Study of the effect of gravity on ZBLAN glass as a commercial program

It is the intent of this study to utilize microgravity processing of glass materials composed of ZrF₄-BaF₂-LaF₃-AlF₃-NF (ZBLAN) to provide an infrared transmitting optical glass with reduced microcrystallites. Independent fiber annealing experiments using parabolic flights and sounding rockets performed by a Canadian group and our group in the United States have demonstrated that a reduction in nucleation does occur in reduced gravity. The commercial aspects of the ZBLAN program are to scale up to process preforms and to pull fibers in space. These experiments are in the developmental stage at this time. The end result will lead to the development of a process whereby ZBLAN fibers with improved optical transmission for commercial applications are achieved. Commercial participation includes Infra-red Fiber Systems, Galileo, Lucent Technologies (Bell Labs), and Corning Glass.