Fig. 1. Metal-coated optical fiber preparation process diagram

Fig. 2. Tensile strength and fracture types of initial and preprocessed fibers. (a) Tensile strength of initial and preprocessed fibers; (b) types and quantities of fractures in original optical fiber; (c) types and quantities of fractures in preprocessed optical fiber

Fig. 3. Tensile strength of metal-coated optical fibers prepared under different process parameters (inset: time-tension curve of nearest points to average line of tensile strength). (a) Different sputtering powers; (b) different sputtering pressures

Fig. 4. Tensile strength of metal-coated fibers prepared at different deposition times (inset: time-tension curve of tensile strength)

Fig. 5. Microscopic morphology of Cr metal-coated fibers. (a) Surface of Cr metal-coated fiber; (b) enlargement of Fig. (a); (c) cross section of Cr metal-coated fiber

Fig. 6. Influence of different metal coatings on tensile strength of optical fibers. (a) Tensile strength of different metal-coated fibers; (b) tensile strength of Al metal-coated fibers prepared at different deposition time (inset: time-tension curve of tensile strength)