Method and apparatus for forming an optical fiber preform by combustionless hydrolysis

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating a glass preform used in the manufacture of optical waveguides. The method uses a gas phase flame-free hydrolysis aerosol of a silica precurser without carrier gas and in the substantial absence of combustibles such as CH4 or H2. The flow of the reactants in the reaction chamber is confined and deposited on the target preform by careful control of the thermal profile in the system, namely by providing a thermal gradient in the reaction chamber such that the temperature increases from the inlet to the outlet of the reaction chamber, prior to deposition of the so-formed aerosol on the deposition target.