phone (800) IS-FIBER · (508) 992-6464

    Toggle Nav
    My Cart
    My Quote
    close
    Search

    Where Does Dust Based End Face Contamination Come From?

    by:
    CLEANING: Ask FOC Ask FOC
    Published: August 16, 2017

    QUESTION: Where does dust based end face contamination come from?

     

    ANSWER:

    There are two basic sources of dust based contamination.

    1. Wear Debris

    The most common source is wear debris caused by the contact friction of inserting a connector into the adapter.  Connectors like the SC and MPO have sliding housing that are held in place by latches in the adapter.  Other connector systems like the ST, FC, and many of the hardened connector systems have metal housings that are threaded and use orientation keys that generate wear debris. Other sources of wear debris are the protective end caps. Removing the end caps from a connector that was perfectly clean during the last inspection at factory will cause the end face to become contaminated when the end cap is removed by the installer.

    2. Environmental Dust

    The other common contributors for dust based contamination is our environment.  The common sources of dust in the air that contribute to dust based contamination include:

    • Dead skin, hair, and clothing lint

    • Foam based swabs and paper based wipes

    • Zinc whiskers from electroplated surfaces

    • Cardboard packaging

    • Plant pollen and molds

    • Aerial blown dirt and sands

    • Concrete and carpet dust

    • Electricity generation & vehicle emissions

     

     

    ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES:

     

     

      Answered by AskFOC Technical Team WITH the Sticklers MicroCare Corporation Team August 16, 2017

     

     

    Have a technical question for Fiber Optic Center?

    Please email your question to AskFOC@focenter.com and we will respond ASAP.

    In addition to replying, we will post your question and our answer here on focenter.com.  Everyone remains anonymous when we post so feel comfortable asking.  You can also search your question and others in our content search.

     

    About the Author
    FOC FAQ Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.
    Education Resources

     

    Light Brigade Certified Training

     

    About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.
    Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

    For further information contact:
    Fiber Optic Center, Inc., 23 Centre Street, New Bedford, MA 02740-6322
    Toll Free in US: 800-IS-FIBER or 800-473-4237 . Direct 508-992-6464. Email: sales@focenter.com or fiberopticcenter@focenter.com

    For media contact:
    Kathleen Skelton, Director of Strategic Marketing, C: 617-803-3014 . E: kskelton@focenter.com
    Copyright Notice: Copyrights in all articles published on focenter.com are owned by Fiber Optic Center, Inc. (FOC) or other individuals or entities. No content on focenter.com may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Fiber Optic Center, Inc.