Description

This article is from the DVD Formats FAQ, by jtfrog@usa.net (Jim Taylor) with numerous contributions by others.

1.24 Can DVDs have laser rot?

Laserdiscs are subject to what's commonly called laser rot: the
deterioration of the aluminum layer due to oxidation or other chemical
change. This often results from the use of insufficiently pure aluminum
during replication, but can be exacerbated by mechanical shear stress due
to bending, warping or thermal cycles (the large size of laserdiscs makes
them flexible, so that movement along the bond between layers can break the
seal). Deterioration of the data layer can be caused by chemical
contaminants or gasses in the glue, or by moisture that penetrates the
acrylic substrates.

Like laserdiscs, DVDs are made of two platters glued together, but DVDs are
more rigid and use newer adhesives. DVDs are molded from polycarbonate,
which absorbs about ten times less moisture than the slightly hygroscopic
acrylic (PMMA) used for laserdiscs.

It's too early to know for sure, but DVDs will probably have few laser rot
problems. There have been reports of a few discs going bad, possibly due to
poor adhesive, chemical reactions, or oxidation of the aluminum layer. See
http://www.mindspring.com/~yerington/.

 

Continue to:

• prev: 1.23 Do all videos use Dolby Digital (AC-3)? Do they all have 5.1channels?
• Index
• next: 1.25 Which titles are pan & scan only? Why?

Share and Enjoy

Tags

pc, dvd, dvd-rom, dvd-video, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, recording, playing