TRIBOLOGY OF THIN-FILM MEDIA IN BOTH FLYING AND SLIDING MODES

Experimental, theoretical and numerical modelling issues concerning the tribology of thin-film rigid disk media are reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on the role of carbon overcoatings in friction and wear reduction at the head-disk interface (HDI), especially with regard to ultra-low flying or quasi-contact recording. An overview is provided of wear and failure mechanisms of carbon-coated media as observed under a variety of testing conditions. As the Steady-state separation between slider and disk falls below 100 nm, novel techniques will be required for the acceleration of wear and for modelling of the HDI, some aspects of which are presented. In addition, the complementary roles of experimental techniques operating in the sliding and flying regimes, and operation near the boundary between flying and sliding, are discussed.