LUBRICANT DESIGN FOR CONTACT RECORDING-SYSTEMS

Contact recording systems have been studied for future magnetic record ing disks with a high recording density. Tribological key technologies for ultra-low spacing and high wear performance are required for the contact systems. Particularly, a liquid lubrication system plays an im portant roll for reducing a mechanical spacing and improving wear perf ormances. However, a lubrication design concept for contact recording systems is not established. In this study, molecular design of lubrica nts for contact systems will be discussed from a viewpoint of bouncing and wear behaviors. As a result, a minimum bouncing height of 3 nm an d a high wear performance were obtained for ion-etched contact sliders by the optimization of design parameters, i.e, pad design and lubrica nt material.