Wednesday, June 9th 2021
Researchers Deploy Graphene on HDDs to Enable up to 10x Density Increase With HAMR Technology
HDD manufacturers have tirelessly worked to reinvent the spinning drive technology (and sometimes topology) with increased storage density capabilities (potentiated by the development of technologies such as HAMR (Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording) and MAMR (Microwave Assisted Magnetic Recording). Researchers with the Cambridge Graphene Centre have collaborated with the University of Exeter, India, Switzerland, Singapore and the US to showcase how much life there might still exist in HDDs - if only graphene were to be used.
The research shows how a single graphene layer (researchers tested up to four layers) can be used as a replacement for multiple layers of carbon-based overcoats (COCs), which are deployed on platters to protect them from mechanical damages and corrosion. Current COC thickness stands at only 3 nm, but any existing space between platters presents a bottleneck to the number of platters (and thus storage density) that can be achieved in the HDD world. The researchers demonstrated that graphene enables a two-fold reduction in friction and provides better corrosion and wear protection than current state-of-the-art solutions. In fact, one single graphene layer reduces corrosion by 2.5 times. The researchers further demonstrated that graphene can still be deployed as protective layers in HAMR-totting HDDs - a feat that current carbon-based overcoats can't reproduce, as they fail at the high temperatures arising from the heat-assisted recording. Just one more feather on graphene's utility cap.
Source:
Cambridge University UK
The research shows how a single graphene layer (researchers tested up to four layers) can be used as a replacement for multiple layers of carbon-based overcoats (COCs), which are deployed on platters to protect them from mechanical damages and corrosion. Current COC thickness stands at only 3 nm, but any existing space between platters presents a bottleneck to the number of platters (and thus storage density) that can be achieved in the HDD world. The researchers demonstrated that graphene enables a two-fold reduction in friction and provides better corrosion and wear protection than current state-of-the-art solutions. In fact, one single graphene layer reduces corrosion by 2.5 times. The researchers further demonstrated that graphene can still be deployed as protective layers in HAMR-totting HDDs - a feat that current carbon-based overcoats can't reproduce, as they fail at the high temperatures arising from the heat-assisted recording. Just one more feather on graphene's utility cap.
20 Comments on Researchers Deploy Graphene on HDDs to Enable up to 10x Density Increase With HAMR Technology
PS. Promises, promises, dreams, weed, illusions...delusions!
I'm not sure how graphite media has the potential to impact the market but if it is as billed it can only serve to accelerate those goals.
As for the price that's anyone's guess.
Here's the jist of it.
A new version of a product comes out, the older version(which was once top tier) then becomes more affordable and is eventually replaced entirely. Then another advancement takes place and the cycle begins again.
8TB drives used to be out of reach for the average consumer. Now they're easily affordable. 10TB & 12TB drive are getting more affordable by the month. The very pricey 14TB drives out now are out of reach for the average consumer but the prices for such drives have already started coming down.
That cycle is true for anything tech related. If you fail to understand this very simple concept, which you seem to, then some history is something you need to brush-up on..Not a great suggestion. The reason graphene is so promising is the fact that it's friction bias is very low. Diamond is not, relative to what is needed for HDD surfaces. With graphene it seems that damage caused by head impact events are greatly reduced. Diamond however, even though very hard, has a friction bias that makes it a poor choice for platter surface coatings.
BTW since you seem to know so much, coating diamond with graphene creates the perfect substance.
So then, when 3080 ti was released did 2080 ti get cheaper? When 2080ti was released did 1080 ti get cheaper? No they didn't. And you know that. They just stop making older models.
50TB hdd even in 10 years wont replace 2TB. 2TB hdd were already available prior 2010.
Currently we can buy from WD 500 GB caviar black hdd for 55$. So then why 500GB still costs so much? And don't tell me the mining, mining, oh and as well, duuude. It is WD caviar black.
8TB WD Black on site goes for 280 euros. I aint gonna agree that the price is "ok" for private sector if average buyer buys pc for 500-700euro.
Though the price isn't that bad neither for that huge storage. When it will be at 100euro then we can talk.
I bought in 2010. 2TB caviar black for 110 euro+/-. Currently in wd site you can buy 2TB caviar black for 105$ with discount. Without discount 121. Yep, things are getting cheaper as you described. New versions got released, but price is still the same.
Not to mention that every year inflation is happening.
www.zdnet.com/article/the-15-terabyte-is-coming/
www.backblaze.com/blog/hard-drive-cost-per-gigabyte/