FRICTION STICTION AND WEAR STUDIES OF MAGNETIC THIN-FILM DISKS WITH 2POLAR PERFLUOROPOLYETHER LUBRICANTS/

Polar and nonpolar perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants are almost exc lusively used for topical lubrication of magnetic thin-film disks. How ever, little is known about the effects of degree of chemical bonding and chemical structure of the lubricant and the operating environment on the tribological performance of head-disk interface. In this study, thin-film disks were lubricated with two different polar PFPE lubrica nts. Static and kinetic friction, long-term (rest) stiction and durabi lity were measured using a single-disk tester at different relative hu midities to investigate the effects of chemical structure and chemical bonding of lubricant and humidity on the tribological performance of head-disk interface. Experimental results show that friction and stict ion are strongly affected by humidity as well as the rest time of the head slider on the disk at a given roughness and lubricant film thickn ess. Stiction of one of the lubricant studied here is somewhat insensi tive to high humidity. Chemical bonding of the lubricant is shown to i mprove the friction/stiction performance with some reduction in the du rability.