Importance

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Abstract

Provided is an archival recording medium and a method for recording information on same. The recording medium comprises a coated microporous polymeric layer and an energy absorbing material, e.g., a layer of an energy-absorbing material such as a metal or dye/polymer layer deposited on the microporous layer. The coating on the microporous film layer is a polymeric coating, which polymer is of sufficient molecular size or branching to preclude entry of the polymer molecules into the pores of the microporous polymer film. If desired, further dimensional stability and mechanical strength can be provided to the recording medium by a thermally stable substrate or by tensioning the medium within a rigid frame. Information is recorded by the energy-absorbing material heating up in localized irradiated regions and causing the controlled collapse of the microporous structure in the microporous polymer layer. The collapsed portions of the structure constitute the information which can then be read either by reflectance or transmission. Due to the polymeric coating, the recording medium exhibits an enhanced signal to noise ratio upon the reading of the recorded information.

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First Claim