BOC introduces on-site chlorine purification for optical fiber manufacture

29-Jan-2004

BOC has developed a patent-pending on-site chlorine purification technology that reduces optical fiber manufacturing costs by converting cheaper industrial grade chlorine into high-purity, lower moisture chlorine gas suitable for making optical fibers.

"Chlorine is a critical gas in optical fiber manufacturing because it is primarily used as a drying agent in the consolidation of optical fiber performs," explains Art Shirley, Ph.D., director of commercialization and technology, fiber optics solutions, BOC.

"As the fiber industry migrates to the new G652c standard low water peak fibers, many manufacturers are beginning to use higher purity, lower moisture grades of chlorine. Fiber makers are moving from 99.95 percent purity to 99.999 percent or greater and from parts per million moisture levels down to parts per billion," Shirley said.

High purity chlorine is usually supplied in cylinders. BOC's on-site purification system eliminates both the costs and the risks inherent in handling multiple cylinders of chlorine, a hazardous material that requires special safety and handling procedures.

"By eliminating contamination from cylinder-filling and change-outs, on-site purification also improves chlorine consistency, increases fiber yields and reduces down-time. As an added reliability factor, the existing chlorine manifolds are retained in place and BOC can also provide cylinder back-up," Rush said.

"BOC's onsite chlorine purification technology is another example of how we are developing solutions that help optical fiber manufacturers improve their competitive position and reduce their total cost of ownership," Rush said.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/34505/boc-introduces-on-site-chlorine-purification-for-optical-fiber-manufacture.html