A process for removing contaminants from a fiber reinforcement material, the process comprising: (a) feeding a fiber reinforcement into a heated vessel, (b) passing the fiber reinforcement through the heated vessel, (c) heating a source of fluid medium, (d) feeding the heated fluid medium from (c) into the heated vessel having a passageway in the heated vessel for allowing the heated fluid medium from (c) to enter into the heated vessel, (e) passing the heated fluid medium through the heated vessel; wherein the heated vessel has a passageway for allowing the heated fluid medium from (c) to exit the heated vessel, and (f) contacting the fiber reinforcement passing through the heated vessel with the heated fluid medium passing through the heated vessel such that any contaminants present in or on the fiber reinforcement is sufficiently reduced to provide a purified fiber reinforcement exiting the heated vessel.

The present invention is directed to a solid state binder composition for binding mineral fibers comprising a component (i) in form of one or more carbohydrates; a component (ii) in form of one or more compounds selected from sulfamic acid, derivatives of sulfamic acid or any salt thereof.

The present invention is directed to a solid state binder composition for binding mineral fibers comprising a component (i) in form of one or more carbohydrates; a component (ii) in form of one or more compounds selected from sulfamic acid, derivatives of sulfamic acid or any salt thereof.

An optical fiber base material machining method for forming spindle-shaped portions at ends of the optical fiber base material by severing the optical fiber base material after reducing an outer diameter of the optical fiber base material to a predetermined target outer diameter at a predetermined machining position, comprising: reducing the outer diameter to a predetermined intermediate outer diameter between the outer diameter before the machining and the target outer diameter at the machining position; flame polishing a surface of the optical fiber base material in a region including the machining position; and further reducing the outer diameter of the optical fiber base material.

An optical fiber base material machining method for forming spindle-shaped portions at ends of the optical fiber base material by severing the optical fiber base material after reducing an outer diameter of the optical fiber base material to a predetermined target outer diameter at a predetermined machining position, comprising: reducing the outer diameter to a predetermined intermediate outer diameter between the outer diameter before the machining and the target outer diameter at the machining position; flame polishing a surface of the optical fiber base material in a region including the machining position; and further reducing the outer diameter of the optical fiber base material.

A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.

An apparatus, system, and method for recycling glass fiber waste, particularly glass fiber embedded within a binder material. The system includes a kiln, a char separator, and a multi-stage molten salt bath having a temperature gradient. Glass fiber waste is provided to the kiln which converts the waste into glass fibers and char. At least some of the char is then separated from the glass fibers in the char separator. The glass fibers, and any remaining char, are then placed in the molten salt bath at the point having the lowest temperature. The glass fibers are then moved to the higher temperature areas within the molten salt bath. As the glass fibers pass from the low temperature to the high temperature, any remaining char is consumed, and the glass fibers are reconditioned via ionic exchange for further use. The glass fibers are then cooled for reuse.

An apparatus, system, and method for recycling glass fiber waste, particularly glass fiber embedded within a binder material. The system includes a kiln, a char separator, and a multi-stage molten salt bath having a temperature gradient. Glass fiber waste is provided to the kiln which converts the waste into glass fibers and char. At least some of the char is then separated from the glass fibers in the char separator. The glass fibers, and any remaining char, are then placed in the molten salt bath at the point having the lowest temperature. The glass fibers are then moved to the higher temperature areas within the molten salt bath. As the glass fibers pass from the low temperature to the high temperature, any remaining char is consumed, and the glass fibers are reconditioned via ionic exchange for further use. The glass fibers are then cooled for reuse.

A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.

A high efficiency optical combiner minimizes core region distortions in the area where fusion splicing between an input tapered fiber bundle (or any other type of cladding-less input fiber) and output fiber are joined. The thickness of the output fiber's glass cladding layer in the splice region is reduced (if not removed altogether) so that a core-to-core splice is formed and any necked-down region where the glass flows to join the core regions (while also joining the outer diameters) is essentially eliminated. The reduction of distortions in the core region of the splice improves the transmission efficiency between an input tapered fiber bundle and output fiber, reaching a level of about 99%. This high efficiency optical combiner is particularly well-suited for applications where a number of pump sources are combined and applied as an input to a fiber laser or amplifier.