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The Effects of Gravity on ZBLAN GlassHeavy metal fluoride glass fibers show promise in applications such as surgical lasers, spectroscopy and imaging fiber bundles. ZBLAN, which is within this class has been studied for a number of years. ZBLAN's theoretical attenuation coefficient is approximately 0.002 dB/km which is much better than that of fused silica at 0.2 dB/km. However, due to impurities and crystallites the attenuation coefficients achieved to date are considerably larger than those of fused silica. Impurities can be controlled with better processing techniques. Crystallization has been found to be a function of gravity. It is found that heating to the crystallization temperature in unit gravity results in crystallization while heating in reduced gravity does not. The exact mechanism for this phenomenon is not known but is speculated to be related to stress.
Document ID
19990116214
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Tucker, Dennis S.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Workman, Gary
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Smith, Guy
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Tucker, Dennis S.
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Meeting Information
Meeting: Non-Oxide Glasses
Location: Florianopolis
Country: Brazil
Start Date: April 10, 2000
End Date: April 11, 2000
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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