Application of green carborundum micropowder in the production of optical fiber polishing paper polishing discs and polishing belts

Application of green carborundum micropowder in the production of optical fiber polishing paper polishing discs and polishing belts

Green carborundum is also called green silicon carbide,green SiC and short for “GC”.

The core of the application of green carborundum powder in the production of optical fiber polishing paper, polishing discs and polishing tapes is to use its high hardness (Mohs 9.4), sharp cutting edges and excellent self-sharpening properties to efficiently and precisely process the quartz glass/silica substrate of optical fiber preforms and finished optical fibers.

Application advantages of green carborundum micropowder

Suitable for hard and brittle materials: Optical fiber is mainly composed of quartz glass, which is a high-hardness, low-toughness material. Green carborundum micropowder has a hardness between corundum and diamond, strong cutting force and is not prone to deep cracks, making it suitable for precision grinding of such brittle non-metallic materials.

Minimal surface damage: The concentrated particle size distribution of green carborundum micropowder (such as W series or JIS standard) can reduce random scratches during the polishing process, ensuring that the fiber end face or sidewall meets the nanoscale roughness requirements and reducing optical signal loss.

Excellent heat dissipation and stability: The high thermal conductivity of green carborundum helps to quickly dissipate grinding heat, preventing localized overheating of the optical fiber and subsequent structural deformation; it is chemically stable and does not react adversely with quartz.

Exact applications

Fiber optic polishing paper (coated abrasive)

Used for the transition from coarse to fine grinding of fiber optic connector end faces. Medium to fine grit (e.g., 800#-3000#) is typically selected, utilizing the sharp particles of green carborundum to quickly remove scratches and prepare the surface for subsequent polishing.

Features: Good backing flexibility; when combined with micronized powder, it can achieve uniform removal of scratches on curved or planar fiber end faces.

Fiber optic polishing discs (bonded/semi-bonded polishing tools)

It is often used for plane grinding of the end face of optical fiber ferrules. Resin or metal bond grinding discs made of high-purity green carborundum micropowder (SiC≥98.5%) can ensure extremely high flatness and parallelism.
Key indicators: Micropowder has no large particle impurities and avoids deep pits on the surface of precision ceramic ferrules.

Fiber optic polishing tape (sanding tape)

Suitable for sizing grinding of fiber optic rod outer diameter or side treatment of long-distance optical fibers. Green carborundum micropowder adheres firmly to the abrasive belt, exhibiting long wear resistance and suitable for efficient removal in continuous production.

Advantages: Excellent self-sharpening properties; as the abrasive grains become passivated, they can detach in a timely manner, exposing new cutting edges and maintaining constant grinding efficiency.

Particle size selection reference

Particle size selection: Coarse grinding commonly uses 400#-1200# to remove large excess material; fine grinding commonly uses 1500#-4000# or even higher (such as 6000#-8000#) to eliminate subsurface damage.

Purity requirement: High-purity green carborundum(with extremely low Fe and Si impurity content) must be used to prevent metal ions from contaminating the fiber end face and affecting optical performance.

Processing: Typically used as a medium in the “grinding” stage, it requires subsequent final “polishing” with diamond or cerium oxide polishing slurry to achieve an optical-grade surface.

Zhengzhou Haixu Abrasives Co., Ltd., established in 1999, has been engaged in the production of white fused alumina powder. It adopts the most traditional pickling, water-washing, overflow classification process, with stable quality and centralized particle size control.

The sizes of the green carborundum produced by our factory is as follows: