Abstract: This disclosure relates to a data storage medium, and in particular to a data storage medium comprising at least one high modulus layer. In one embodiment, an asymmetric optical storage medium can comprise: a substrate layer comprising polyarylene ether, a high modulus layer comprising a thermoset, and a data layer disposed between the modulus layer and the substrate layer. The high modulus layer has a tensile modulus that is greater than a substrate layer tensile modulus. In another embodiment, an asymmetric optical storage medium can comprise: a substrate layer comprising polyarylene ether and having surface features and a high modulus layer disposed on the side of the substrate comprising the surface features. The surface features can comprise pits. The high modulus layer can comprise a thermoset, and can have a tensile modulus that is greater than a substrate layer tensile modulus.

Abstract: A method for imparting tags to a media article, comprising: modifying predetermined locations on the article to change a surface energy of the predetermined locations, applying the tags to a surface of the article, and retaining the tags in the modified predetermined locations while the tags are removed from unmodified regions.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a data storage medium, and in particular to a data storage medium comprising at least one high modulus layer. An asymmetric optical storage medium can comprise: at least one substrate layer comprising polyarylene ether, at least one high modulus layer comprising a thermoset, and at least one data layer disposed between the modulus layer and the substrate layer.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a tagging material is provided wherein the tagging material comprises at least one organic fluorophore dye, or at least one inorganic fluorophore, or at least one organometallic fluorophore, or at least one semi-conducting luminescent nanoparticle, or combination thereof, wherein the tagging material has a temperature stability of at least about 350° C. and is present in a sufficient quantity such that the tagging material is detectible via a spectrofluorometer at an excitation wavelength in a range between about 100 nanometers and about 1100 nanometers. Further embodiments of the present invention include a method for identifying a polymer and an article comprising a polymer wherein the polymer contains the aforementioned tagging material.

Abstract: Limited-play optical medium with improved shelf stability are formed from a plurality of layers, including in sequence: (a) a first substrate layer; (b) a data layer; (c) a reflective layer; (d) a reactive layer comprising a dye having a reduced state and an oxidized state and further comprising an oxidized form of a reducing agent effective to convert the dye from the oxidized state to the reduced state, and (e) a second substrate layer. The dye in the reduced state is substantially transparent to light of wavelengths used to read the optical medium, and the dye in the oxidized state absorbs light of wavelengths used to read the optical medium. The reflective metal layer is formed from a metal or metal alloy that is not significantly oxidized by the oxidized form of the reducing agent. For example, the reflective metal layer is suitably formed from silver or gold.