The Reliability of POF

Polymer optical fibers, like other technological products, are subjected throughout the whole of their service life to a great many kinds of stress from the environment — mechanical, climatic, chemical, biological, and radiometric. As a result of these stress factors, physical and chemical alterations may arise in the materials used. These can in various ways have an effect on the functional behavior, suitability for use, and serviceable life expectancy (that is to say, the durability) of the POF. Environmental stress factors, then, have an influence that should not be underestimated on the quality and reliability of the fiber optic transmission system. When polymer optical fibers are used, it is thus imperative to understand and take into consideration the effects of environmental influences — particularly of industrial environmental influences - on those properties of POF which enable it to transmit optical signals.