Formation Reaction of ZrO2 Scatterers in ZrF4-Based Fluoride Fibers |
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| Authors: | KAZUO FUJIURA SHIGEKI SAKAGUCHI YASUTAKE OHISHI YUKIO TERUNUMA |
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| Affiliation: | NTT Electrical Communications Laboratories, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-11, Japan |
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| Abstract: | This paper clarifies the formation reaction of ZrO2 crystals which appear as extrinsic scatterers in fluoride fibers. EPMA analysis indicates that BaO exists at grain boundaries of BaF2 purified by sublimation. BaO reacts with ZrF4 to form ZrO2 at 600°C during a glass-melting process. The ZrO2 formation reaction is influenced by H2O. Ba(OH)2, which is formed by the reaction between BaO and water vapor, melts at 370° to 420°C and reacts with ZrF4 to form ZrO2 at 450° to 520°C. When low-oxide-content BaF2 is used for fiber preparation, scatterers significantly decrease. |
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