Fabrication of Nickel Sealed Double-Coated Optical Fibers for Use as Optical Transmission Lines

The nickel sealed double-coated optical fiber is constructed from the double-coated optical fiber sealed with a nickel layer that is fabricated using electroless plating. The nickel sealed double-coated optical fiber exhibits good electrical conductivity, high mechanical strength, high resistance to moisture attack and microbending insensitivity. Moreover, the external damage protection, abrasion resistance, adhesion, toughness and stripping force of coatings fit the fiber requirement. As the nickel film thickness is 68 nm, the fiber has the excellent ability to sustain thermal loading. Nickel sealed double-coated optical fibers are superior to conventional double-coated optical fibers and hermetically coated optical fibers for use as optical transmission lines.