APPLICATION OF DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON-FILMS FOR ANTI-ABRASION AND LOW-FRICTION PROPERTIES OF VCR HEAD DRUMS

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited on video cassette recor der (VCR) head drums to improve the tribological properties between th e head drum and VCR tape. The DLC films of 1+/-0.1 mu m thick were dep osited by high frequency plasma enhanced CVD method using pure methane . The performances of the DLC coated head drums were tested for 1000 h in VHS type VCR using a scheduled operation mode variation and under ambient condition. It was observed that the DLC coatings on VCR head d rums prevent surface damages caused by the VCR tape. The wear rate of VCR heads was also reduced by factor of about 50%. This behavior is di scussed in terms of the effect of DLC coatings in protecting the magne tic layer of VCR tape. Depending on the deposition condition, the surf ace contamination behavior by Fe oxide particles of VCR tape is signif icantly changed.