ANALYSIS & OPINION: FIBRE & CABLE


THE MOST COMMON THREAT TO AN OPTICAL NETWORK IS CONTAMINATION ON THE OPTICAL INTERCONNECTS


5G networks will need to handle more data to seamlessly stream demanding bandwidth


on the end-face. Some manufacturers also use mould release agents to speed the manufacturing of the tiny end-caps. Tese end- caps may retain some of the mould release agent on the inner surface, which can transfer onto the connector end-face. End-caps are never cleaned and frequently


have small amounts of dust inside the sleeve that can migrate onto the end-face. In addition, puting the end-cap on at the factory and removing it by the network installer can cause wear debris. Te best practice to ensure that optical


connectors are delivering the designed performance, is to inspect and clean both ends of the connector pair before they are mated.


Choose your tools wisely Ironically, the products used to clean fibre can be their Achilles’ heel. Contamination from cleaning fluid, Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is a common problem. Because IPA absorbs moisture from the air, it is extremely hygroscopic, so will atract water molecules, contaminating the liquid and


reducing its ability to clean. As the IPA absorbs the water molecules in the local humidity, it also picks up microscopic dust particles, such as exhaust particles from traffic and pollen from plants, as well as all the absorbed minerals and salts. All of these contaminants will degrade the cleaning process. IPA is also slow-drying. Water trapped in the


alcohol slows the drying process. Tis means more time is needed to evaporate the liquid from the end-face. Some engineers may use canned air to speed


the cleaning and drying of the fibre, however, this increases the static charge (atracting more dust) and pushes the debris around the area being cleaned. Additionally, IPA is classed as a Volatile


Organic Compound (VOC), and therefore has environmental implications. It is highly flammable, and many government regulations will not allow it to be air shipped. Tis can cause problems if a technician is required to fly or travel to remote areas and needs to transport


It is extremely important to clean end-faces to ensure contamination is removed before connecting


cleaning consumables to the work site. When choosing a cleaning fluid, ensure that it


has been specifically engineered for fibre optic connectors. It should include the key elements of being ultra-pure, residue-free, fast-drying, non- flammable, static-dissipative and hermetically sealed to prevent contamination. Also, look for cleaning fluid that meets strict regulatory and environmental standards. A fast-drying fluid is an especially desirable


characteristic, as this keeps moisture from being atracted to the end-face, and therefore minimises contamination. Tere are many highly effective connector cleaning products on the market that will help to make the process quick and simple.


Don’t take the gamble An extremely important point to make is that when cleaning, always inspect, clean and reinspect all the termini on both ends of a connector pair. As already established, contaminate is miniscule and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Te inspection processes help to visually


distinguish any contamination that can interfere or damage the surface of the optical termini. Tey also can identify permanent defects like scratches and piting, all of which will affect the signal. By proactively implementing modern cleaning


and inspection procedures, it will not only save time and money, but also make a network substantially more reliable. Tis will help to withstand the pressure on


increasing connectivity demands. When it comes to 5G networks don’t gamble on connectivity, ensure modern fibre cleaning procedures are implemented. n


Mike Jones is vice president (international) for MicroCare


1htps://www.statista.com/statistics/471264/iot- number-of-connected-devices-worldwide/


www.fibre-systems.com @fibresystemsmag Issue 23 n Spring 2019 n FiBRE SYSTEMS 23


MicroCare


MicroCare


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