Reduction of the optical loss and optimization of polycyanurate thermosets used in integrated optics

The current infrastructure of the communication has to be expanded rapidly due to the dramatic increase of data, that is transferred via the internet. The optical network technology is the most suitable technology for this demand. Not only glass fibres are required, but also a broad range of optical components like splitters, switches and multiplexers, which are usually produced in silica technology. Polymeric materials are becoming more and more interesting for these applications, since they e.g. promise lower power consumption and lower production costs than their silica based pendants. Polycyanurate ester resins are a relatively new class of high-performance polymers with outstanding properties, for example high thermal stability, low optical loss, low dielectric constant, good adhesion and amazing mechanical properties. This paper focuses on the optical loss of such materials at 1550 nm, in the optimisation for use in integrated optics and for the production of embedded waveguides.