Method for drying and sintering an optical fiber preform

摘要

Disclosed is to a method of dehydrating and sintering porous glass optical fiber preforms, especially those consisting of a solid glass core surrounded by a layer of cladding soot. After dehydration in a dehydrating atmosphere, the porous preform is heated to a pre-sinter temperature just below that at which it would begin to rapidly densify. The various temperature holds and ramp rates disclosed are such that the preform is consolidated (i.e. dehydrated and sintered) in a relatively short time without becoming cloudy or exhibiting other defects that would adversely affect the optical fiber drawn from the consolidated draw blank.