FEATURE fibre cleaning
bottles of IPA aren ’ t going to do much damage . But many locales – such as California and New Jersey – have implemented clean air legislation that make it very difficult to legally use VOCs in such containers . Emerging nations such as China also have considered the VOC problem to become a better global neighbour . So while a technician may be able to get IPA it may not be legal to use it . Single use penalties can be as high as five figures and include incarceration ! Yes , we live in a new legislative environment – and one of best practice performance .
For fusion splice prep there is one last concern : the residual moisture in the IPA will corrode the electrodes on expensive fusion splicing equipment . As the high intensity arc fuses the fibres the heat not only evaporates remaining IPA but also the moisture embedded in the IPA . Yes , you can replace the electrodes , but would it not be better practice to select a chemical that does not hasten their demise ? This is the reason many major fusion splice producers have gravitated away from IPA for splice prepping and now market applicationspecific products in unique packages .
Fibre optics need fast , consistent and reliable contamination removal .
– not just sometime , not just maybe – but each time it is dispensed . IPA out ; water and contamination in . For optimal results , the packaging should be hermetically sealed .
There is another concern : the headroom in the drum or pail of IPA will have air that contains moisture . This exposure continues hygroscopic deterioration . There is no practical way a technician can estimate the purity of IPA that has been opened or improperly stored . The best practice is not to use IPA at all .
Can companies buy pure IPA and solve the haze problem ? Many try , but I believe that the purchase of 99.9 per cent reagent grade IPA is a waste of money and effort . Here ’ s the little secret about reagent grade IPA : since it is the most pure it is the most hygroscopic .
Ed Forrest has a long career in the fibre optic industry , including patents , products in production and patents pending . He is an expert on the 3D nature of connectors , contamination , cleaning and the implications for network design and performance .
99.9 per cent ‘ reagent grade IPA ’ will reduce itself to drug store purity long before the container is emptied . Unless the techs are buying reagent grade IPA in a hermetically sealed container and using it under very controlled conditions ( such as protecting it with a nitrogen blanket to control moisture absorption ) your company is just wasting money .
Storage and packaging is a problem that is rarely discussed but is crucial in this environment . IPA is a hazardous liquid because it is flammable . All flammables should receive special storage and handling . These characteristics also make it difficult and expensive to ship IPA , and IPA certainly cannot be carried on to airplanes because of numerous TSA , DOT , FAA and IATA regulations . As a result , it often is difficult for techs in remote locations to have the proper cleaning fluid on hand . A better choice would be to select a nonflammable , nonaerosol , non-hazardous liquid which are easy to ship anywhere .
Environmentally , IPA is a Volatile Organic Compound ( VOC ). This means it contributes to local smog . Now , tiny
What is the answer ?
The point is simple : there have been many important advances in the science of cleaning over the past three decades . The essential reality is IPA has been surpassed and replaced by safer and more effective chemicals .
Fibre optics need fast , consistent and reliable contamination removal , as well as a dry surface . The selection of a fluid for cleaning fibre optics is a complex trade-off of many attributes ; cost , storage , handling , purity , actual cleaning ability , drying time and worker safety to name a few . Modern , nonflammable fluids – along with the appropriate non-cellulose wipers ( no paper cosmetic-like nose tissues ) – are the best choice to ensure a clean surface that is optimised for ultra high speed and ultra capacity fibre optics . The best choices are ultra pure , fast evaporating , non-flammable cleaners in nonrefillable , hermetically sealed containers . When choosing a wiper , I prefer hydroentangled non-woven polyester / cellulose cloth , not cheap paper wipes .
Look for better products – they are on the same catalogue page as IPA . Remember , by the time that expensive reagent grade IPA is used it will have lost almost all its cleaning ability , wasting time and money and compromising the performance of your network .
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