Method for improving bonding ability of plastic layers of multi-layered optical discs

Abstract

A method of improving the ability of plastic layers of a multi-layered optical disc to bond to adhesive materials includes exposing the plastic layers to a plurality of ions. In one embodiment, one side of a plastic layer of a multi-layered optical disc is exposed to a plurality of non-reactive ions, an adhesive material is applied to the side of the plastic layer that was exposed to the plurality of ions, and a second layer of the optical disc is secured to the adhesive material. In another embodiment, a plurality of ions is formed by directing gas molecules through an electric field, and at least 25% of the width of the plastic layer of the multi-layered optical disc is exposed to the plurality of ions at about the same time. The plastic layer is positioned so that the ions contact the plastic layer while the ions still have a charge, and the disc is moved so that at least 25% of the surface of the plastic layer is exposed to the plurality of ions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing multi-layered optical discs, comprising: 
 exposing a first side of a first plastic layer of the optical disc to a plurality of non-reactive ions;    applying an adhesive material to the optical disc; and,    securing a second layer to the first plastic layer so that the adhesive material is in contact with both the first side of the first plastic layer and the second layer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exposing step further comprises exposing said first side of said first layer to a plurality of ions derived from a noble gas.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exposing step further comprises exposing said first side of said first layer to a plurality of Argon ions.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying step further comprises applying the adhesive material to the first side of the first plastic layer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying step further comprises applying the adhesive material to the second layer.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the first plastic layer is comprised of cyclic-olefin.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying step further comprises applying an ultra-violet curable adhesive material to the optical disc.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of treating the optical disc with a light.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the disc so that at least about 25% of the first surface of the first plastic layer is exposed to the plurality of non-reactive ions, wherein the exposing step further comprises directing the plurality of non-reactive ions to the first side of the first plastic layer so that at least about 25% of a width of the layer is exposed to the plurality of ions at about the same time.  
     
     
         10 . A multi-layered optical disc manufactured by the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A method of applying a plurality of ions to a plastic layer of an optical disc having a first bonding ability, comprising: 
 directing gas molecules through an electric field to form the plurality of ions;    directing the plurality of ions toward the layer of the optical disc having the first bonding ability so that at least about 25% of a width of the layer is exposed to the plurality of ions at substantially the same time; and,    positioning the optical disc at a predetermined location so that the plurality of ions contact the optical disc while having a charge.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of directing gas molecules further comprises directing non-reactive gas molecules through said electric field.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of directing gas molecules further comprises directing Argon gas molecules through said electric field.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of directing the plurality of ions further comprises directing the plurality of ions into an ingress opening formed within an ion director so that the plurality of ions exit the ion director through a plurality of egress openings formed within the ion director.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of directing the plurality of ions further comprises directing the plurality of ions into an ingress opening formed within an ion director so that a first ion of the plurality of ions is directed through a first portion of an elongated egress opening formed within the ion director and so that a second ion of the plurality of ions is directed through a second portion of the elongated egress opening.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of directing the plurality of ions further comprises directing the plurality of ions into an ingress opening formed within an ion director so that the plurality of ions are directed through an egress opening formed within the ion director, and wherein the step of positioning the optical disc further comprises positioning the optical disc a predetermined distance from the egress opening so that the plurality of ions contact the disc while the plurality of ions have a charge.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of positioning the optical disc further comprises positioning the optical disc less than 20 mm from the egress opening.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving the optical disc so that at least about 25% of a surface of the plastic layer of the optical disc is exposed to the plurality of ions.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving the optical disc so that substantially all of a surface of the plastic layer of the optical disc is exposed to the plurality of ions, such that the plastic layer of the optical disc has a second bonding ability, after being exposed to the plurality of ions, that is greater than the first bonding ability.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of directing the gas through an electric field further comprises directing the gas between a pair of electrodes.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of directing the plurality of ions toward the layer of the optical disc further comprises directing the plurality of ions toward the optical disc so that substantially all of the width of the layer is exposed to the plurality of ions at substantially the same time.  
     
     
         22 . A multi-layered optical disc manufactured by the process of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         23 . A multi-layered optical disc, comprising: 
 a first side of a first plastic layer having a plurality of non-reactive ions applied thereto;    an adhesive material in contact with the first side; and,    a second layer in contact with the adhesive material.    
     
     
         24 . The multi-layered optical disc of  claim 23 , wherein the non-reactive ions further comprise noble gas ions.  
     
     
         25 . The multi-layered optical disc of  claim 23 , wherein the non-reactive ions further comprise Argon ions.  
     
     
         26 . The multi-layered optical disc of  claim 23 , wherein the second layer further comprises a reflective material.  
     
     
         27 . The multi-layered optical disc of  claim 23 , wherein the first plastic layer further comprises cyclic-olefin.  
     
     
         28 . The multi-layered optical disc of  claim 23 , wherein the adhesive material further comprises an ultra-violet curable resin.