Scratch-Less Disc manufacturer uses bumps to protect surface

Ein

Contributor
Almost anyone who has handled CDs or DVDs has encountered the problem of getting a disc scratched. Up until now, every anti-scratch technology that has been used on CDs and DVDs has been some sort of anti-scratch coating and there have also been devices and scratch-repair tools aims to fix discs by filling in scratches. Well, a manufacturer has come up with what they call the World's Safest Optical Disc, a disc which actually prevents scratches from occuring in the first place, rather than just adding coatings to resist scratches.

If one puts a disc data-side down on a hard surface such as a table, top of the PC or anywhere besides a protective sleeve or jewel case, this makes the disc very vulnerable to scratching. To overcome this, the Scratch-Less Disc uses 'Aero Bumps', with 20 of these placed around the bottom of the disc at the outer and inner rims. As a result, if one of these is placed data-side down, these bumps will prevent the surface from touching the surface below, thus avoiding any scratches from taking place. As an added protection, the data side surface is also protected with a scratch resistant polymer.

You all know that scratches on your CD or DVD suck. They make the disc skip and make you miserable. These etches of misery most often come from the discs resting on hard surfaces.

The Scratch-Less Disc incorporates two innovative features to protect the disc. The first are Aero Bumps, 20 small bumps placed on the bottom of the disc. The bumps stop the surface of the disc from contacting the table, so scratches are avoided. The second feature is the Safety Shield, a scratch resistant polymer that hardens the surface. Obviously, the performance of the disc is unaffected by either feature.

Some technical info can be found here.

As these "Aero Bumps" effectively add to the disc’s thickness, chances are that these discs will not be compatible with slot-loading drives. These "Aero Bumps" will likely cause some sort of friction also, especially when spun at over 10,000rpm in most PC drives, so there may also be a fair bit more strain placed on the drive’s motor. Finally, if the disc gets warped, there is also a greater chance of these bumps striking the surface below. On the other hand, it is interesting to see a technology which prevents the disc surface from touching the surface below, one of the main causes of scratching from my experience.
 
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