Abrasion resistant diamond like coating for optical fiber and method of forming the coating

Abstract

A coating is provided for an optical fiber that inhibits abrasion or scraing of the fiber's surface. The coating is obtained by depositing a thin film of non-hydrogenated diamond-like amorphous carbon (a-C) onto the optical fiber using a laser ablation technique employing graphite as a target material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical fiber with a thin inorganic abrasion resistant coating of a non-hydrogenated amorphous carbon that is extremely hard and slippery, with microhardness values above 3000 and coefficient of friction values below 0.2.