Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

562.0. "Increased raw material supply! Lower CD prices?" by NRLABS::MACNEAL (Big Mac) Tue Dec 09 1986 10:09

    MOBAY BEGINS PRODUCTION OF RESIN FOR COMPACT DISCS, OPTICAL MEDIA
                 (Plastics Engineering, Nov. 1986) 

    To supply the rapidly expanding North American manufacture of compact
    audio discs and digital storage memories, Mobay Corp., Pittsburgh, has
    begun producing high-purity Makrolon CD-2000 (previously Merlon
    CD-2000) polycarbonate resin at its plant in Baytown, Texas.  The
    facility can produce up to 50 million pounds of the material annually,
    according to R. Jay Finch, vice president and general manager of
    Mobay's Plastics and Rubber Division. For the past two years, Mobay has
    been importing the resin from Bayer AG, Mobay's parent company in
    Leverkusen, West Germany.  "Full technical service backup to disc
    molders will be provided," Finch said, "including a compact disc
    research laboratory in Pittsburgh."  The laboratory will have a compact
    disc and advanced media injection-molding facility with a clean-room
    environment.  A staff of technical specialists will help customers in
    product and process development.  Makrolon CD-2000 polycarbonate resin
    meets the optical requirements (high purity and minimal optical
    distortion) of the discs, both of which are essential for accurate data
    retrieval and faithful sound reproduction.  High transparency passes
    laser beams.  Light transmittance at 550 nanometers is greater than 90
    percent.  Minimum water absorption (0.15 percent) minimizes warpage,
    which can lead to readout errors.  Notched Izod impact strength is 11
    foot-pounds per inch for a 0.125-inch thickness.  Vicat softening point
    is 284 deg. F.  The resin also exhibits good mechanical strength and
    thermal stability.  According to Finch, the manufacture of compact
    discs is expected to increase 10 times over the next five years.  Five
    million discs were produced in the United States in 1985.  A capacity
    of producing 450 to 500 million discs is projected by 1990.  Worldwide
    sales of audio discs in 1985 equaled about 60 million; by 1990 CD
    capacity is expected to be one billion.  Some market surveys project
    the use of 1 to 1.5 million optical memory discs throughout the world
    within a decade.  This could create an annual demand for more than 20
    million pounds of polycarbonate disc resin in North America by 1990,
    and 30 to 40 million pounds worldwide, Finch concluded. 

What are the by-products of this production?


				Mark

    What is Izod impact?  The number of alligators that can jump on
    it without hurting it?  :-)
    
    Burns
    

	let me tell you just one word of advice, son,




		P L A S T I C S !!!!!

    
    
        Greater profit margins for the CD manufacturers........
    
    Mike