R&D: Wear-Durable Protective Overcoats for Functional Tape Heads

Springer Theses book series in Ultrathin Carbon-Based Overcoats for Extremely High Density Magnetic Recording has published an article written by Reuben Jueyuan Yeo, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Abstract: “Pole-tip recession (PTR) in magnetic tape heads is one of the major challenges faced in magnetic tape recording, which causes an increase in the magnetic spacing. In addition, tribo-electrochemical reactions can also occur through direct contact between the read/write elements and the tape material, resulting in the formation of metallic deposits. Hence, the application of an ultrathin, wear durable, electrically insulating and chemically inert overcoat on the tape-bearing surface of the head is one possible way to alleviate the issues of PTR and tribo-chemical interactions. In this chapter, the feasibility of ultrathin bi-layer SiNx/C overcoats for functional tape heads is investigated.”