The emerging role of flexible media

The evolution of systems that use flexible magnetic media for data storage is reviewed. The exponential increases in performance of these systems has imposed continually changing requirements upon the media. Because of the great diversity in the market requirements for tape systems, developments are addressed by market segments, the corresponding advances in magnetic tape design and manufacture are examined. The design of tapes to simultaneously optimize electromagnetic, mechanical, and tribological performance, and the key design parameters for these properties, are discussed