Nanotribology of ultra-thin liquid lubricant films for contact sliders in magnetic hard disk drives

摘要

Recently, head-disk interface (HDI) spacing in magnetic hard disk drives has been decreased as low as 10 nm in order to achieve ultra-high magnetic recording density. A lubricant film of around 1-2 nm thickness is also applied over the carbon overcoat on hard disk surfaces in today s hard disk drives. In this study, the dynamic interactions between contact sliders and ultra-thin liquid lubricant films will be investigated, using the disks with novel cyclotriphosphazene-terminated PFPE lubricants as well as conventional Zdol as a function of lubricant film thickness. The lubricant film thickness profiles were also examined before and after contact slider experiments, using scanning micro-ellipsometry and the behavior of ultra-thin liquid lubricant films as a result of slider-disk contacts will be clarified. In addition, the design instructions of lubricant film thickness as well as lubricant materials for next generation contact head/disk interface, considering the slider-lubricant contact interactions, will be also discussed.