Cellulose Acetate Based Optical Fibers Produced by Melt-Spinning

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Currently, there is increasing interest in developing sustainable optical fibers using renewable materials. Cellulose, together with its derivatives, has emerged as a promising candidate for short-distance optical transmission. Such bio-based polymer optical fibers (Bio-POFs) are traditionally produced via spinning processes from solution. Commercially used POFs produced from fossil sources are commonly fabricated via melt spinning techniques, eliminating the need for solvents. This study presents a first proof-of-concept of a scalable method for producing Bio-POFs from glycerol triacetate-plasticized cellulose acetate (60 and 70 wt % cellulose acetate). In utilizing both batch and continuous filament melt extrusion techniques of plasticized cellulose acetate, we produced Bio-POFs and investigated the attenuation by both UV/vis and NIR spectroscopy. The minimum attenuation value obtained is 31.8.2 dB m –1 (950 nm), which further closes the performance gap toward fossil-based POFs. This approach offers a sustainable and practical solution for the next generation of Bio-POF applications while ensuring consistent optical performance.