How to remove the metal in a CD or a DVD in a simple and ecofriendly way? I want to use the clear plastic.

I would like to upcycle the clear plastic  (polycarbonate) in CDs and DVDs to Make all sort of things like smartphone supports, boxes, structres, and so on. I have already bent, cut, polish the plastic by I haven't found a satisfactory way to remove the metalic layer. Thaks to you all. 

Comments

[rickharris]

Scrape it off

Run through a microwave and then scrape

Soak in caustic soda - the film is Aluminium and is soluble in caustic soda

[gserrano701]

I tried microwave but it damages the plastic and I need it smooth and clear.
Could it be that I'm using the wrong settings?

[steveastrouk]

No, all its doing is melting the aluminium into little pieces, not removing it.

[steveastrouk]

But not exposed.....

[rickharris]

Ah! rub over with fine wet and dry paper.

[steveastrouk]

The metallic layer is usually sealed in by the plastic itself.

IF it were exposed, then a brief exposre to sodium hydroxide would shift it in seconds.

[gserrano701]

Thanks again. I had forgoten about the soap, you're right, besides, it'll make a wierd type of soap. I didn't know that the sodium peroxide neutralizes in contact with air, thanks for the info, as they say "you never go to bed without learning something new". I'll try the sodium peroxide and let you all know.

[steveastrouk]

Don't forget to mark a best answer ! ;-)

[gserrano701]

I will vote, just want to try them and see which fits best my need. Thank for keeping in touch.

[gserrano701]

Please where I wrote "peroxide" I meant "hidroxide", my mistake, lapsus finger.

[gserrano701]

Thanks for your interest. I once used chemical my son had used to etch a circuit board, it more or less worked but it's not ecofriendly, I'd like something that I can use and sort of neutralize and throw in the sink knowing that I'm not going to poison people, earth, rivers, animals. It doesn't matter if it takes time to remove the metal, the number one priority is it has to be ecofriendly.

[steveastrouk]

Sodium hydroxide is fine then. The stuff is neutralised in the atmosphere in a few days. If it contacts greases it turns into soap.

[mpilchfamily]

That actually varies depending on when the disk was made and what kind of disk it is. Most often the metal layer is only being protected by the label on the top of the disk. This holds true for most music CDs and older DVDs. Any record able disk will have the tin layer protected by 2 layers of plastic. But like i said it can very. Most older disks only protected the tin layer with the label.

[gserrano701]

I appreciate your answers, will try the sand paper eventhough it'll mean polishing afterwards. I feel the caustic soda is good method but is not ecofriendly, dispossing of it will be quite complicated.

[gserrano701]

I appreciate your answers, will try the sand paper eventhough it'll mean polishing afterwards. I feel the caustic soda is good method but is not ecofriendly, dispossing of it will be quite complicated.

[FoolishSage]

You can take the horribly impractical but extremely cool method used here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlCCpCB-Gr4

[gserrano701]

This is one of the coolesr things I have seen. Shame it's way out of my league.