Abstract: Disclosed is a reel-to-reel single-pass mechanical polishing system (100) suitable for polishing long lengths of metal substrate tape (124) used in the manufacture of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) coated tape, including multiple instantiations of a polishing station (114) in combination with a subsequent rinsing station (116) arranged along the axis of the metal substrate tape (124) that is translating between a payout spool (110a) and a take-up spool (110b). The metal substrate tape obtains a surface smoothness that is suitable for the subsequent deposition of a buffer layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for polishing a surface of a magnetic recording medium in which a magnetic layer surface of a magnetic tape is brought into contact with a polishing tape which is wound on a contact roll and travelled, and the magnetic tape and the polishing tape are travelled in opposite directions to polish the magnetic layer surface of the magnetic tape. In this invention, in surface polishing, a curvature of the contact roll at a position where the magnetic tape is brought into contact with the polishing tape at first is set to be 0.1 to 10 mm. In order to set the curvature of the contact roll at the position where the magnetic tape is brought into contact with the polishing tape at first to be 0.1 to 10 mm, for example, the curvature of the contact roll is continuously changed.