<s>
Stripping	B-Device
is	O
the	O
act	O
of	O
removing	O
the	O
protective	O
polymer	O
coating	O
around	O
optical	B-Architecture
fiber	I-Architecture
in	O
preparation	O
for	O
fusion	O
splicing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fiber	B-Device
optical	I-Device
stripping	I-Device
can	O
be	O
done	O
using	O
a	O
special	O
stripping	B-Device
and	O
preparation	O
unit	O
that	O
uses	O
hot	O
sulphuric	O
acid	O
or	O
a	O
controlled	O
flow	O
of	O
hot	O
air	O
to	O
remove	O
the	O
coating	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
also	O
mechanical	O
tools	O
used	O
for	O
stripping	B-Device
fiber	O
which	O
are	O
similar	O
to	O
copper	O
wire	O
strippers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fiber	B-Device
optical	I-Device
stripping	I-Device
and	O
preparation	O
equipment	O
used	O
in	O
fusion	O
splicing	O
is	O
commercially	O
available	O
through	O
a	O
small	O
number	O
of	O
specialized	O
companies	O
,	O
which	O
usually	O
also	O
design	O
machines	O
used	O
for	O
fiber	B-Device
optical	I-Device
recoating	I-Device
.	O
</s>
