Effect of operating environment on head–tape interface in a linear tape drive

Abstract Environment plays an important role in the functioning of tape drives and the exact reproduction of the stored data. The magnetic and tribological performance of metal particle tape at ambient and extreme temperature and humidity conditions was evaluated in a commercial tape drive. Head output and head–tape interface friction were monitored during short pass (10 m) shuttling tests. Optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the head and tape surfaces at the end of the tests. Magnetic and tribological performance of the head–tape interface is the best at low temperature and low relative humidity conditions. Increase in both temperature and humidity results in performance degradation. Low temperature and high relative humidity conditions generate more debris and cause more wear of the tape edges. High temperature and low relative humidity conditions show deposition of debris near the read head region and increase in head output. High temperature and high humidity conditions result in failure of the drive. Possible mechanisms responsible for the observed tribological behavior of the head–tape interface at various conditions are discussed.