CD-R burning speed

[dejitaru]

Microscopically, what's the difference between a CD-R written at 1x and one written at 52x on the same type of media (fully compatible)?

There are low, high, and muti speed media. I'm assuming this is some issue with the dye leaking or not gaining opacity.

 

[rimshaker]

Pretty much the quality of the polymer (or whatever material the pits are actually burned into) sandwiched in the discs. Hi speed burners burn pits into the inner layer in a much shorter time frame. Because of the shorter time frame, each laser 'blip' only has so much energy to make a pit. And the quality of the inner material (by being softer maybe??) makes a difference in pit quality.