Effect of magnetic-head slot orientation on pole tip recession and debris generation in linear tape drives

Pole rip recession (PTR) and debris generation lead to signal loss at the h ead-tape interface. Accelerated tape drive experiments and measurements of head-tape spacing were conducted using heads with different slot orientatio ns. PTR was higher for blind-slotted (slots in the direction of tape travel ) heads than for transverse-slotted (slots in the direction transverse to r ape travel) heads. More tape debris was found on the surface of transverse- slotted heads, bur most of this debris resided in the sluts rather than on the bearing surface. The slots in the transverse-slotted heads act as tape cleaners, which accounts for tire large debris buildup in the slots. This l eaves fewer loose debris particles at rile interface for the transverse-slo tted heads. Little difference was found in the head-rape sparing for the tw o types at the conditions used in the drive experiments. It is proposed tha t the greater amount of louse 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.