Optical Fibers (Textile)
Functional / Light Transmission and Illumination (光导纤维)
Quick Facts
| Type | Functional fiber; transmits light along its length by total internal reflection — light enters one end, emerges at the other (or leaks along the sides for side-emitting/glowing effect) |
| Material types | Glass optical fiber (SiO₂ doped with Ge, P, F): telecom-grade, highest transmission efficiency, fragile for textile use; Polymer optical fiber (PMMA, polycarbonate): flexible, textile-compatible, lower transmission efficiency, dominant for textile applications; Fluoride glass: specialty IR transmission, not for textiles |
| Textile integration | POF woven or knitted into fabric; side-emitting POF (cladding modified to leak light along length) for illuminated/glowing fabrics; end-emitting POF for point-light effects |
| Key requirement | Fiber must survive textile processing (bending, tension, abrasion) without breaking or losing light transmission; PMMA-POF is the standard textile-grade optical fiber |
Properties
| Property | Rating | Engineering implication |
|---|---|---|
| Light transmission | ★★★★★ | Total internal reflection enables light delivery along the fiber; PMMA-POF attenuation ~0.1–0.3 dB/m at visible wavelengths; adequate for garment-scale use |
| Flexibility (POF) | ★★★★☆ | PMMA-POF bends to textile-required radii without breaking; glass optical fiber too brittle for most textile processing |
| Durability | ★★★☆☆ | Repeated flexing causes microcracks → increased attenuation; limited wash durability; protected integration (core of yarn, not surface) improves life |
Applications
| Application | Form | Key criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Illuminated fashion / costumes | Side-emitting PMMA-POF woven into fabric; LED-coupled | Stage costumes, haute couture, festival wear; the primary consumer-facing application |
| Safety / high-visibility | Side-emitting POF integrated into safety vests, sportswear | Active illumination (not just reflective) for nighttime visibility; military, cycling, running |
| Phototherapy textiles | POF fabric for light delivery to skin | Neonatal jaundice treatment blankets; dermatological light therapy; medical research stage |
Summary
Optical fiber textiles merge photonics with fabric — transmitting and emitting light through flexible polymer fibers integrated into textile structures. The dominant application is illuminated fashion, with safety and medical phototherapy as emerging markets. See the Textile Material framework.