Optran® HUV – High-NA UV Fiber (350-2200 nm)

Optran HUV and Optran HWF are high‑numerical‑aperture (high‑NA) silica core optical fibers with a fluorinated hard polymer cladding, designed by CeramOptec for efficient light coupling and robust handling. Both use a silica core with a fluorinated polymer cladding, but they differ in OH (hydroxyl) content and thus in their optimized spectral performance: - Optran HUV: high‑OH content (>700 ppm), optimized for UV and visible applications, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), UV curing, and broadband sensing starting in the near‑UV. - Optran HWF: low‑OH content (

Optran HUV and HWF fibers are specified for a broad spectral range of approximately 350–2200 nm, covering UV‑visible through near‑infrared wavelengths. Within this band, the high‑OH HUV fiber typically offers better performance at shorter wavelengths (near‑UV to visible), while the low‑OH HWF fiber offers reduced attenuation in the visible to NIR region, similar to other low‑OH silica fibers used for telecom and sensing applications. CeramOptec provides a typical attenuation curve for both Optran HUV and HWF as reference data. Exact attenuation values depend on wavelength, core size, and configuration, but in general these high‑NA silica fibers are designed for efficient light transmission in illumination and sensing applications rather than ultra‑long‑distance telecom. For precise loss data at specific wavelengths (e.g., 405 nm, 532 nm, 1064 nm), CeramOptec recommends consulting their detailed reference curves or requesting project‑specific qualification data.

Optran HUV and HWF silica fibers are available with several high numerical aperture (NA) options. According to the datasheet, typical NAs are: - 0.37 ± 0.02 - 0.48 ± 0.02 - 0.52 ± 0.02 - 0.57 ± 0.02 High‑NA fibers can accept light over a larger input cone angle, which directly improves coupling efficiency from LEDs, laser diodes, and broadband lamps—especially when the light source is not perfectly collimated. Compared with standard telecom fibers (NA ~0.12–0.15), these Optran fibers are particularly well suited for illumination, photodynamic therapy delivery, UV curing, and industrial sensing where maximum captured light and flexible launching conditions are more important than single‑mode operation. Choosing the NA depends on the application: higher NA (e.g., 0.52–0.57) maximizes coupling and collection efficiency, while moderate NA (e.g., 0.37–0.48) can offer somewhat reduced modal dispersion and may be preferred in some measurement and imaging setups.

The Optran HUV and HWF product line covers a broad range of large‑core multimode fiber geometries to accommodate different illumination and sensing setups: - Core diameter range: 100–2000 µm (standard range; other sizes can often be customized on request, consistent with similar CeramOptec product families). - Core / cladding ratio: standard ratios from 1:1.04 to 1:1.4, enabling thin or relatively thicker polymer claddings depending on required mechanical robustness and numerical aperture. - Jacketing options: common jackets include - ETFE (operating temperature approx. –40 °C to +150 °C) - Nylon (operating temperature approx. –40 °C to +100 °C) ETFE and Nylon jackets help protect the fiber mechanically and chemically, and are widely used in industrial and medical‑adjacent environments. For specialized configurations—such as stainless‑steel tubing, furcation jackets, or multi‑fiber bundles—CeramOptec typically offers project‑specific solutions upon consultation.

For Optran HUV/HWF fibers, the operating temperature is primarily limited by the fluorinated polymer cladding and the chosen outer jacket rather than the silica core: - Base operating temperature (fiber with polymer cladding): approximately –40 °C to +150 °C (per technical overview). - ETFE jacket: typically supports –40 °C to +150 °C. - Nylon jacket: typically supports –40 °C to +100 °C. These ranges are suitable for most industrial illumination and sensing uses, as well as many laboratory and medical‑adjacent applications. However, polymer‑clad fibers are not intended for very high‑temperature or harsh chemical environments where the polymer cladding could degrade. In corrosive, solvent‑rich, or vacuum environments, users should validate chemical compatibility of the polymer cladding and jacket. For continuous operation near the temperature limits or under high mechanical stress (tight bends, vibration), CeramOptec recommends application‑specific qualification and possibly alternative jacketing or protective tubing.

Optran HUV and HWF fibers are designed for robust illumination and sensing tasks across a wide wavelength range. Typical applications include: - Illumination: coupling high‑power LEDs, lamps, and laser diodes into large‑core fibers for homogenized light delivery. - Industrial sensing: fiber‑based probes and measurement heads for process monitoring, temperature or fluorescence sensing, and other in‑line analytics. - Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): delivery of therapeutic light to tissue, benefiting from high NA and large cores for efficient and uniform irradiation. - Broadband sensing systems & analytical instrumentation: spectroscopic probes and systems in the UV‑VIS‑NIR, including absorbance, fluorescence, and Raman setups. - UV curing processes: guiding UV light to cure adhesives, coatings, and inks in industrial or medical device manufacturing. Compared with standard telecom fibers, Optran HUV/HWF are optimized for high‑NA, large‑core, and robust handling rather than single‑mode transmission over long distances.

These fibers are designed for reliable, repeatable performance in demanding environments. Key mechanical and handling features include: - Standard proof test: 100 kpsi, which is a common strength level for high‑quality silica fibers, indicating good resistance to micro‑bending and tensile stress when properly handled. - Fluorinated hard polymer cladding: provides increased robustness versus bare silica cladding, improving resistance to surface damage during handling, connectorization, and integration into assemblies. - In‑house preform and controlled drawing: CeramOptec manufactures its own preforms and fiber, enabling consistent optical and mechanical properties across production batches, important for OEMs and repeat orders. Proper handling practices still apply: avoid sharp bends below the recommended minimum bend radius for the chosen core/cladding/jacket, prevent kinking, and use suitable connectors or ferrules. For demanding OEM or medical‑adjacent use, CeramOptec can provide project‑specific qualification data and recommendations on routing, bending, and long‑term reliability.