Hard-Clad Silica Fiber is a type of fiber-optic cable that is composed of a silica core, which has been surrounded by hard plastic cladding. This type of cable is preferred in applications where durability is of utmost importance, as the hard plastic cladding provides additional protection to the delicate silica core.
This type of cable is typically used in long-distance applications, as the hard plastic cladding helps to protect the cable from environmental factors that could cause signal degradation or loss. The hard plastic cladding also helps to reduce attenuation in the cable, which is the loss of signal strength over distance.
The silica core of the cable is made up of a step-index profile, which is where the core diameter increases gradually toward the center of the cable. The step-index profile helps to reduce modal dispersion, which is the scattering of light as it is reflected off the core layers. This ensures that the signal is not distorted as it travels through the cable over long distances.
The hard plastic cladding also helps to protect the cable from moisture, dust, and other substances that could potentially interfere with the transmission of the signal. The hard plastic also helps to reduce the effects of microbending, which is when small bends in the cable cause the signal to degrade.
Overall, Hard-Clad Silica Fiber is an excellent choice for applications that require durability, long-distance transmissions, and low signal loss. The hard plastic cladding provides an additional layer of protection for the delicate silica core, and helps to reduce the effects of environmental factors that could cause signal degradation.
