Process for forming a titania-containing preform silica glass blank

摘要

Disclosed is an optical waveguide fiber having a compressive outer layer that includes TiO2 in the SiO2 matrix glass. The compressive outer layer includes crystalline structures containing TiO2 that are predominately rutile. Also disclosed is a method for making an optical waveguide fiber having a compressive outer layer. The compressive outer layer can contain an additional metal oxide that is preferentially lost from the outer layer, instead of the TiO2, during the drying and consolidation step.