Abstract

The first step in producing optical waveguides by the MCVD process¹ is making highly concentric fused silica tubes with minimal variation along their entire length. These are among the tube properties required to make them compatible with subsequent process steps and end-product requirements. Drawing processes are presently used to fabricate these tubes where their final shape is formed in free space under the guidance of the drawing parameters. Extrusion methods make use of an orifice to control the final shape of the issuing extrudate. It is this inherent process property that was the impetus to explore the extrusion of fused silica tubing. This paper describes a gas-head extrusion method for fabrication of pure fused silica tubes.

© 1981 Optical Society of America