五、發明說明(2) 是盜錄片等。 迄今為止,廢棄光記錄媒體之處理方法已經被採 有··將廢棄光記錄媒體予以粉碎並掩埋填平的方法,^ f 焚燒廢棄光記錄媒體的方法。在前者的處理方法中,=及 填平地點之選定困#,尤其,廢棄光記.錄媒體之薄膜^ 所含金屬以掩埋方式予以處理,乃存有二次污染之問^中 而在後者處理方法中,需要特殊的焚化爐,焚燒^麻三 亦必,予以妥善處理再排出,其處理成本及速度均不理= ,以貝源再利用之角度觀之,兩者均不利於後續的資= 例如廢棄光記錄媒體中之基板層如為p“,、則期望J 玉片回收再重新作為光記錄媒體的基版 ,、 = 回收作為較低經濟價值的工程塑膠 朴斟二, 都無法稱為好方法。 針對上述問題,可見國内外之 料;例如美國發明專利笛^ qnc 。4 J a報或相關的-貝 案,以化學溶劑先預處:至,49號和第6,°66,229號等 薄膜,而美國發明以超音波震盡分離基材和 利公告第464595號「庚辛光=8卢98號和中華民國發明專 碟」都是採機械外力將^ = J = ^其裝置與光 溶液造成後續的二次污汰、於,研磨粒和咼分子的泥膏 443 949號「可記錄光碟=,而中華民國發明專利公告第 碟片環保回收方法」’,、之回收方法」和第48 1 590號「光 材料分離再予利用」將光碟碾成碎塊,用溶劑將各種 使用化學藥品易導致後續材質受影 五、發明說明(3) 響,而無法使用在高價值的光風 質,降低其再利用的價值’甚至影響其機械性 有無法完全回收重作光因容易到傷基材而 另外,將部分化學性地除 材料之方法已被提出(例如 7曰以口收基板 或特開平8-1 64524號公報)。秋而,,:fj1 5277號公報 雜 ^ 矛王中谷易使基板材料產生物性你# ’根本無法使用,如此==作為光記錄媒體基板 :程塑膠’而非應用其光;\質 '經:J 濟價, 酸S旨基材’材質隨高溫浸泡反應時辦::劣:理的聚碳 二用在高價的光學用途,甚至影響夂=化 利用的價值。 乂1王Γ王貝,降低其再 要的何加速化學溶液反應,減少製程時間,更曹 =問題在於減少化學溶液對聚碳酸 5 :關專利’特別是加速反應速率的方i值此夕目卜出 用電化學加速光碟反士未有利 所用的工作參數範圍差異更大,特別是本荦處冋, 記錄媒體,更是針祕土古x At、日%尽茶處理對象是光 。 μ所未有,不此w為—談,视為類似想法 【發明内容] 1257329 五、發明說明(5) (& )刀類:將各式光記錄媒體依回收材枓γ 4S 反射層之内含材料(例如金、 。例如依 者’依基板材質之不同而分類。、)之不同而分類,或 (b)去除鬲分子薄膜声·· 和印刷的高分子層先予;;去除。5 4媒體表面大多有保護 (C)電化學輔助解離:將光記錄媒體置入電 ”;盖即*將至少一片以上,表面具有至少有-声V金兄屬 並將并# : 含有電解質液體的浸泡槽中, 亚將此先圯錄媒體與陽極相接,直 +〇Λ。 溫30sec一,、九光記錄媒體之基板層和金屬薄膜層即可迅 效且“染地分離,金屬固體薄膜層溶解成9金屬離子、 :洛二電解液中,i保留聚碳酸,基材於陰極,並原始 性不扣’足以供南價值之再利用。若無電化學辅助解‘ 記錄媒體、,以含有液體2〇wt%Na〇H溶液之浸泡槽中, t持溫則為1 6分鐘,光記錄媒體基 9 離’但此法使氣氧基大量擴散進入基 r生’限制基材再利用的乾圍’減少經濟價值。此 =對多片光記錄媒體同時進行處理,達到迅速^分 離的目的。 π刀 材料分別回收 (d)回收··將分開的基板材料和金屬 供進一步再利用。 步驟申’由於外加直流 使原本與回收材完全不 若持續供給原料則形成 在上述之(c)電化學輔助解離 電壓驅使金屬固體解離變成離子, 反應的電解液,卻溶有金屬離子, !257329 1、發明說明(6) 連續反應。 此外’該光記錄媒體進入解離程序時, 放置於電化學設備,,調整適當的電壓m錄 以解離,此設備設置可供觀察型態,工〆和日守間 =作者直接觀察其分解過…電程;產 生分解之含有液體之浸泡槽。 胃衣丨兄係一可產 另外,經過電化學輔助解離之半成品,你π s p 二有機械力“匕學藥劑、電磁波和超音波中二予至 進—步徹底解離;或者,先予以至少有機 1以 、電磁波和超音波中一種方法部分解離,再钵以2學樂劑 :解離等’有利於完全解離;即電化學輔助η二 4程之其中一部份。 離了為夕道 另外,各類光記錄媒體因材質、製作表… 5 ’故上段所述之機械力可包括破碎、研磨二=二官等差 藥劑可包括酸、鹼和有機溶劑,電磁波包娜*,化學 移除,#此可得到更高純度的回收材。、慮糸統將雜質 又,有關將光記錄媒體置入電化學環 下列方式: 、 方式,可為 1 ·批次式,光記錄媒體分批進出於電化學戸 2 ·半連續式,光記錄媒體以輸送帶 二兄。 、中,其停止行進接受電化學解離,俟解離完畢 迗離電化學環境。 竿冉由輸迗帶5. Description of invention (2) It is a pirated film. Heretofore, a method of processing a waste optical recording medium has been adopted. A method of pulverizing and burying a waste optical recording medium, and a method of incinerating a waste optical recording medium. In the former treatment method, = and the selected location of the filling place #, in particular, the film of the discarded light. The film containing the metal is treated in a buried manner, and there is a secondary pollution in the latter. In the treatment method, a special incinerator is required, and it is necessary to incinerate and hemp, and it must be properly disposed and discharged. The treatment cost and speed are ignored. According to the perspective of reuse of Beiyuan, both are not conducive to the subsequent For example, if the substrate layer in the waste optical recording medium is p ", then it is expected that the J jade piece will be recycled and reused as the base plate of the optical recording medium, and = the engineering plastics of the lower economic value will be recovered. It is called a good method. For the above problems, it can be seen at home and abroad; for example, the US invention patent flute ^qnc. 4 J a newspaper or related - Bei case, with chemical solvent first: to, 49 and 6, ° Films such as No. 66, 229, and the United States invented the ultrasonic separation of the substrate and the announcement No. 464595 "Geng Xinguang = 8 Lu 98 and the Republic of China invention disc" are all mechanical external forces ^ = J = ^ The device and the light solution cause subsequent secondary depletion , ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Re-use" to crush the disc into pieces, use various solvents to cause subsequent materials to be affected by the solvent, and the invention description (3), but can not be used in high-value light quality, reducing the value of reuse. Even if it affects its mechanical properties, it is impossible to completely recover the heavy-duty light, and it is easy to damage the substrate. In addition, a method of chemically removing the material has been proposed (for example, 7-inch substrate or special opening 8-1 64524) ). Autumn, , :fj1 5277 Bulletin ^ Spear King Zhong Gu Yi makes the substrate material to produce physical properties you # 'can not be used at all, so == as the optical recording media substrate: Cheng plastic ' instead of applying its light; \ quality' by: J valence, acid S base substrate 'material with high temperature immersion reaction:: Inferior: rational polycarbon two used in high-priced optical applications, and even affect the value of 夂 = utilization.乂1王Γ王贝, reducing its need to accelerate the chemical solution reaction, reducing the process time, more Cao = the problem is to reduce the chemical solution to the polycarbonate 5: off the patent 'especially the rate of acceleration of the reaction rate i The difference in the range of working parameters used by the electrochemical accelerating discs is not favorable, especially in the case of the sputum, the recording medium, and the object of the needle is the light. μ 所 , , , 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 谈 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 573 The inclusion materials (for example, gold, for example, are classified according to the material of the substrate, or), or (b) removing the molecular film of the ruthenium and the printed polymer layer; 5 4 Most of the media surface is protected (C) Electrochemically assisted dissociation: placing the optical recording medium into electricity"; the cover ie * will be at least one piece, the surface has at least -V-Vinus genus and #: Contains electrolyte liquid In the soaking tank, the first recording medium is connected to the anode, and the temperature is 30 sec. The substrate layer and the metal film layer of the nine-light recording medium can be quickly separated and the metal solid film is separated. The layer is dissolved into 9 metal ions, in the second electrolyte, i retains the polycarbonate, the substrate is at the cathode, and the originality is not enough to re-use the south value. If there is no electrochemically assisted solution to the recording medium, in the soaking tank containing the liquid 2〇wt%Na〇H solution, the temperature of t is 16 minutes, and the optical recording medium base is away from 'but this method makes a large amount of oxygen Diffusion into the base r 'restricts the dry circumference of the substrate reuse' reduces economic value. This = simultaneous processing of multiple optical recording media for rapid separation. The π knife material is separately recovered (d) Recycling · Separate substrate material and metal for further reuse. The step of applying 'DC' is due to the fact that the original and the recycled material are not continuously supplied to the raw material, and the above-mentioned (c) electrochemically assisted dissociation voltage drives the metal solid to dissociate into ions, and the reacting electrolyte dissolves with metal ions, !257329 1. Description of the invention (6) Continuous reaction. In addition, when the optical recording medium enters the dissociation process, it is placed in the electrochemical device, and the appropriate voltage is adjusted to record the dissociation. This device is set to be used for observation, and the worker and the day guard = the author directly observes the decomposition thereof... Electric circuit; produces a decomposed liquid-containing soaking tank. The stomach coat 丨 brother can produce another, after the semi-finished product of electrochemically assisted dissociation, you have π sp two mechanical force "study medicine, electromagnetic wave and ultrasonic wave two into the step - completely dissociated; or, at least give organic 1, electromagnetic wave and ultrasonic wave partially dissociated, and then 2 Xuele agent: dissociation, etc. is conducive to complete dissociation; that is, electrochemically assisted η two of the four steps of the process. All kinds of optical recording media are made of materials and production tables... 5 'The mechanical force mentioned in the previous paragraph may include crushing, grinding 2 = two official equivalence agents may include acids, bases and organic solvents, electromagnetic wave baga*, chemical removal, #This can get higher purity of recycled materials. Considering the impurities, the following methods can be used to place the optical recording medium into the electrochemical ring: , mode, can be 1 · batch type, optical recording media enters in batches Electrochemical 戸 2 · Semi-continuous, optical recording medium with conveyor belt two brothers., in, it stops traveling to receive electrochemical dissociation, 俟 dissociation is completed away from the electrochemical environment.
第9頁 1257329 五、發明說明(7) ,it ^ ^式,光記錄媒體以輸送帶輸送至電化學環境中 ^=仃進接收電化學解離,解離完畢時,光記錄媒體 適被运離電化學環境; 士述方式皆可達到破壞解離目的,皆適於本方法。 之光記錄媒體可包括音樂光碟(CD),唯讀光碟 立 ,影音光碟(Video —CD),互動式光碟(CD-I),影 i碟= r^Vide〇),唯讀DVD光碟,可燒錄 碑(MD 早次寫重覆讀光碟(W〇RM),可覆寫型DVD光 石RAM),可重複讀寫光碟(cd — rw),m〇(磁光碟), (心仏光碟),DVD-RW(可重覆讀寫DVD光碟)。 不2t:f Ϊ ’僅為本發明之一較佳實施例而已,當 定i發明實施之範圍。如浸泡槽内可進-“ 縮短去除時間等方4二屬先二:;式 涵蓋之範圍内。 白應屬·本發明專利 上段所述之有機溶劑,可包括清潔力強、閃火 μ水互溶,或可以軟化層間強产的〜 ^回且 軟化溶劑對基材的侵钱性緩衝ς劑,ς以降低 對層狀結構的解離速度之Η $可以加速軟化溶劑 之黏著物回沾到基。==劑:或可以降低已鬆脫 而成。 〕滑心之添加抗靜電助劑等溶劑混合 如此,若使用前述之處 法即可以自廢棄光記錄媒體 而且回收純度高的基板材料 理製程,則僅以簡單的處理方 回收未產生變形之基板材料, ,並使得循環使用成為可能。 1257329 五、發明說助(8) Ϊ 5 : : f率地只施自廢棄光記錄媒體除掉不要的薄戶, 點。 目此具有可以大幅削減光碟片成本之優 在爲施怨樣中,虽隹以^^ 護層之光記錄媒體做為;;=上層、反射層和保 中產生損傷者,或在;;光記錄媒體製造途 者,或達到水準後之程中變成不良品 易言之,無論基板層」=:π 種也都可以; 都可以利用和前述相同的處 要具有户層結構 金屬材料之回收。 方法,而確實地實施基板和 ν伴ίΐΐ之!用例中’本發明所提供之方法,使整個光 物保留有高價值之= = ; =效益1時使回收 回收材受污染問題。 亦有效控制了回收過程中之 本發明提供之處理方φm ^ 的光記錄媒體,或在製造後最故攸製造過程中發生損傷 的朵#伴拔M , ,灸之最终的檢查過程中成為不良 收其基板材料並循環使用。由於;己體寺,回 料,因此所回收的基板材料理所的基板材 媒體的基板’纟可以在光碟包的可以再用做光記錄 泛的用途中加以利肖,且容易個人電腦的殼體等廣 高經濟效益及產業上之可;用;碟料’具有極 體於回收處理過程中所造成之材質污:者效避免先記錄媒 $ 11頁 1257329 圖式簡單說明Page 9 1257329 V. Inventive Note (7), it ^ ^ type, optical recording medium is transported to the electrochemical environment by conveyor belt ^=仃 Receiving electrochemical dissociation, when the dissociation is completed, the optical recording medium is transported away from the electrification Learning environment; the method of deliberation can achieve the purpose of destruction and dissociation, all suitable for this method. The optical recording medium may include a music compact disc (CD), a CD-ROM, a video disc (Video-CD), an interactive disc (CD-I), a video disc = r^Vide〇, and a DVD-only disc. Burning monument (MD writes repeat CD (W〇RM), overwriteable DVD light stone RAM), re-readable disc (cd — rw), m〇 (magnetic disc), (cardioid disc) , DVD-RW (can read and write DVD discs repeatedly). Not 2t:f ’ ' is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is intended to be within the scope of the invention. For example, the soaking tank can be advanced - "shortening the removal time, etc. 4:2 is the first two:; the range covered by the formula. Bai Ying is the organic solvent described in the above paragraph of the invention, which may include strong cleaning power, flashing water Mutual solubility, or can soften the inter-layer strong production of ~ ^ back and soften the solvent to the substrate of the invasive buffering agent, ς to reduce the dissociation rate of the layered structure 可以 $ can accelerate the softening solvent adhesion back to the base == Agent: Or it can be reduced to be loosened. 〕 Slip-on is added with anti-static additives and other solvents. If you use the above method, you can self-deplete the optical recording medium and recover the substrate material with high purity. Only the substrate material that has not been deformed is recovered by a simple processing, and recycling is made possible. 1257329 V. Inventions (8) Ϊ 5 : : f rate only applied to discarded optical recording media The thin household, point. This has the advantage of being able to greatly reduce the cost of the optical disc. In the case of the grievance, the optical recording medium with the protective layer is used as the ;; = upper layer, reflective layer and the middle of the damage Or;; optical recording media Made by way, or after the process reaches the level becomes defective another word, regardless of the substrate layer "=: π species can also be; and may utilize the same user at the layer structure to have recovered metal materials. Method, and indeed implement the substrate and ν ΐΐ ΐΐ! In the use case, the method provided by the present invention allows the entire photoreceptor to have a high value = = ; = benefit 1 causes the recycled material to be contaminated. It also effectively controls the optical recording medium of the processing unit φm ^ provided by the present invention in the recycling process, or the product which is damaged during the manufacturing process of the most defective manufacturing process, and becomes defective in the final inspection process of the moxibustion. Collect the substrate material and recycle it. Because of the body temple, the material is returned, so the substrate material of the substrate material recovered by the substrate material can be used in the use of the optical disc package for reuse in optical recording, and is easy for the shell of the personal computer. The body has a wide range of economic benefits and the industry can be used; the use of the dish material has the material pollution caused by the extremely recycling process: the effect is to avoid the first recording medium. 11 Page 1257329
第12頁 公告令 年"月修正1257329 申請曰期:^及 /1 歸類卜邝3/心 申請案號:92122688 (以上各欄由本局填註) 發明專利說明書Page 12 Announcement Order Year "Monthly Amendment 1257329 Application Period: ^ and /1 Classification of Divination 3/Heart Application No.: 92122688 (The above columns are filled by this Bureau) Invention Patent Specification
中文 以電解解離回收光記錄媒體材料之方法 發明名稱 英文 姓名 (中文) 1.王振興 姓名 (英文) l.WANG, JENN SHING 發明人 (共1人) 國籍 (中英文) 1.中華民國TW 住居所 (中文) 1.台南縣710永康市四維街149巷36號 住居所 (英文) 1. 名稱或 姓名 (中文) 1.遠東技術學院 名稱或 姓名 (英文) 1. FAR EAST COLLEGE 子 國籍 (中英文) 1.中華民國TW 申請人 (共1人) 住居所 (營業所) (中文) 1.台南縣744新市鄉中華路49號(本地址與前向貴局申請者相同) 住居所 (營業所) (英文) 1. 代表人 (中文) 1.王乃昌 代表人 (英文) l.WANG, NAI CHANG 第1頁 1257329 修正 ^—--92122688 五、發明說明(1) 【發明所屬之技術領域】 之方:發::”:一種以電解解離回收光記錄媒體材料 子薄膜層的光U媒現象’將事先已去除高分 基板分錐,少:、:媒 % 金屬層因電解效應而鱼 體之美% =電解液中形成金屬離子,此法可將光記錚婵 2 =過去高溫材質劣化時間,以分別供高值價丄 【先前技術】 ^記錄媒體以其物理性分類,大致區分為r〇m光碟、 7 次型光碟,以及重複寫入光碟。ROM光碟之一為已 知:CD ’係於基板層上依序鍍反射層和保護層而構成為 次型光碟之一為已知的CD_R,係於基板層上依 錚 =反射層與保護層所構成;再者,㈣入光 ! :為J知的CD-RW,係於基板層上依序層介電體層 層、介電體層、反射層和保護層而構成。 ” 現行的光記錄媒體都具備構成任何一種光記錄 =體之基板層和薄膜層;該基板層為資料再現用 錄用之雷射光束可透過材料,例如由聚碳酸醋樹醋,或丙 烯酸樹酯、或聚烯系樹酯,或環氧樹酯等形成者。 然而,關於如前述之光記錄媒體隨著需求的增加,盆 J棄處理已經成為問題。必須廢棄之光記錄媒體; =記錄媒體製造過程中發生損傷者,在製造後之最終的 檢查過程中成為不良品者,其它尚有剩餘的庫存品,甚為Chinese method for electrolytically dissociating and recovering optical recording media materials. Name of the invention in English (Chinese) 1. Name of Wang Zhenxing (English) l.WANG, JENN SHING Inventor (1 in total) Nationality (Chinese and English) 1. Republic of China TW Residence Institute (Chinese) 1. Residence No. 36, Lane 149, Siwei Street, Yongkang City, Tainan County 710 1. Name or Name (Chinese) 1. Name or Name of Far Eastern Institute of Technology (English) 1. FAR EAST COLLEGE Sub-nationality (中) English) 1. Republic of China TW Applicant (1 in total) Residence (Business Office) (Chinese) 1. No. 49, Zhonghua Road, Xinshi Township, Tainan County (this address is the same as the applicant for the previous office) Residence ( Business Office) (English) 1. Representative (Chinese) 1. Representative Wang Naichang (English) l.WANG, NAI CHANG Page 1 1257329 Correction ^---92122688 V. Invention Description (1) [Technical Fields of Invention] 】 The side: hair::": an optical U-media phenomenon of electrolytic film dissociation recovery of optical film media material sub-film layer 'will remove the high-segment substrate taper in advance, less:,: media% metal layer due to electrolytic effect fish Beauty of the body% = electricity The formation of metal ions in the solution, this method can record the light 2 = the high temperature material degradation time in the past, for high value 丄 [previous technology] ^ recording media by its physical classification, roughly divided into r 〇 m CD , 7-type disc, and re-disc. One of the ROM discs is known: CD ' is a CD_R known as one of the sub-type discs by sequentially plating the reflective layer and the protective layer on the substrate layer. Depending on the substrate layer, the reflective layer and the protective layer are formed; further, (4) the light is incident on the substrate layer: a CD-RW known as J, which is a sequential dielectric layer, a dielectric layer, and a reflective layer on the substrate layer. And the protective layer is formed." The current optical recording medium has a substrate layer and a film layer constituting any kind of optical recording body; the substrate layer is a laser beam permeable material for recording data, for example, a polycarbonate tree A vinegar, or an acrylic resin, or a polyene resin, or an epoxy resin. However, with regard to the demand for optical recording media as described above, the disposal of the cells has become a problem. Optical recording media that must be discarded; = those who have suffered damage during the manufacturing process of the recording media, who have become defective in the final inspection process after manufacture, and others have remaining inventory, especially
第4頁 年月π泣(更)正替換i 1257329Page 4 Year and month π weep (more) is replacing i 1257329
案號 9212^88 五、發明說明(4) . 本發明係有鑑於前述情況而首創者,利用電解解離回 廢棄光記錄媒體基板和金屬層之方法,特別是指一種利 ::Ϊ f象’ I以化學溶液浸泡方式將光記錄媒體表面高 i詈二ίΓ以去除,再將已去除高分子薄膜層的光記錄媒 -置於%極,金屬層中的金屬原子因受電壓驅使, 效應而與基板分離,在電解液中解離形成金屬離子,此 雜可將光纪錄媒體之基板材料和金屬薄膜材料 =別回收,由於以直流電壓加速反應,而非過 =式=學製程採強酸、強驗和溶劑,使用高溫促進反應 所仃甘β,可以減少過去高溫和高活性化學藥劑劣化材 :之:::高純度之基板和金屬材,以分別供高價值再利 好ί:本發明之處理方法,電壓能量集中於光記錄媒體 =層=面反應本身’冑需以簡單操作和少量成本,即可 U ί分離,i有利於後續回收,並保留其原始物性 ==再利用者,因此具有安全可靠、低成本、高 4貝值的再利用性等優點。 撚體i二:f在於.將事先已去除高分子薄膜層的光記錄 媒極’金屬層因電解而與基板分 形成金屬離子。 社电解狀τ -及ί =二t 舉一些具體實施例,詳細介紹本發明之内 容及其所能達成之功效。 【實施方式】 *,ίϊ!!、為一種以電解解離回收光記錄媒體材料之方 法以下為其可行步驟之一·Case No. 9212^88 V. INSTRUCTION DESCRIPTION (4). The present invention is directed to a method for electrolytically dissociating a waste optical recording medium substrate and a metal layer by electrolysis, in particular, a method of: I remove the surface of the optical recording medium by chemical solution immersion, and then remove the optical recording medium from which the polymer film layer has been removed to the % pole. The metal atoms in the metal layer are driven by voltage, and the effect is Separation from the substrate, dissociation in the electrolyte to form metal ions, which can be used to recover the substrate material and the metal film material of the optical recording medium, because the DC voltage accelerates the reaction, instead of over-type = learning process, strong acid, strong Test and solvent, use high temperature to promote the reaction of 仃β, can reduce the past high temperature and high active chemical deterioration material:::: high purity substrate and metal material, respectively for high value and then good ί: treatment of the present invention The method, the voltage energy is concentrated on the optical recording medium = layer = surface reaction itself ' needs to be separated by simple operation and a small amount of cost, i is advantageous for subsequent recovery, and retains its original physical property == The user has the advantages of being safe, reliable, low-cost, and high in reutilization. The body i: f consists in that the metal layer of the optical recording medium which has previously removed the polymer film layer is separated from the substrate by metallization to form metal ions. The electrolysis τ - and ί = two t exemplify the details of the present invention and the achievable effects thereof. [Embodiment] *, ϊ ϊ!!, is a method for electrolytically dissociating and recovering optical recording medium materials, which is one of the feasible steps.