Airliners.net

Im taking some CDs with me on a trip. My question is will the X-Rays through the X-ray machine at the airport could cause the CDs to be damaged by radiation?

Or secondly, will they cause the data to be corrupted?

No, I have never had problems with CDs and Xrays.

I bought a bunch on one of my recent trips and have one playing now.

Im taking some CDs with me on a trip. My question is will the X-Rays through the X-ray machine at the airport could cause the CDs to be damaged by radiation?

Or secondly, will they cause the data to be corrupted?

No.

X-rays and CDs are OK; for some real fun, put a CD in the microwave!

For recording media such as videotape, digital cameras, and CD's, I am told that X-Ray's will not harm them. However, you do want to steer clear of the metal detector with those items. Anything that puts out a strong magnetic field could have a nasty effect on these items.

CDs can not be harmed by X rays or metal detectors.
videotape, CF cards, etc. can be harmed by metal detectors (or rather by the electromagnetic fields they generate).

The only thing that can really harm a CD quickly is intense heat, which causes it to melt.
Over a longer period intense light and some bacteria can also do damage.

Differences:

- Magnetic tapes, floppies and harddisks can have the recorded signal/data damaged by metal detectors and any other magnetic field that´s strong enough (loudspeakers, motors, power supplies...). Also, excessive temperatures can damage the mechanical carrier material and can degrade the magnetic recording.

- CD-R(W) / DVD-R(W) / DVD+R(W) / MiniDisk (recordable optical disks): Cannot be damaged by magnetic fields as the recording is done by causing phase changes in the data-carrying layer in the disks. This layer can, however, be damaged by heat and by excessive light exposure. Also, the carrier plastic can warp in heat and make the disk unplayable.

- CD / DVD: Only damageable by heat or extreme violence (scratches, aggressive chemicals, manufacturing defects), since the data-carrying layers consist of metal and are very stable.

Srbmod wrote:
for some real fun, put a CD in the microwave!

Note that this will not only destroy the CD, it may also damage the microwave.

David / MRY