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A liquid lightguide comprising a tube made out of a fluoropolymer, covered on the inside by a thin amorphous coating layer and closed at both ends by transparent plugs to contain within an optically transparent liquid. This liquid can be an aqueous solution of inorganic salts. The coating layer comp

A liquid lightguide comprising a tube made out of a fluoropolymer, covered on the inside by a thin amorphous coating layer and closed at both ends by transparent plugs to contain within an optically transparent liquid. This liquid can be an aqueous solution of inorganic salts. The coating layer comprises a solid fluoropolymer, like TEFLON.RTM. AF, preferably a mixture of a solid fluoropolymer and a liquid fluoropolymer like a perfluoropolyether. This mixture is more economical and promotes a better adhesion of the layer to the tube, and allows for increased flexibility of the tube and smaller tube diameters. The hydrophobic properties of the mixture in contact with the aqueous solution preserves the coating layer composition and thus its optical properties, thus increasing the lifetime of the lightguide.

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[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A liquid lightguide, comprising a tube, closed by transparent plugs at both ends and filled with an optical transparent liquid and coated on its surface with a thin coating layer containing a perfluorinated amorphous fluoropolymer, the coating layer having a refractive

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A liquid lightguide, comprising a tube, closed by transparent plugs at both ends and filled with an optical transparent liquid and coated on its surface with a thin coating layer containing a perfluorinated amorphous fluoropolymer, the coating layer having a refractive index lower than that of the transparent liquid, wherein the coating layer is a mixture of a solid perfluorinated amorphous fluoropolymer and a liquid hydrophobic perfluorinated amorphous fluoropolymer, wherein the weight ratio between the liquid hydrophobic perfluorinated amorphous fluoropolymer and the solid perfluorinated amorphous fluoropolymer is 0.05 to 3.0 and 1, respectively, and wherein the liquid hydrophobic perfluorinated amorphous fluoropolymer remains within the coating layer.