ZrO_2光纤套管材料的改性

Modification of ZrO_2 Optical Fiber Ferrule Materials

为了降低ZrO2 光纤套管材料成本,降低材料的烧结温度,并对其他性能进行改善,对ZrO2 材料进行了改性研究.通过强度、韧性和热膨胀系数测定,研究了改性材料的力学和热学性能;通过SEM和XRD分析了材料的显微结构变化和晶相组成.研究结果表明,添加LAS玻璃粉的材料随LAS含量的增加,烧结温度明显下降,材料内部具有更细的微晶结构.在烧结过程中,LAS玻璃粉晶化为具有较高强度和较低热膨胀系数的β锂辉石固溶体,所以,随着材料中LAS含量的增加,材料的力学性能虽然下降,但仍保持了较高的强度和韧性,能够满足光纤套管的制备需要,并具有较低的热膨胀系数,更有利于套管与光纤间的热匹配.

In order to reduce the raw materials cost, lower the sintering temperature and improve other properties of the ZrO_2 optical fiber ferrule materials, the modification of ZrO_2 was investigated. The mechanical and thermal properties of the modificative ZrO_2 were investigated through the measurement of flexural strength, fracture toughness and thermal expansion coefficients, and corresponding microstructure and the constitution of crystal phase were analyzed by SEM and XRD diffraction. The results showed that the sintering temperatures of ZrO_2 with the addition of Li_2O-Al_2O_3-SiO_2 (LAS) glass powder lowered with the increase of LAS glass content, and consequently, the grain sizes were smaller in the sintered samples. The LAS glass powder in the samples crystallized and β-spodumene solid solution which has lower thermal expansion coefficients and higher strength was precipitated during sintering. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of the materials decreased with the increase of LAS glass content, but they were still higher than some Al_2O_3, so it can meet the need of the preparation of optical fiber ferrule. The thermal expansion coefficients of the materials also lowered with the increase of LAS glass content, and it was beneficial to the thermal match of the optical fiber ferrule with the optical fiber.