On Demand Curing Fiber Optic Refractive Index Matching Material Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Topic No.: N112-125 Topic Title: On Demand Curing Fiber Optic Refractive Index Matching Material Proposal No.: N112-125-1053 Firm: Luna Innovations Incorporated 1 Riverside Circle Suite 400 Roanoke, Virginia 24016 Contact: Laura Habersack Phone: (540) 558-1663 Web Site: www.lunainnovations.com Abstract: Current curable fiber optic index matching materials used to secure and index match fiber optic cores in mechanical splices have limited shelf lives at both storage and standard operating temperatures. Shelf life is particularly problematic in applications where no refrigeration or humidity control is available during shipping and storage of the curable index matching material prior to splicing. Due to the high power of optical signals running through the fiber, incompatible or inadequate mechanical splices can result in ignition of refractive index matching material. Significant improvement to optical, environmental and shelf life properties of index matching materials are needed for mechanical splicing onboard current and future military aerospace platforms. Novel material chemistries are needed to improve the shelf life performance of mechanical splices based on light cured index matching materials. Luna Innovations, through its work in on-demand curing resins, has identified a novel class of compounds capable of high fidelity index matching that can be photocured and exhibits no dark reaction even after several months of storage. In Phase I, Luna will demonstrate the long shelf life of the novel materials via accelerated aging life testing and mechanical splicing and will deliver the novel uncured material to the Navy. Benefits: Mechanical splices for the repair of fiber optics are becoming more necessary in the rapidly emerging area of optical science and photonic devices, which have applications in optical linear switching, modulators, signal processing and biochemical sensing. The proposed rapid cure, high shelf life, high fidelity index matching material for splices proposed by the team at Luna Innovations has the potential to dramatically accelerate the construction and maintenance of optical systems and reduce the costs of storage and time delays. Once fully developed, this material will be incorporated into state-of-the-art splice systems and will be targeted for use in the medical, industrial welding and telecommunications industries. Return