MAGNETIC HEAD-RIGID DISK INTERFACE HYDRODYNAMICALLY LUBRICATED WITH APOWER-LAW FLUID

A numerical solution to ultra thin and near-zero-pitch liquid lubricat ion of magnetic head-rigid disk interfaces for near contact recording is introduced. The non-Newtonian behavior of the liquid lubricant is i ncorporated into the hydrodynamic lubrication analysis. A power-law mo del is used to simulate the non-Newtonian behavior of the lubricant. T he effects of trailing-edge film thickness, the slider pitch angle, an d the power-law exponent on the pressure profile, the load capacity an d the coefficient of friction are presented and discussed. The results show that non-Newtonian shear-thinning at high shear rates can signif icantly reduce the pressure build-up under the rails of the slider. Th erefore, a liquid lubricant with special viscosity properties can prod uce light head loads desirable for near contact magnetic recording dev ices. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.