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    Where Contamination Comes From in the Normal Polishing Process

    by:
    POLISH: Ask FOC Ask FOC
    Published: August 16, 2018

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    QUESTION:

    Where does the contamination come from in the normal polishing process?

     

    ANSWER:

    Contamination is primarily a natural result of the normal polishing process. Ferrules are polished on abrasive films or flock-pile pads impregnated with abrasives. During polishing, some of these abrasive particles, along with the ceramic or plastic material being removed from the ferrule itself, come free and mix with the water used as a lubricant within the process. This results in an abrasive slurry that contaminates the fixture and the ferrules themselves. Common polishing practices require the operator to clean the bottom of the fixture between polishing cycles, to remove abrasive particles that may create fiber end-face scratches in subsequent polishing steps. However, this slurry can (and will) migrate into crevices and the bores of the fixture—places difficult or unlikely to be fully cleaned or flushed out during normal polishing process. Allowed to dry, it will harden and cake.

    READ THE FULL BLOG ARTICLE HERE: Fiber Optic Polishing Fixture Maintenance: Fiber Optic Polishing Fixture Contamination and Ultrasonic Cleaning

     

    ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES:

     

      Answered by AskFOC Technical Team: August 16, 2018

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    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.
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    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

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    Fiber Optic Center, Inc., 23 Centre Street, New Bedford, MA 02740-6322
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