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

Experimental, theoretical and numerical modelling issues concerning th e tribology of thin-film rigid disk media are reviewed. Special emphas is is placed on the role of carbon overcoatings in friction and wear r eduction at the head-disk interface (HDI), especially with regard to u ltra-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 betwee n slider and disk falls below 100 nm, novel techniques will be require d for the acceleration of wear and for modelling of the HDI, some aspe cts of which are presented. In addition, the complementary roles of ex perimental techniques operating in the sliding and flying regimes, and operation near the boundary between flying and sliding, are discussed .