How is optical media longevity estimated?
The longevity of a product, like optical media, is estimated using Accelerated Life Tests (ALTs). ALTs are designed to estimate the life span of a given product in normal use based on its performance during rapid aging. Rapid aging simulates a lifetime’s wear and tear by exposing the product to extreme levels of the stresses to which it would be subjected in regular use, resulting in product failure within a limited time period. The shortened product life span observed in the ALT is multiplied by an acceleration factor to estimate the expected life span of the product in normal use. For optical media, stresses of temperature, relative humidity, or both are typically applied as elevated levels of these stresses have been shown to accelerate the natural degradation of the dyes used in writable optical media. The International Standards Organization (ISO) currently defines two standards for testing optical media: ISO 18921:2000 for CD-ROM media. ISO 18927:2002 for CD-R media. Research has
