# Plastic is a pretty tough material except when it is used to make CD jewel boxes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-is-a-pretty-tough-material-except-when-it-is-used-to-make-cd-jewel-boxes/777666 "2017-01-20T23:02:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-is-a-pretty-tough-material-except-when-it-is-used-to-make-cd-jewel-boxes/777666/21 "2017-01-22T23:00:34Z")
Polyvinylacrylate, or whatever you want to call it (acrylic, plexiglass, etc.) is both transparent and fairly tough. I expect it’s probably more expensive, but for the amount of material in a CD case, it can’t cost all _that_ much. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-is-a-pretty-tough-material-except-when-it-is-used-to-make-cd-jewel-boxes/777666/22 "2017-01-22T23:33:03Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > I know the OP didn’t ask, but: after having years of experience mailing CDs I have found a design that withstands the USPS machinery: the clamshell type, such as these (not these in particular, just representative): > [ULINE - Shipping Boxes, Shipping Supplies, Packaging Materials, Packing Supplies](https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-6765/CD-Cases/Clam-Shell-1-CD-Cases-Clear?pricode=WY539&gadtype=pla&id=S-6765&gclid=Cj0KEQiAzZHEBRD0ivi9_pDzgYMBEiQAtvxt-H-BaIoxUGh2kmsUeoeaqdnS6pyjKmVa8dvhKCdcI9gaAlZA8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds) I believe those are made of [polypropylene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene) which is more flexible (less brittle). It translucent but not transparent. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-is-a-pretty-tough-material-except-when-it-is-used-to-make-cd-jewel-boxes/777666/23 "2017-01-22T23:35:28Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Try sitting in a chair made of balsa wood and you’ll see why those toy airplanes are so fragile. 😛 Or alternately, try flying a kids rubber band powered plane made out of that solid oak chair and you will quickly see why the toy is made from the light but breakable balsa 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-is-a-pretty-tough-material-except-when-it-is-used-to-make-cd-jewel-boxes/777666/24 "2017-01-22T23:39:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Polyvinylacrylate, or whatever you want to call it (acrylic, plexiglass, etc.) is both transparent and fairly tough. I expect it’s probably more expensive, but for the amount of material in a CD case, it can’t cost all _that_ much. [Poly(methyl\_methacrylate)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate)). I don’t think they are as stiff as polystyrene. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-is-a-pretty-tough-material-except-when-it-is-used-to-make-cd-jewel-boxes/777666/25 "2017-01-23T01:25:29Z")
CD are of course made to a price. Years ago when I used to teach commercial courses on Unix system admin on the side (good little earner that one) and software came on CDs, I used to joke with the class about the price of CDs. Amusing reality. Question - what is the most expensive part of a purchased CD? The answer is the printed label. The case comes next, and the CD proper the cheapest bit. What this tells you is that the case is cheaper than the printed paper inside it, and the manufactures clearly worked hard to get it that cheap, whilst retaining the aesthetics of a crystal clear case. The long-box format seemed to be the preferred packaging in the US in the early days, but never really took off elsewhere. Even then, it had the cheap plastic case inside. The all cardboard boxes and sleeves never really took off either. I used to keep all the CD cases software came in and take them home to replace the cases I trod on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-is-a-pretty-tough-material-except-when-it-is-used-to-make-cd-jewel-boxes/777666.md?page=1)