Durability and failure mechanisms of digital tapes in a rotary tape drive

The durability and failure mechanism of digital metal-evaporated (ME) and d igital metal particulate (MF) tapes were investigated. Shuttle and pause mo de tests were performed at ambient and different environmental conditions u sing a modified digital camcorder as a wear tester. Physical and chemical a nalyses of worn surfaces were conducted to study failure mechanisms. Digita l ME tape exhibited higher overall durability than digital MP tape and HI-X ME tape without a diamond-like carbon (DLC) overcoat in the study. The per formance of digital ME tape was sensitive to temperature and relative humid ity. In the pause test, digital ME tape demonstrated highest durability und er hot and moderate humidity conditions and lowest durability under cold an d dry conditions. The reasons for high durability for digital ME tape compa red with digital MP tape and Hi-8 ME tape without a DLC overcoat lie in lub ricant selection, controlled surface topography and DLC coating. With the c orrect combinations of these three parameters, the durability of ME tape is vastly improved.