1-chloromethylethyl methacrylate; 1-phenylethyl methacrylate; 2-phenylethyl methacrylate; diphenylmethyl methacrylate; 1,2-diphenylethyl methacrylate; 1-bromoethyl methacrylate; benzyl acrylate; α,α-dimethylbenzyl methacrylate; bornyl methacrylate; cyclohexyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfyl methacrylate; allyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate; vinyl chloroacetate; 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl methacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl α-fluoroacrylate; o- or p-difluorostyrene; vinyl acetate; tert-butyl methacrylate; isopropyl methacrylate; hexadecyl methacrylate; isobutyl methacrylate; α-trifluoromethacrylates, β-fluoroacrylates, β,β-difluoroacrylates, β-trifluoromethacrylates, β,β-bis(trifluoromethyl) acrylates and α-chloroacrylates.  
     
     
         23 . The optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said bromobenzene comprises approximately 0-30% by weight of each said layer.  
     
     
         24 . The optical fiber of  claim 20  further comprising a protective layer.  
     
     
         25 . The optical fiber of  claim 24 , wherein said protective layer comprises a copolymer of approximately 65-95% by weight vinylidene fluouride and approximately 5-35% by weight of tetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         26 . An optical fiber comprising: 
 a. 5 concentrically arranged layers wherein the first layer has a thickness of approximately 0.25 mm, the second, third and fourth layers each have a thickness of approximately 0.075 mm and the fifth layer has a thickness of approximately 0.15 mm;    b. wherein each said layer comprises the same homopolymer and bromobenzene and    c. wherein said optical fiber has a graded index of refraction.    
     
     
         27 . The optical fiber of  claim 26 , wherein said homopolymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers of methacrylate, stryrene and their halogenated derivatives.  
     
     
         28 . The optical fiber of  claim 26 , wherein said homopolymer is formed from the polymerization of monomers or prepolymers selected from the group consisting of: methyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; benzyl methacrylate; phenyl methacrylate; vinyl benzoate; styrene; p-fluorostyrene; 2-chloroethyl methacrylate; isobornyl methacrylate; adamantyl methacrylate; tricylodecyl methacrylate; 1-methylcyclohexyl methacrylate; 2-chlorocyclohexyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; methyl α-chloroacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl methacrylate; 2,2,2,-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl methacrylate; 1,3-dichloropropyl methacrylate; 2-chloro-1-chloromethylethyl methacrylate; 1-phenylethyl methacrylate; 2-phenylethyl methacrylate; diphenylmethyl methacrylate; 1,2-diphenylethyl methacrylate; 1-bromoethyl methacrylate; benzyl acrylate; α,α-dimethylbenzyl methacrylate; bornyl methacrylate; cyclohexyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfyl methacrylate; allyl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate; vinyl chloroacetate; 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl methacrylate; 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl α-fluoroacrylate; 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl α-fluoroacrylate; o- or p-difluorostyrene; vinyl acetate; tert-butyl methacrylate; isopropyl methacrylate; hexadecyl methacrylate; isobutyl methacrylate; α-trifluoromethacrylates, β-fluoroacrylates, β,β-difluoroacrylates, β-trifluoromethacrylates, β,β-bis(trifluoromethyl) acrylates and α-chloroacrylates.  
     
     
         29 . The optical fiber of  claim 26  wherein said bromobenzene comprises approximately 0-30% by weight of each said layer.  
     
     
         30 . The optical fiber of  claim 26  further comprising a protective layer.  
     
     
         31 . The optical fiber of  claim 30  wherein said protective layer comprises a copolymer of approximately 65-95% by weight vinylidene fluouride and approximately 5-35% by weight of tetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         32 . An optical fiber comprising: 
 a. 5 concentrically arranged layers wherein each layer comprises a PMMA homopolymer and bromobenzene and    c. wherein said optical fiber has a graded index of refraction.    
     
     
         33 . The optical fiber of  claim 32  wherein said bromobenezene comprises from approximately 0-30% by weight of each said layer.  
     
     
         34 . The optical fiber of Example 1.  
     
     
         35 . The optical fiber of Example 2.  
     
     
         36 . The optical fiber of Example 3.