METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLASTIC OPTICAL TRANSMISSION MEDIUM

摘要

Manufacturing plastic optical transmission medium with radially varying refractive index, comprising: preparing a polymeric tube having a least two concentric cylinders of polymeric material, wherein at least one of said at least two concentric cylinders of polymeric material comprises a diffusible additive which modifies the refractive index; surrounding said polymeric tube with an outer tubing, wherein said outer tubing has a higher glass transition temperature than any of the cylinders; heating said polymeric tube surrounded by the outer tubing to a temperature which is below the glass transition temperature of the outer tubing and above all of the glass transition temperatures of said at least two concentric cylinders of polymer material, wherein such heating causes diffusion of the diffusible additive in said cylinders of polymeric material, wherein such diffusion of the diffusible additive modifies the radial refractive index of said polymeric tube. The additive is selected from the class of methyl esters of perfluoro (poloxa)/aliphatic monocarboxylic acids.