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Updated Jan. 6, 2005 |
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Information contained in the news releases are current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
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Adopts the "DURABIS" as Worldwide Name for
Its Super Hard Coating Technology
Original hard coating technology for optical disc recording surface means significant improvement in resistance to scratches, grime and dust
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January 6, 2005 |
TDK Corporation announced that it will apply the name DURABIS to the super hard coating technology already in use with TDK's DVD and Blu-ray Disc products, which have been acclaimed for their robust surfaces. The new term will be applied to TDK products being sold worldwide.
DURABIS technology (previously referred to as super hard coating technology) was first used in TDK-manufactured DVDs from 2002, and which resulted in it gaining wide recognition for its outstandingly robust surface properties, boasting a surface with "100 times the scratch resistance"*1 of previous products. In particular, with blue laser discs such as the Blu-ray Disc, etc., with their larger capacity (and shorter recording wavelength), scratches, grime, dust, etc. on the recording surface (i.e., the surface irradiated by the laser beam) can create even more serious problems than on the DVD. With DURABIS, these problems have been addressed even to a greater degree than anticipated. And as the Blu-ray disc is a "bare" disc (not encased in a cartridge), technology such as DURABIS, etc., that reinforces the disc recording surface will be essential to resist scratches and finger print smudges.
Up to now, the DVDs with hard coating TDK created with DURABIS technology has been marketed using a number of different product names to generate appeal for its robust recording surface: Super Hard Coating (in Japan); Armor Plated Disc (in the USA); and Scratch Proof Disc (in Europe). With attention now focused on the blue laser disc, TDK, with the intention of further disseminating the revolutionary hard coating technology created by its original technology both in Japan and overseas, has unified the technology under the name DURABIS and produced a logo mark by which to identify it.
DURABIS, which was coined by combining the English words DURABILITY and SHIELD, expresses the products' high durability. To convey the images of robustness and hardness, the angular logo mark design is based on an elongated, rectangle. This symbolizes the "D" of DURABIS, with the white line in the center suggesting the image of a disc as seen in profile. The shape of the black area that sandwiches the disc also expresses the hard shield that securely protects the disc.
The three main features of hard coating created with DURABIS technology are "scratch resistance," "resistance to fingerprint smudging" and "resistance to dust and dirt." TDK developed DURABIS technology to match the characteristics of each type of disc, identified as DURABIS 1 for the DVD and DURABIS 2 for the Blu-ray Disc. Subsequent versions are planned to designate each new type of disc.
The DURABIS hard coating technology was created out of TDK's philosophy to "afford protection for irreplaceable data and contents." TDK is confident that as optical discs evolve with increasingly larger capacity, its technological achievements will continue will play a major role in the future.
*1: When compared with a TDK-manufactured DVD that is not using the DURABIS technology (formerly super hard coating technology) made according to the TDK measurement method.
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DURABIS logo
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DURABIS 1 logo
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DURABIS 2 logo
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* DURABIS is a trademark of TDK Corporation. |
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Hard coating benefits achieved through DURABIS technology |
- Resists scratches
The first feature of the hard coating created by DURABIS technology is its overwhelming resistance to scratching. This makes it significantly more resistant to scratches when handling the disc or when wiping away any grime inadvertently adhering to the disc.
- Jitter in steel wool abrasion test
The Blu-ray Disc recording surface (i.e., the surface irradiated by the laser beam) that utilizes DURABIS technology for its hard coating underwent evaluation tests using abrasion from steel wool. When an extremely fine steel wool was applied to the disc surface with a pressure of 100gf/cm2, the hard coating created by DURABIS technology resisted scratching, displaying nearly no increase in jitter in the playback signal.
* Previous hard coating: the hard coating on the TDK DVD that does not approach DURABIS technology.
- Resists grime (particularly fingerprint smudging)
One of the main features of the hard-coat disc surface created by DURABIS technology is how it resists grime. This makes it considerably more resistant to fingerprint smudging when inserting or removing discs from hardware or if inadvertently making contact with the fingers.
- Microscope enlargement of photo of fingerprint contact
Synthetic fingerprints with composition similar to those from humans were attached to the disc surface, and their condition observed by microscope.
- Resists dust
The hard coated disc surface created by DURABIS technology boasts a high discharge effect. This makes it more difficult for micro dust to adhere due to static electricity, and realizes a high-reliability disc.
- Charged electric potential and attenuation time
The Disc utilized hard coating made with DURABIS technology for the Blu-ray Disc gives up one half of its electric potential in about 30 minutes. The Disc utilized hard coating made with DURABIS technology for the DVD gives up one half of its electric potential in about 45 minutes. A disc without hard coating does not show much attenuation even after one hour.
* The attenuation of the charged electric potential after voltage (10kV) is applied.The applied voltage is treated as 100%.
Reference test method: JIS L1094 charged voltage test method for textiles and silk (system to measure half-life)
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For further information, contact the Corporate Communications
Tel.: 81-3-5201-7102
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