Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) composite material includes a polymer layer and a fiber layer encapsulated within the polymer layer. The fiber layer includes a first monolayer of continuous silica fibers longitudinally co-aligned in a first direction. Each continuous silica fiber in the first monolayer extends without discontinuity through the polymer layer such that opposed ends of each continuous silica fiber are adjacent to a perimeter of the polymer layer. The PCB composite material has a dielectric loss tangent of less than or equal to about 0.0015 at 15 GHz or higher frequency. A printed circuit board (PCB) includes the PCB composite material and at least one conductive layer disposed on a side of the PCB composite material.

Abstract: A composite has repeating domains of an inorganic glass and a polymer, such that the inorganic glass and the polymer each have a glass transition temperature (Tg) or softening temperature of less than 450° C., and at least 50% of the inorganic glass domains have a length of less than 30 ?m as measured along at least one cross-sectional dimension.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are glass pharmaceutical vials having sidewalls of reduced thickness. In embodiments, the glass pharmaceutical vial may include a glass body comprising a sidewall enclosing an interior volume. An outer diameter D of the glass body is equal to a diameter d1 of a glass vial of size X as defined by ISO 8362-1, wherein X is one of 2R, 3R, 4R, 6R, 8R, 10R, 15R, 20R, 25R, 30R, 50R, and 100R as defined by ISO 8362-1. However, the sidewall of the glass pharmaceutical vial comprises an average wall thickness Ti that is less than or equal to 0.85*s1, wherein s1 is a wall thickness of the glass vial of size X as defined by ISO 8362-1 and X is one of 2R, 3R, 4R, 6R, 8R, 10R, 15R, 20R, 25R, 30R, 50R, and 100R as defined by ISO 8362-1.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are glass pharmaceutical vials having sidewalls of reduced thickness. In embodiments, the glass pharmaceutical vial may include a glass body comprising a sidewall enclosing an interior volume. An outer diameter D of the glass body is equal to a diameter d1 of a glass vial of size X as defined by ISO 8362-1, wherein X is one of 2R, 3R, 4R, 6R, 8R, 10R, 15R, 20R, 25R, 30R, 50R, and 100R as defined by ISO 8362-1. However, the sidewall of the glass pharmaceutical vial comprises an average wall thickness Ti that is less than or equal to 0.85*s1, wherein s1 is a wall thickness of the glass vial of size X as defined by ISO 8362-1 and X is one of 2R, 3R, 4R, 6R, 8R, 10R, 15R, 20R, 25R, 30R, 50R, and 100R as defined by ISO 8362-1.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided that includes a core region, a cladding region having a radius less than about 62.5 microns; a polymer coating comprising a high-modulus layer and a low-modulus layer, wherein a thickness of the low-modulus inner coating layer is in a range of 4 microns to 20 microns, the modulus of the low-modulus inner coating layer is less than or equal to about 0.35 MPa, a thickness of the high-modulus coating layer is in a range of 4 microns to 20 microns, the modulus of the high-modulus inner coating layer is greater than or equal to about 1.6 GPa, and wherein a puncture resistance of the optical fiber is greater than 20 g, and wherein a microbend attenuation penalty of the optical fiber is less than 0.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided that includes a core region, a cladding region having a radius less than about 62.5 microns; a polymer coating comprising a high-modulus layer and a low-modulus layer, wherein a thickness of the low-modulus inner coating layer is in a range of 4 microns to 20 microns, the modulus of the low-modulus inner coating layer is less than or equal to about 0.35 MPa, a thickness of the high-modulus coating layer is in a range of 4 microns to 20 microns, the modulus of the high-modulus inner coating layer is greater than or equal to about 1.6 GPa, and wherein a puncture resistance of the optical fiber is greater than 20 g, and wherein a microbend attenuation penalty of the optical fiber is less than 0.03 dB/km, and wherein an outer diameter of the coated optical fiber is less than or equal to 175 microns.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thin coated optical fiber that enables connector assembly without stripping the optical fiber. In particular, the thin coating comprises a hard coating, a dye concentrate, and an adhesion promoter. The formulation of the coating promotes adhesion to a glass cladding of the optical fiber and to a ferrule bore (into which the optical fiber is inserted) by not causing silane decomposition of the coating. Moreover, the coating is colored to enable, among other things, fiber identification within a connector. The thin coated optical fibers exhibit good mechanical and optical performance properties as discussed herein.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided that includes a core region, a cladding region having a radius less than about 62.5 microns; a polymer coating comprising a high-modulus layer and a low-modulus layer, wherein a thickness of the low-modulus inner coating layer is in a range of 4 microns to 20 microns, the modulus of the low-modulus inner coating layer is less than or equal to about 0.35 MPa, a thickness of the high-modulus coating layer is in a range of 4 microns to 20 microns, the modulus of the high-modulus inner coating layer is greater than or equal to about 1.6 GPa, and wherein a puncture resistance of the optical fiber is greater than 20 g, and wherein a microbend attenuation penalty of the optical fiber is less than 0.

Abstract: A composite has repeating domains of an inorganic glass and a polymer, such that the inorganic glass and the polymer each have a glass transition temperature (Tg) or softening temperature of less than 450° C., and at least 50% of the inorganic glass domains have a length of less than 30 ?m as measured along at least one cross-sectional dimension.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic composite, including: a discontinuous phase having a plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of an inorganic material; and a continuous organic phase having a thermoplastic polymer, such that the continuous organic phase surrounds the plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of the inorganic material, and the organic-inorganic composite is a plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of inorganic material contained within a similarly oriented host fiber of the thermoplastic polymer. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the composite.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic composite, including: a discontinuous phase having a plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of an inorganic material; and a continuous organic phase having a thermoplastic polymer, such that the continuous organic phase surrounds the plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of the inorganic material, and the organic-inorganic composite is a plurality of adjacent and similarly oriented fibers of inorganic material contained within a similarly oriented host fiber of the thermoplastic polymer. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the composite.

Abstract: A method of measuring optical properties of a multi-mode optical fiber during processing of the fiber is described. The method includes: transmitting a light signal through one of the draw end of the multi-mode fiber and a test fiber section toward the other of the draw end and the test fiber section; and receiving a portion of the light signal at one of the draw end and the test fiber section. The method also includes obtaining optical data related to the received portion of the light signal; and analyzing the optical data to determine a property of the multi-mode fiber.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical fiber includes the steps of forming a soot blank of a silica-based cladding material, wherein the soot blank has a top surface and a bulk density of between 0.8 g/cm2 and 1.6 g/cm3. At least one hole is drilled in the top surface of the soot blank. At least one core cane member is positioned in the at least one hole. The soot blank and at least one soot core cane member are consolidated to form a consolidated preform. The consolidated preform is drawn into an optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of measuring optical properties of a multi-mode optical fiber during processing of the fiber is described. The method includes: transmitting a light signal through one of the draw end of the multi-mode fiber and a test fiber section toward the other of the draw end and the test fiber section; and receiving a portion of the light signal at one of the draw end and the test fiber section. The method also includes obtaining optical data related to the received portion of the light signal; and analyzing the optical data to determine a property of the multi-mode fiber.

Abstract: A preform for forming a hollow-core, slotted photonic band-gap (PBG) optical fiber for use in an environmental sensor, and methods of forming such a fiber using the preform are disclosed. The preform comprises a slotted cladding tube that surrounds a slotted, hollow-core PBG cane. The slots in the cladding tube and PBG cane are longitudinally formed and substantially aligned with each other. When the preform is drawn, the slots merge to form an elongated side opening or slot in the resulting hollow-core PBG fiber.

Abstract: According to one embodiment a method of making optical fibers comprises: (i) manufacturing a core cane; (ii) situating a plurality of microstructures selected from rods, air filled tubes and glass filed tubes and placing said microstructures adjacent to the core cane, said microstructures forming no more than 3 layers; (iii) placing the core cane with said adjacent microstructures inside a holding clad tube; and (iv) placing interstitial cladding rods inside the holding (clad) tube, thereby forming an assembly comprising a tube containing a core cane, a plurality of microstructures and interstitial cladding rods. The assembly is then drawn into a microstructured cane and an optical fiber is drawn from the microstructured cane. According to several embodiments, the method of making an optical fiber includes providing at least one air hole and at least one stress rod adjacent to the core.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photonic crystal or photonic band gap optical fiber comprises providing a preform that includes a plurality of holes in an outer diameter, wherein the holes extend from a first end of a preform to a second end of the preform, and forming at least one radially inwardly-extending slot within the preform such that the slot intersects at least some of the holes, wherein the slot does not intersect at least one hole. The method also includes establishing a first pressure in the holes intersected by the slot by introducing the first pressure to the slot, and establishing a second pressure in the at least one hole not intersected by the slot by introducing the second pressure to an end of the at least one hole not intersected by the slot. The method further includes drawing the preform into a fiber while independently controlling the first and second pressures.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (i) a core; (ii) a cladding surrounding the core; wherein the cladding comprises a cladding ring that: (a) has a width W equal to or less than 10 microns; (b) includes at least 50 airlines, each airline having a maximum diameter or a maximum width of not more than 2 microns and more than 50% of said airlines have a length of more than 20 m; (c) has an air fill fraction of 0. 1% to 10%, and (d) has an inner radius Rin and an outer radius Rout, wherein 6 ?m?Rin?14 ?m, and 8 ?m?Rout?14 ?m; and (iii) an outer cladding surrounding said cladding ring.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (i) a core; (ii) a cladding surrounding the core; wherein the cladding comprises a cladding ring that: (a) has a width W equal to or less than 10 microns; (b) includes at least 50 airlines, each airline having a maximum diameter or a maximum width of not more than 2 microns and more than 50% of said airlines have a length of more than 20 m; (c) has an air fill fraction of 0.1% to 10%, and (d) has an inner radius Rin and an outer radius Rout, wherein 6 ?m?Rin?14 ?m, and 8 ?m?Rout?14 ?m; and (iii) an outer cladding surrounding said cladding ring.

Abstract: A preform for forming a hollow-core, slotted photonic band-gap (PBG) optical fiber for use in an environmental sensor, and methods of forming such a fiber using the preform are disclosed. The preform comprises a slotted cladding tube that surrounds a slotted, hollow-core PBG cane. The slots in the cladding tube and PBG cane are longitudinally formed and substantially aligned with each other. When the preform is drawn, the slots merge to form an elongated side opening or slot in the resulting hollow-core PBG fiber. In one case, the slot reaches the hollow core upon drawing, while in another case a second step is used to extend the slot to connect to the hollow core. The fiber is used to form an environmental sensor for sensing the presence of a target substance in an environment. The slot formed in the PBG region of the fiber forms a ridge waveguide wherein a portion of the light that otherwise is confined to the hollow core as a bound mode travels in the slot.