Recent research of tape/drive tribology

Decreasing track width and tape thickness to increase the volumetric recording density of helical scan-tape-drive systems, which is suitable for higher volumetric recording density, will result in the failure of tracking. The displacement of tape forwarding position, which causes failure of tracking, is caused by static friction coefficient between a tape and a roller guide. It was found that surface roughness and materials of roller guides are very important to reduce static friction coefficient.