Higher speed fiber optic networks demand lower losses in fiber optic cabling. Since the biggest source of loss is terminations, installers are reconsidering adhesive/polish terminations because they have lower losses. How well do you understand today’s adhesive/polish terminations? Answers and explanations are in red.

1. Adhesive/polish connectors generally have the lowest loss but not necessarily always the ________ of all termination types.

A. Lowest cost

B. Fastest termination time

C. Highest reliability

D. Highest yield

Prepolished/splice connectors have faster termination times but higher loss and cost.

2. Factory-made terminations on patch cables generally use ________ adhesives.

A. Room-temperature-cured epoxy

B. Heat-cured epoxy

C. Anaerobic adhesives

D. Hot-melt adhesive

Heat cured epoxy terminations are used for virtually all factory-made terminations due to lower cost, loss and yield plus higher reliability.

3. All heat-cured epoxy adhesives can also be cured at room temperature.

True

False

Some epoxies will only cure at room temperature, some only in ovens. They should only be used as specified by the manufacturer.

4. A big advantage of the epoxy/polish termination method is ________.

A. It is the most reliable

B. The epoxy bead on the end of the ferrule makes the terminaton easy to polish

C. It is one of the cheapest

D. All of the above

All are advantages of epoxy/polish terminations, which is why many installers prefer them even if the termination procedures are more complicated.

5. Anaerobic adhesives are closely related to ________.

A. Krazy Glue

B. Gorilla Glue

C. Automotive rearview mirror glue

D. Elmer’s Glue

The glue used to cement the metal puck onto an auto windshield is similar, with a thin film adhesive and separate accelerator solution.

6. Which of the following methods is not usable with anaerobic adhesives?

A. Injecting adhesive into the connector and dipping the fiber in accelerator before insertion in the connector

B. Injecting adhesive into the connector and spraying the fiber with accelerator after insertion in the connector

C. Wiping the fiber with adhesive and inserting it in the connector without accelerator

D. Mixing the adhesive and accelerator and injecting the mixture in the connector before inserting the fiber

This method will cause the adhesive to set before the fiber can be installed.

7. 3M Hot Melt adhesive connectors ________.

A. Use a high-temperature oven to melt the adhesive before inserting the fiber

B. Use the same oven as epoxy adhesive

C. Use a high-temperature oven to cure the adhesive after inserting the fiber

D. Can be terminated with a heat gun as easily as an oven

Hot Melt adhesive preinserted in a connector at the factory is melted at 200 deg C (epoxy uses 100 deg C) before the fiber is inserted.

8. Which adhesive method is harder to polish because it does not leave a hard bead of adhesive on the end of the ferrule to support the fiber during initial polishing?

A. Room-temperature-cured epoxy

B. Heat-cured epoxy

C. Anaerobic adhesives

D. Hot Melt adhesive

Anaerobic adhesives do not leave a small bead of adhesive on the end of the connector ferrule that supports the fiber during polishing.

9. Hot Melt adhesive connectors can be reheated and repolished if problems occur in polishing.

True

False

By inserting the fiber into the connector and them pulling it back about 1/16 inch (2 mm), it can be reheated them pushed out to allow repolishing.

10. When terminating a multifiber cable, adhesive curing time ________.

A. Makes termination slow since each fiber must be terminated and cured separately

B. Makes it important to choose a fast-curing adhesive

C. Requires careful timing from the installer

D. Is irrelevant because one fiber can cure while the next is being assembled

Adhesive curing time is irrelevant when working with multifiber cables. Each connector can be assembled then set aside to allow the adhesive to cure while other connectors are assembled.

HAYES is a VDV writer and educator and the president of The Fiber Optic Association. Find him at www.jimhayes.com.