4. Conclusions
† In this work comparison of the LTO and Travan5
systems for what is essentially the sameMP tape allowed
the effects of contact pressure at the head tape interface
on PTR and stain to be studied in detail. For both systems
Fe pigment based stain covered the pole areas, but the
coverage was more extensive in the case of Travan5. At
highest water content and highest temperatures, the two
systems behaved differently. In Travan5, extensive stain
occurred all the head surfaces, but in LTO, stain was
much less. The stain produced under these conditions on
Travan5 heads, was of quite different nature to
conventional transfer material, being wholly polymeric
in nature. This stain was due to surface degradation of the
tape. The results may be explained wholly in terms of the
lower contact pressure in the LTO system.
† PTR in both systems was found to increase with
atmospheric water content and temperature. This is a
consequence of the increased production of three-body
TiO2 or TiC wear particles from the TBS with increases
in temperature and atmospheric water content. The
mechanisms of formation of these particles are directly
related to contact pressure. Thus, the numbers of threebody
wear particles produced is less and the particles are
of smaller lateral size and thickness in the lower contact
pressure LTO system. Hence, the observed lower PTR in
the LTO system.
† Finally the differences in head/tape spacing-loss effects
(stain, PTR and debris induced spacing) in the two
systems are almost wholly attributed to the difference in
contact pressure. However, the interactions responsible
for these affects are complex.