Influence of Cetyltrimethylammonium Chloride on the Strength of Silica Optical Fibers

The evolution of strength of silica optical fibers aged in cetyltrimethylammonium chloride solution (CTAC) is investigated. The mechanical behavior of silica-coated and naked fibers is studied in contact with CTAC solutions of different concentrations. The results of our analyses prove that the immersion in CTAC drastically decreases the strength of fibers, especially near the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Beyond the CMC, a small increase in the fiber strength is detected and discussed. Based on the analysis of the aged surface morphology of the fibers obtained from scanning electron microscopy, the extent of damage to the fiber core and polymer coatings is obtained.