POF vs GOF: Plastic Optical Fiber vs Glass Optical Fiber

This page compares POF (Plastic Optical Fiber) vs GOF (Glass Optical Fiber) and mentions the difference between Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) and Glass Optical Fiber (GOF). It highlights the advantages and disadvantages of both POF and GOF.

Introduction

• The fiber optic communication system consists of three major components: an optical source (e.g., LED, laser), a photodetector or light receiver, and a guiding medium of optical fiber.
• Optical fiber is a long, hair-like dielectric structure (made of silica or plastic) with a nearly circular cross-section.
• The central active region (known as the core) allows the propagation of optical signals through multiple total internal reflection processes.
• The cladding region helps to confine the optical signal within the core by reflecting light at the core-cladding interface.
• The extreme outer protective jacket prevents the core and cladding from damage.
• Optical fibers are mainly categorized into plastic fiber and glass fiber.

POF | Plastic Optical Fiber

• In this fiber, both the core and cladding regions are made of plastic or polymeric materials.
• Polystyrene (PS) as the core material and Polymethyl methacrylate (PAMA) as the cladding material provide the best results as plastic fiber.
• Plastic fibers are preferred for short distances (< 100 meters) and low signal transmission (~ few Mbps) systems.
• They are used in various applications such as strain sensors and acoustic sensors. They are primarily used in the medical and automotive industries.
• Refer to the advantages and disadvantages of Plastic optical fiber for more information.

GOF | Glass Optical Fiber

• They are made of strands of glass surrounded by specific sheathing (e.g., stainless steel).
• They are durable and can withstand low to high temperatures in the range of -40°F to +900°F.
• The light wave can travel over greater distances as the cladding does not absorb any light from the core. Some of the light degrades within the fiber cable due to impurities in the glass.
• The basis of textile-grade glass optical fiber is silica (i.e., SiO2).

Difference between Plastic Optical Fiber and Glass Optical Fiber

The following table highlights the differences between plastic and glass optical fiber types, including their respective advantages and disadvantages.