Oily Blu-ray Cases

[Leeon0]

This has been a problem with colorless DVD cases, especially the slim ones, which discharge onto the discs an oily secretion that sometimes turns to permanent cloudy spots on the discs. The Blu-ray cases fare no better in regard to the amount of slime they secrete, leaving a foggy film and unsightly circular smears on the inside of the cases. Fortunately I've been able to wipe the residue off the discs without a hitch--when it sticks to them, which luckily doesn't happen that often--courtesy of the BD coating, and I've been able to wipe off the residue from the cases with a soft cotton cloth and some elbow grease. But the residue returns after a while, and I find it annoying, especially as my Blu-ray collection grows.

I would like to see manufacturers produce dark-gray or black Blu-ray cases made out of virgin polypropylene with a matte interior, like the Amaray I or II DVD cases. Nothing sticky in those. DVD cases come in an assortment of colors. Why must BD collectors get stuck with oily translucent blue as the only option?

[rdodolak]

Never noticed any oily residue attaching itself to my discs. What area and type of climate do you live in and what type of cases give you the most problems?

[saprano]

Yeah i hate that foggy smear that happens after awhile.

[Leeon0]

Fortunately it's happened only a few times--I remember Sin City getting some of the stuff on one of the two discs which had become loose in transit and which must have made contact with the case. That was an eco case, but the residue is apparent on the Viva Elites, which comprise the bulk of the cases I own (the ecos I always discard). I've seen the residue on Vortex cases as well, but it's probably not as bad on those as it is on the Elites. As for the residue on the discs themselves, I believe it's appeared exclusively on those housed in the eco cases. My guess is that since the walls of the eco cases are so flexible, they often make contact with the discs.

I live in the Northeast, and I think that warm temperatures may exacerbate the condition. But I also think that discs kept in non-eco cases won't be affected since the walls of those are rigid and the hubs keep the discs elevated, preventing them from making contact with the walls. Still, we could do without those fogged up cases, and I sure hope to see matte ones for Blu-ray discs someday.

[joie]

Noticed a cloudy film on the DVD from a Blu-ray/DVD combo "Viva Elite" eco case the other day. The Blu-ray wasn't filmy. I wasn't interested in playing the DVD, just checking that it wasn't scratched. The DVD had a film aligned with the spokes of the eco-case plastic, but none where the eco-case cut-out was. The case had been on a shelf for about a year. The movie was "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which came with Blu-ray and DVD discs. Does the case material outgas and deposit a film on the discs? (Volatile Organic Compounds?)

Edit: Often, if you take a disc out of the case and rub your finger around on the inside of a case, you can see that you've smeared some film that is on the inside surface of the case.

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by joie

Does the case material outgas and deposit a film on the discs? (Volatile Organic Compounds?)

That material definitely outgases, but I believe the disc must come in contact with the case in order for it to get the residue. Fortunately on a BD it wipes off easily.

[joie]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

That material definitely outgases, but I believe the disc must come in contact with the case in order for it to get the residue. Fortunately on a BD it wipes off easily.

It doesn't wipe off a DVD -- tried a Zeiss lens cleaning wipe (isopropyl alcohol on paper) -- sold in walmarts -- without any luck.

[Leeon0]

If it's just one DVD, consider yourself lucky. I'm in the process of changing all the clear cases in my X-Files slim sets (I have all nine seasons). Some of the discs have milky stains caused by the residue, and those stains don't come off. I think if the deposit lingers long enough, it will stay for good. It's only the "fresh" ones I've been able to wipe off. And I have a handful of other DVDs and DVD-Rs that have been permanently marred by that odious substance.

Perhaps the discs don't need to make physical contact with the case to get stained. I now think that if the discs are close enough to the case wall, they will stain. The type of plastic used for Blu-ray cases is a poor choice of material. Optical media should not be housed in material that outgases.

[brian9229]

Thats funny, i noticed that crap all over the inside of my cases for LOTR EE boxset, it didnt get on the discs, but it was under them in the case. I just used my Zeiss cleaning wipes to clean it out.

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by brian9229

Thats funny, i noticed that crap all over the inside of my cases for LOTR EE boxset, it didnt get on the discs, but it was under them in the case. I just used my Zeiss cleaning wipes to clean it out.

I can't imagine anyone wanting to go through their entire Blu-ray collection to clean up the slime inside each and every one of their cases. For some people it would require lots of Zeiss wipes!

[Nisei]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

DVD cases come in an assortment of colors. Why must BD collectors get stuck with oily translucent blue as the only option?

There are colored cases, they're just not easy to find. I'm selling them in the trade forum but hardly anyone's interested. Probably due to high shipping costs from Europe.

[rdodolak]

I've seen the "oily" appearance on the cases but hadn't seen it one the actual discs. I'll have to check some of my older titles to see if it has become a problem with my collection.

I presume this is residue from the releasant which was used to prevent the plastic from sticking to the molds when making the case. You can even frequently see the circular dots on the case that were left from the round suction cups used by the automated machines to lift the case during the manufacturing process.

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by Nisei

There are colored cases, they're just not easy to find. I'm selling them in the trade forum but hardly anyone's interested. Probably due to high shipping costs from Europe.

Anything that's either translucent or glossy, regardless of the color, seems to contain that leaching gunk. I would like to see Blu-ray cases with a matte interior. Most of my DVD cases have a matte surface; some are over a decade old, and they are bone-dry inside--no residue anywhere to be seen or felt.

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I presume this is residue from the releasant which was used to prevent the plastic from sticking to the molds when making the case. You can even frequently see the circular dots on the case that were left from the round suction cups used by the automated machines to lift the case during the manufacturing process.

I always wondered what those cloudy rings were. Thanks for the explanation.

[Nisei]

Originally Posted by Leeon0

Anything that's either translucent or glossy, regardless of the color, seems to contain that leaching gunk. I would like to see Blu-ray cases with a matte interior. Most of my DVD cases have a matte surface; some are over a decade old, and they are bone-dry inside--no residue anywhere to be seen or felt.

I've never noticed any of the things you're describing. What's the average temperature where you're keeping your discs?

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by Nisei

I've never noticed any of the things you're describing.

I hope you never do.

Originally Posted by Nisei

What's the average temperature where you're keeping your discs?

Right now in one room where I keep the discs it's about 74ºF; in the other room about 62ºF. The plastic "sweats" more in the warmer room.

[rdodolak]

What's the average humidity level for your area? Can you post pics of what you're seeing?

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

What's the average humidity level for your area? Can you post pics of what you're seeing?

I think you'll see the residue regardless of the humidity level. But if you care to know anyway, it's around 50% in the winter and 65% in the summer. I tried to photograph my cases but got lousy results because they are highly reflective, and there's no natural light right now since it's nighttime. But I got a couple from this website courtesy of poster named primitiveskin and pasted them below. You'll notice the cloudy nature of the residue in these pics as well as the circular marks discussed in posting #12 above.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Nisei]

Ah, Elite cases. Now there's your problem...
No just kidding. The temperature can't be an issue here, I'd say it's close to ideal. The circular shapes are indeed marks left by the suction cups but the oily substance you're describing is very odd.
Do you use 1 type of cases are have you noticed it on other brands as well?

[Leeon0]

Originally Posted by Nisei

Ah, Elite cases. Now there's your problem...
No just kidding. The temperature can't be an issue here, I'd say it's close to ideal. The circular shapes are indeed marks left by the suction cups but the oily substance you're describing is very odd.
Do you use 1 type of cases are have you noticed it on other brands as well?

Any plastic that's translucent or glossy seems to outgas, as I mentioned earlier. Here's some interesting info on a product designed for protecting audio and optical discs from damage due to outgassing plastic:

http://www.publicrelationsnewsroom.com/id4.html

And here are a couple of paragraphs from the article that I find most pertinent:

"These new products are special cloths that fit between the readable side of the disc and the case. When in place, the special material helps keep the disc from being fogged by 'off gas clouding' of the case over a period of time. The 'DiscPreservers' will also help to prevent 'disc rot' by keeping high humidity off the edge of the disc when properly placed in the case.

"We have found that most video companies producing DVD’s do not think this is a problem, according to King, and really don’t care about the threat. 'We’ve found through our research that this is a serious concern. Disc rots, clouding, and scratching are common. And, at Remember When, we simply can’t take the chance with our families’ and clients’ important memories stored on DVD,' King says."

So I guess these are some choices one has: get the disc protectors and hope they work, get matte DVD cases for your Blu-ray discs, periodically wipe off the residue in the Blu-ray cases, or ignore the matter and in a few years' time see those cloudy spots on some of your discs, if they're not already there. I bet most people are clueless about the issue, and if they're not, they either choose to ignore it or don't care as long as the movie plays fine (?).