3M announced that it would increase its warranty for CD-ROM disc products to twenty-five years--a major achievement in the wake of news articles raising doubts about the environmental stability of CD-ROM media. In making this announcement, 3M showed data from a study that supports disc lifetimes of up to 100 years in controlled environments.
The company stressed that CD-ROM, the computer equivalent of the compact disc used for home audio, demands very consistent performance over long periods of time.
Unlike audio, just one small error introduced into a collection of data can make a critical difference. The key, says 3M, is an emphasis on quality control during the manufacturing of CD-ROM media.
With careful handling and controlled environment conditions, 3M's CD-ROM discs could survive 100 years at 300C (860F) well within the environmental range of usage for most discs. Discs that are abused by being scratched or exposed to excessive heat or humidity will deteriorate faster.
Because no previous longevity test had been done on either audio CDs or CD-ROM discs, 3M scientists first devised a strategy for accelerating the life testing of discs. They exposed several sets of discs to various temperatures and humidity conditions as harsh as 800C (176 degrees F). They then analyzed the data from periodic checks to predict lifetime values. 3M has since submitted the test to an ANSI subcommittee for consideration as a standard.
