Lapping film explained

Lapping film, in telecommunications, is a precision coated abrasive consumable mainly used for processing and polishing optical fiber connectors.^[1] It is made from a polyester base sheet, coated with precisely graded minerals^[2] such as diamond, aluminium oxide,^[3] silicon carbide, silicon oxide or cerium oxide.^[4] Lapping film is designed to provide a uniform, consistent finish on optical fiber connector end tips to ensure efficient light/signal transmission.^[5] It is available in 0.01-45 μm grades, with or without pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) backing.

Notes and References

1. CO 2 laser polishing of conical shaped optical fiber deflectors . Şimşek . E.U. . Şimşek . B. . Ortaç . B. . 2017 . . 123 . 6 . 1–9. 10.1007/s00340-017-6746-3 . 11693/36371 . 46932150 . free .
2. Book: Comprehensive Materials Finishing . 102 . 1-3 . Saleem Hashmi . 2016 . 9780128032503 . Elsevier Science.
3. Reliability of fibre Bragg gratings in polymer optical fibre . Dobb . H. . Carroll . K. . Webb . D.J. . Kalli . K. . Komodromos . M. . Themistos . C. . Peng . G.D. . Argyros . A. . Large . M.C.J. . Van Eijkelenborg . M.A. . Arresy . M. . Hans G. . M. John . Limberger . Matthewson . 2006 . Reliability of Optical Fiber Components, Devices, Systems, and Networks III . 6193 . 203–214 . SPIE. 10.1117/12.662313 . 2006SPIE.6193E..0QD . 54175894 .
4. Micro Grinding Technique of Mutilcore Fiber Endface Using 3D Flock-structured Film . Zheng . L.B. . Xie . J. . Na . T.K. . Xie . H.F. . 2012 . Advanced Materials Research . 426 . 243–246. 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.426.243 . 135749447 .
5. 10.1117/1.OE.55.2.026120 . Davenport . John J. . Hickey . Michelle . Phillips . Justin P. . Kyriacou . Panayiotis . 2016 . Method for producing angled optical fiber tips in the laboratory . . 55 . 2. 026120 . 2016OptEn..55b6120D . 32806740 .