Optical element having durability enhancing layer

Abstract

An optical element is provide which has a durability enhancing layer. There is provided an optical disk comprising a support having on one surface thereof, in order: a) a recording layer such that said recording layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion at the outer diameter; b) a reflective layer such that said reflective layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion at the outer diameter; c) a first protective layer having a thickness between about 2-20 μm, said protective layer being of a material having good adhesion to said support and covering a portion of the surface of said disk having said reflective layer, including at least a portion of said annular portion; d) a second protective layer having a thickness of at least about 3 μm, said second layer covering at least the area of said surface having the reflective layer and having good adhesion to said first protective layer. In another aspect, there is provided a method wherein the first protective layer is spin coated and the second is screen printed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical disk comprising a support material formed of an optically transparent resin, having thereon: a) a recording layer such that said recording layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion of approximately 1.4 mm at the outer diameter;   b) a reflective layer such that said reflective layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion of approximately . .0.77.!. .Iadd.0.7 .Iaddend.mm at the outer diameter;   c) a first protective layer having a thickness between about 2-20 μm, said protective layer being a resinous material having good adhesion to said support and covering a portion of the surface of said disk having said reflective layer, including at least a portion of said annular portion;   d) a second protective layer having a thickness of about 3 μm, said second layer covering at least the area of said surface having the reflective layer and having good adhesion to said first protective layer.   
     
     
       2. An optical disk according to claim 1 wherein said support is a polycarbonate and said protective layers are photo curable acrylates; the acrylates in said first protective layer having the consistency of a lacquer and the acrylates in said second protective layer having the consistency of an ink. 
     
     
       3. An optical disk according to claim 1 wherein said first protective layer extends over the edge of the disk. 
     
     
       4. An optical disk according to claim 1 wherein said second protective layer includes matte particles. 
     
     
       5. An optical disk according to claim 4 wherein said particles are silicon dioxide. .Iadd.6. An optical disk comprising a support material formed of an optically transparent resin, having thereon: a recording layer such that said recording layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion of approximately 1.4 mm at the outer diameter;   a reflective layer such that said reflective layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion of approximately 0.7 mm at the outer diameter;   a first protective layer having a thickness between about 2-20 μm, said protective layer being a resinous material having good adhesion to said support and covering a portion of the surface of said disk having said reflective layer, including at least a portion of said annular portion; and   a second protective layer having a thickness of 3.1-24.8 μm, said second layer covering at least the area of said surface having the reflective layer and having good adhesion to said first protective layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said second protective layer has a thickness of 3.1-21.8 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said second protective layer has a thickness of 10.2-24.8 μm.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd..  An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said recording layer, said reflective layer, and said first protective layer are positioned between said substrate and said second protective layer with said first protective layer being adjacent said second protective layer, said recording layer being adjacent said support, and said reflective layer being between said first protective layer and said recording layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said support is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates and polyacrylates. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said reflective layer is formed from a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, copper, and alloys thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said first and second protective layers are prepared from materials selected from the group consisting of photocurable materials and thermally curable materials. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said support is a polycarbonate and said first and second protective layers are photocurable acrylates, the acrylates in said first protective layer having the consistency of a lacquer and the acrylates in said second protective layer having the consistency of an ink. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said first protective layer extends over the edge of the disk. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. An optical disk according to claim 6, wherein said second protective layer includes matte particles. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. An optical disk comprising a support material formed of an optically transparent resin, having thereon: a recording layer such that said recording layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion at the outer diameter;   a reflective layer such that said reflective layer does not cover the entire surface of said disk but leaves an annular portion at the outer diameter;   a first protective layer having a thickness between about 2-20 μm, said protective layer being a resinous material having good adhesion to said support and covering a portion of the surface of said disk having said reflective layer, including at least a portion of said annular portion; and   a second protective layer having a thickness of 3.1-24.8 μm, said second layer covering at least the area of said surface having the reflective layer and having good adhesion to said first protective layer.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.17.  An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said second protective layer has a thickness of 3.1-21.8 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said second protective layer has a thickness of 10.2-24.8 μm. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said recording layer, said reflective layer, and said first protective layer are positioned between said substrate and said second protective layer with said first protective layer being adjacent said second protective layer, said recording layer being adjacent said support, and said reflective layer being between said first protective layer and said recording layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said support is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates and polyacrylates. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said reflective layer is formed from a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, copper, and alloys thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said first and second protective layers are prepared from materials selected from the group consisting of photocurable materials and thermally curable materials. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said support is a polycarbonate and said first and second protective layers are photocurable acrylates, the acrylates in said first protective layer having the consistency of a lacquer and the acrylates in said second protective layer having the consistency of an ink. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said first protective layer extends over the edge of the disk. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. An optical disk according to claim 16, wherein said second protective layer includes matte particles. .Iaddend.