30-Year Archivability of Tape, Claims Fujifilm

FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc. demonstrated the long term archivability of Barium-Ferrite (BaFe) magnetic tape particle, withstanding realistic storage environment simulations and proving its reliability over more than a 30 year time period. The findings from the study have been documented in an official white paper issued by FUJIFILM Corporation.

"These findings show that the BaFe particle is not only a reliable tape storage solution because of its capacity but also for its proven long term reliability," said Peter Faulhaber, senior vice president of sales and marketing, FUJIFILM Recording Media U.S.A., Inc. "We have seen dramatic increases in the volume of data generated, transferred and stored today which has driven the need for increased, reliable storage media. Moreover, the solution must be able to stand up to the test of time in order for it to be a true value to IT professionals and storage managers."

To prove the long term reliability of its BaFe tape particle, Fujifilm used an accelerated environment evaluation (temperature 60ºC, relative humidity 90%, 30 days) to confirm BaFe tape particle changes in demagnetization, friction coefficient and tape surface over time. In addition, a storage test in a polluted environment, known as a ‘Battelle experiment‘, was performed. Through this series of testing, it was proven that the data storage of 30 years or more with BaFe tape particle is possible and that the tape can maintain its magnetic characteristics for long term storage.

Employing its advanced NANOCUBIC technology, Fujifilm succeeded in micro-particulation of the BaFe particle to 1600nm³, the equivalent of one-third of the current metal particle volume, uniformly dispersed and coated on a super smooth thin magnetic layer. This next generation version of NANOCUBIC technology uses a new ultra-fine, perpendicularly-oriented barium-ferrite magnetic medium that enables high-density data recording without using expensive metal sputtering or evaporation coating methods. Because Fujifilm’s new technology orients the particles in a perpendicular fashion and controls disposition at nanometer levels, it has also improved the tape’s running stability.

Globally, Fujifilm is committed to developing highly functional materials and has applied its most advanced materials science, most recently advanced NANOCUBIC technology, to innovate products and solutions in the data storage marketplace. The company’s commitment to the category has been demonstrated through their development of high capacity and superior quality data storage media. Fujifilm has maintained the largest production share of LTO Ultrium tape cartridges in the midrange data storage market, and will continue to lead the development of large capacity data storage media with its BaFe technology.

About NANOCUBIC
and Barium-Ferrite magnetic particles
Fujifilm NANOCUBIC technology combines nano-scale particles, a unique dual-coating process and advanced dispersion techniques to achieve an ultra-thin magnetic layer that produces higher resolution for recording digital data, ultra-low noise and high signal-to-noise ratios that are ideal for Magneto-Resistive and Giant Magneto-Resistive heads. Fujifilm’s next-generation tape storage media applies NANOCUBIC technology to barium-ferrite particles, a naturally stable crystalline particle that does not corrode or change chemically over time, making it an optimal particle for data storage applications. Due to the crystalline anisotropy, the ultra-fine barium-ferrite particles have high coercivity for superior performance high density recording. The Fujifilm NANOCUBIC technology coats the barium-ferrite particles in a very uniform manner (with thickness variation of less than 10 percent across the length of the tape), resulting in a much smoother magnetic surface to significantly enhance performance.