| 摘要 |
PURPOSE: To obtain optical connector parts having high mechanical strength and toughness which hardly cause cracks or chipping and to reduce the decrease in the optical transmission at. by preparing the parts to contain cerium oxide by specified wt.% while the balance substantially consists of zirconium oxide. CONSTITUTION: The optical connector parts 12b to connect optical fibers 14 contain cerium oxide by between >=3.0wt.% and <=20wt.% and the balance substantially comprising zirconium oxide. As for the cerium oxide and zirconium oxide used as the source material, powders of these generally and commercially available can be used. The cerium oxide functions as a stabilizer to partially stabilize the zirconium oxide and has an effect to increase the toughness and strength of precision parts. However, if the at. of cerium oxide is <3.0%, enough toughness or strength is not obtd. If the amt. exceeds 20%, sintering is difficult. By this method, the fracture toughness is improved so that the obtd. material can be processed at high accuracy without producing cracks or chipping when the material is processed into fine shapes. |
