Plastics and Polymers for Optical Transmission
01 January 1987
Organic polymers have been employed commercially as optical fiber transmission media since the early 1960's. Although their transmission losses are generally higher than those of inorganic glasses, plastic optical fibers with losses as low as 20 dB/km have been fabricated in research laboratories. Additionally plastic fibers with losses of 160 dB/km are now commercially available. Such fibers are being employed in such diverse applications as local area networks, short data links, light pipes for automotive dashboard displays, decorative signs and medical sensors and endoscopes.