The purpose of this paper is to present theory and experiments on heat
and moisture diffusion in magnetic tape packs. The theory includes an
isotropy effects. The same fundamental mathematical theory is applied
to heat and moisture diffusion. The tape packs have been submitted to
a variety of thermal and hygroscopic conditions. By fitting experiment
al curves, a heat diffusivity coefficient of 1.8 . 10(-7) m2/s was obt
ained for the radial direction. Separate experiments showed that the h
eat diffusivity in the axial direction is about twice the value in the
radial direction. For the radial moisture diffusivity coefficient, a
literature value of 4 . 10(-13) m2/s is used. Fitting experimental cur
ves then shows that the axial diffusion is about 300 to 500 times fast
er than the radial diffusion, which indicates that most of the moistur
e enters through the faces of the pack. Finally, it is shown that the
experimental pack boundaries are not at a fixed temperature. Heat diff
usion experiments in a stirred water bath best approximate the constan
t temperature requirement, and theoretical fits to those experimental
curves have been most satisfactory.