Fine hot-pink filament wound in a dense flat block on a white bobbin, a single loose strand looping beneath.

Fiber optic cables are ideal for data transmission over long distances. Empa's fiber optic with liquid glycerol core is a flexible fiber that guides light through a transparent liquid center, combining the qualities of light transmission with stretchability and responsiveness.

Composition

Fiber optic cable, glycerol

Handling Notes

  • Used in e-textiles and soft textiles
  • Contains a liquid glycerol core for reliable long-distance data transmission
  • Can stretch up to 10 percent and return to original length, unlike typical solid-core fibers
  • Elongation lengthens the light path, causing a detectable color change in emitted light

Applications in Craft

Keywords

Provenance

Empa, Dübendorf, Switzerland. Acquired 2024.

In Use

Have you used this material?

Please contact Mellanee Goodman, Program Director, Curator, and Materials Specialist, to start a conversation about submitting your work for inclusion on this site.

mgoodman@centerforcraft.org