New Double Layer Coating Prevents Scratches on CDs, DVDs, and LCD screens
| Published 11/03/04

Graphic by: Jenny Conner

Ever stashed your cell phone or PDA in your pocket, only to pull it out at the end of the day and found that your keys have scratched the screen? Or couldn't play a CD or DVD because it was scratched up so badly? These problems are about to become history thanks to a new super-tough coating for discs and LCD screens.

About two years ago, TDK, a Japanese company that makes tape and disc-based recording material, began developing a single layer coating that would make DVDs more resistant to scuffing. The new coating, however, is much more advanced. TDK tweaked its formula and made the coating double-layer instead of single layer, and made it transparent to a full spectrum of visible light instead of just a DVD's red laser. Therefore it can also be used to protect the plastic surface of LCD displays - that means your cell phone, PDA, laptop, or anything with an LCD screen for that matter, can be completely scratch resistant.

Tests of the coating included giving testers a wire wool pan scourer and a permanent marker. The testers were then invited to scratch or mark the discs. The scourer failed to hurt the discs, and the permanent ink simply wiped off. The only successful attempt at damaging the disc was a determined attack with a Swiss army knife, according to TDK.

So how does the coating work? Basically, its two layers of chemicals finely sprayed on the surface. The layers are made up of fine silica particles to prevent scratches, and fluorine containing resins to repel ink marks. TDK hasn't released exactly how the two layers work together to protect the newly filed patents.

So now you can keep your cell phone in your pocket with your keys and pens, or refuse to store your CD's in cases (or keep them in a cardboard box in the floorboard of your car, like I do) and not worry about them being destroyed by scratches or ink marks.

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