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What are fiber optic cables made of

Fiber and communications infrastructure knowledge brief Published 07 Feb 2024

Use this reference to prepare product questions for BAGYOU FIBRE. Check interfaces, capacity, protection and installation requirements against the current product documentation.

Fiber optic cables are primarily made of ultra-pure silica glass or plastic for the core, surrounded by cladding, protective coatings, strength members, and an outer jacket.

Core and Cladding

The core is the central part of the fiber through which light travels. It is typically made from ultra-pure silica glass for long-distance, high-speed transmission, or from plastic polymers like PMMA for short-distance applications. The cladding surrounds the core and has a slightly lower refractive index, which ensures total internal reflection, keeping light confined within the core.

Cladding is usually made from fluoride-doped silica or similar materials.

Protective Coatings

To protect the delicate core and cladding, fibers are coated with UV-cured acrylate layers, often in a dual-layer system: a soft primary coating and a hard secondary coating. These coatings prevent micro-scratches, moisture ingress, and mechanical damage during handling and installation.

Strength Members

Fiber optic cables include strength members to provide tensile strength and durability. Common materials include aramid yarn (e.g., Kevlar®), fiberglass rods, or steel wires, depending on the cable type and application. These materials protect the fiber from stretching or breaking during installation and environmental stress.

Outer Jacket

The outer jacket shields the cable from environmental hazards such as moisture, chemicals, and physical impact. Typical jacket materials include PVC, polyethylene (PE), or low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) compounds. For outdoor or submarine cables, additional layers like water-blocking gels, metallic armoring, or specialized chemical repellents may be added.

Additional Components

Some fiber optic cables include ribbon matrices, identification inks, or micro-additives to improve performance, facilitate installation, or prevent crosstalk. In specialized applications, metallic components may be incorporated for grounding or chemical insulation. Glass vs.

Plastic Fibers

Glass fibers: Made from ultra-pure silica, they offer low signal loss, high durability, and are suitable for long-distance transmission, but are more fragile and expensive. Plastic fibers: Made from polymers like acrylate or polyimide, they are flexible, easier to handle, and cost-effective, but have higher signal loss and are suitable for short-distance applications. In summary, fiber optic cables are complex assemblies designed for high-speed, low-loss data transmission, combining optical materials, protective coatings, structural strength members, and environmental jackets to meet diverse application requirements.

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What are fiber optic cables made of

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Technical note

This reference is intended for preliminary fiber and communications infrastructure research. Optical interface, fiber type, port or core capacity, electrical input and output, enclosure protection, cooling, installation limits and applicable standards must be verified for the specific project.

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