Tribology of videotapes

Increased recording density in magnetic recording has been achieved by introducing newly developed magnetic tapes, such as metal particulate tapes and metal-evaporated tapes. As a loss in magnetic recording increases with spacing between a magnetic rape and a magnetic head, these are obliged to contact each other. A tape also rubs tape-transportation elements in videotape recorders (VTRs), such as the stationary drum and guide posts. Thus it is not too much to say that the development of new magnetic tapes for practical application depends on tribological research. In this paper, tribological analyses for the improvements of durability and runnability of metal particulate tapes and metal-evaporated videotapes are reviewed.