Using 4-alpha-cumylphenol as the end-capping agent, polycarbonates (PCs) with a viscosity-average molecular weight (M-v) of 13,800 were prepared. DVD substrates were molded using these PCs. DVD substrates using PCs end-capped with 4-a-cumylphenol (CP-PCs) have lower retardation than do those using conventional PCs end-capped with 4-tert-butylphenol (TBP-PCs). Using CP-PC, it is possible to bring the mold temperature down about 20degreesC from the standard conditions of molding DVD substrates using TBP-PC at the same radial birefringence. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.