CD-R Patent Protection: Brand Characterisation to Identify Counterfeit Goods using Simplified Mass Spectrometry

CD-R discs are composed of layers of polycarbonate, a burnable dye, a reflective layer, and a protective coating. The type of burnable dye used by manufacturers is often patented with premium disc brands using dyes and other additives that give the best performance, while being stable to atmospheric conditions, such as light and humidity. Cheaper products often use less stable dye components, which can change over time, leading to possible data degradation. This burnable dye is sometimes mixed with other dyes to change its colour and appearance in order to make the disc more attractive to consumers, and to conceal the type of burnable dye used from competitors.

This competitive environment increases the manufacturers’ need for reliable and reproducible testing techniques that can be used to identify differences between brands, and to detect forgeries. Ensuring the consistency of product composition is essential for maintaining product performance and quality. Many manufacturers are seeking ways to profile, or ‘fingerprint’ their brands by using analytical techniques capable of detecting lower quality counterfeit products that may infringe upon their patents.

A chemometric approach can quickly provide information about the similarities and differences within a chromatographic dataset. Automation of this process can greatly reduce the analysis time required, and the probability of error in this assessment. Advances in ease-of-use mass spectrometer operational software have changed working practices from complex to routine, making day-to-day MS use easier for all. This application note describes the characterisation of commercially available recordable compact discs using Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry, (TOF-MS), especially designed for inexperienced users and simplified for experienced users.