GENERATION OF LIGHT EMISSION FABRIC USING PMMA/PS BASED CLAD-STRIPPED PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBER

Abstract

Plastic optical fibers (POF) have several advantages over the conventional glass optical fibers
(GOF), such as flexibility and transfer of visible lights. For information delivery, various IT devices can be
interconnected into or onto the fabric. For aesthetic value, fabric can be active light emission device using
optical fiber. In this work, we propose a light emission fabric which contains optical fiber structure with the
external clad layer removed using mechanical or chemical method. POF was embedded into plain weave
structure and the light scattering phenomenon was measured quantitatively by specially designed 3D printed
jig using google SketchUp software. Various light frequency including 405nm, 455nm, 530nm and 627 nm
tested because visible and UV lights were of our concern. Thermal and mechanical force were used for the clad
removal respectively and the removal status was measured using microscope. Light scattering was stronger in
clad-removed fibers, especially 5 times in 455 nm.