Tribo-chemistry at the head/disk interface

Tribo-chemical studies at the head/disk interface (HDI) mere conducted on hydrogenated (CHx), nitrogenated (CNx), and cathodic-arc amorphous hard carbon disk samples coated with perfluoropolyether ZDOL and X1P/ZDOL lubricant, The studies involved drag tests with uncoated and carbon-coated Al2O3-TiC sliders and thermal desorption experiments in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) tribochamber followed with a surface chemistry analysis by X-ray Photo Emission Electron Microscopy (X-PEEM) and Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The friction and catalytic decomposition mechanisms of ZDOL are described, as well as the tribe-chemical performance of cathodic-arc carbon overcoats coated with ZDOL, and data demonstrating the chemical alteration of the lubricant and carbon overcoat are also presented.