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Nanoscale roughness contact in a slider-disk interface
1Data Storage Institute, 5 Engineering Drive 1, Off Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore.
Nanotechnology
|June 25, 2009
Summary
A new model analyzes nanoscale contact in hard disk drives, revealing lubricant behavior under high shear. It classifies contacts and explains thermal protrusion slider experiments for optimal recording.
Area of Science:
- Tribology
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Hard disk drives rely on precise slider-disk interfaces.
- Nanoscale roughness and lubricant behavior are critical for performance.
- Understanding contact mechanics is essential for data storage reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze nanoscale roughness contact in slider-disk interfaces.
- To investigate lubricant behavior at very high shear rates.
- To develop a new contact model for slider-disk interactions.
Main Methods:
- Classifying contact into slider-lubricant, elastic, and plastic contact.
- Investigating contact pressure and probabilities for each contact type.
- Applying the new model to explain experimental results from thermal protrusion sliders.
Main Results:
- The developed model categorizes nanoscale contacts effectively.
- Contact pressures and probabilities vary across different contact types.
- The model provides insights into thermal protrusion slider behavior.
Conclusions:
- The new contact model enhances understanding of nanoscale interactions.
- It offers explanations for experimental observations in hard disk drives.
- The study discusses the protrusion budget for optimal lubricant-based recording.
