TRIBOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SOLVENTS IN DIP-COATING LUBRICATION OF THIN-FILM MAGNETIC DISKS

In this paper, we show that for ultra thin lubricant films (similar to 2 nm) the solvent used in dip-coating of thin film magnetic disks may have a significant effect on the tribological performance of the disk . Two solvents are used in this study. A large difference in CSS perfo rmance at 80% humidity is found between using the two solvents. The so lvent effect (evaporation, diffusion & adsorption) is believed to dete rmine how lubricant molecules are deposited onto disk surfaces causing different microstructure or conformation of deposited lubricant films during the coating process. This point is further supported by contac t angle measurements which show significant different values of DI wat er on lubricated disk surfaces between using different solvents for th e coating of the disks.