Fundamental Understanding of Processes Involved in Optical Fiber Manufacturing Using Outside Vapor Deposition Method

Optical fibers are often made using a flame hydrolysis deposition process, in which silica and doped silica particles from a soot‐laden flame are deposited on a target rod. The porous preforms thus formed are subsequently sintered into glass blanks and then drawn into optical fiber. We review here various tools that have been developed for better understanding of different processes involved in the making of optical fibers using the outside vapor deposition technique. Fundamental understanding of the different unit operations involved in the optical fiber manufacturing is critical for process optimization and improved product attributes.