This project is a collaborative study of flame assisted SiO2 formation and deposition for use in the Outside Vapor Deposition (OVD) process of forming SiO2 boules for producing optical fiber. An attractive new method, called Electric Field Enhanced Deposition (EFED), to enhance the deposition rate of SiO2 using an electric field is a major topic of study. The scientific goal of the research is to determine scaling laws for designing optimal flame configurations and for understanding the effect of operating parameters on the deposition process. The methodology combines numerical and analytic modeling with experimental measurements. Benefits of the research include an enhanced ability to predict the effect of changing operating parameters and geometry on the deposition rate and efficiency and the potential addition of a valuable new method for enhancing deposition. Although the study focuses on the OVD process, the results should be valuable in obtaining an improved understanding of other silica deposition processes and configurations and other flame deposition processes such as silicon carbide surface hardening and titanium dioxide paint production.
