Effect of Magnetic-Head Slot Orientation on Pole Tip Recession and Debris Generation in Linear Tape Drives

• Published in: Tribology transactions 2001, Vol.44 (2), p.263-269
• Main Authors: Scott, William W., Bhushan, Bharat, Lakshmikumaran, Anand V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Head-Tape Interface; Magnetic devices; Other magnetic recording and storage devices (including tapes, disks, and drums); Pole Tip Recession; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Tape Debris; Wear
• ISSN: 1040-2004; 1547-397X
• DOI: 10.1080/10402000108982457

Pole tip recession (PTR) and debris generation lead to signal loss at the head-tape interface. Accelerated tape drive experiments and measurements of head-tape spacing were conducted using heads with different slot orientations. PTR was higher for blind-slotted (slots in the direction of tape travel) heads than for transverse-slotted (slots in the direction transverse to tape travel) heads. More tape debris was found on the surface of transverse-slotted heads, but most of this debris resided in the slots rather than on the bearing surface. The slots in the transverse-slotted heads act as tape cleaners, which accounts for the large debris buildup in the slots. This leaves fewer loose debris particles at the interface for the transverse-slotted heads. Little difference was found in the head-tape spacing for the two types at the conditions used in the drive experiments. It is proposed that the greater amount of loose debris available at the interface for use in three-body abrasive wear, which is believed to cause PTR, results in higher PTR in blind-slotted heads. Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in Seattle, Washington, October 1-4, 2000