TDK claims scratch-resistant Blu-ray discs

TDK has developed a coating technology called Durabis, which it claims makes DVD and Blu-ray discs resistant to scratches, dust and grime.

The company said that the coating will also eliminate the need for Blu-ray discs to be encased in a protective cartridge. "This coating makes TDK the first to create bare Blu-ray discs," it said.

A single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold up to 25GB of data, and may be capable of holding up to 100GB as the technology develops into multiple layers.

But recording this amount of data requires great recording media stability and precision so that dirt, grime and scratches on the disc can cause more serious recording and playback problems than on a traditional CD. TDK claimed that Durabis makes the disc 100 times more scratch resistant.

"The sensitivity of a Blu-ray disc means that for a long time the cartridge seemed the only viable solution," said Jean-Paul Eekhout, European marketing director at TDK.

"With Durabis we've been able to make bare Blu-ray discs, maximising the potential of the format and making its adoption by consumers, who tend to dislike media in a cartridge, a reality."