Harsh Environment Operation

POF in Harsh Environments

Harsh environment properties

Plastic optical fiber lends itself to use in harsh environments due to the materials used, and can be broken down into four main properties:

Weatherability

PMMA resin has been proven to withstand temperature fluctuations, direct sunlight, and humidity. However, the core of the fiber should not be exposed to UV radiation for long periods of time, since it is prone to chemical changes that result in yellowing of the otherwise transparent material.

Heat Resistance

Heat resistance of plastic optical fiber is mainly dependent on the heat resistance of the plastics used. The following table gives an overview of the maximum usable temperatures of the different grades of POF.

Type	Maximum Usable Temperature
Multi-Core	60°C, 85°C, 105°C, depending on grade
DB, DC	70°C
SC	85°C
SHCN	105°C

Read about POF heat resistance

Flexibility

Plastic optical fiber has excellent flexural strength compared to copper wires or glass fiber. However, significant transmission loss can occur when fiber is bent beyond the maximum bending radii for the grade of fiber used. For applications that require wires to withstand extreme bending cycles and radii, we recommend using multi-core POF, which is more tolerant to flexing.

Read about POF flex cycles

Chemical Resistance

Different types of plastic optical fiber and jacketing are chosen to withstand exposure to chemicals, such as adhesives used in connectors. When choosing a brand or grade of POF, consider the types of epoxy that may be used to build cable assemblies against the manufacturer’s datasheets.

Read about POF chemical resistance

Image: MINING.com / Flickr (source) (CC BY 2.0)