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CD Recording FAQ
2. The CD Recorder
2.4. How CD-RW (ReWritable) works
CD-RW works in a fashion similar to CD-R, but with a few important differences.
CD-RW media are like cdr media, but with one difference. The place of the organic dye is taken by a crystallic layer squeezed between 2 layers of deelectric.
This crystallic layer can change phase when heated. If this material is heated at a temperature of 600C, and then let to return to room temperature (a process which lasts a few seconds), then its reflectivity is changed, representing data.
If this material is subsequently heated at a temperature of 150C, and then let to return to room temperature, the information written on it will be erased and the cd-rw disc will be ready to reuse it.
Due to its nature, cd-rw technology is much more sensitive to enviromental
factors than cd-r, and is not ideal for long term storage purposes. Furthermore,
the higher temperatures required shorten the life of a cd-rw drive compared
to that of a cd-r one.