EFFECT OF LUBRICANT THICKNESS AND VISCOSITY AND REST TIME ON LONG-TERM STICTION IN MAGNETIC THIN-FILM RIGID DISKS

This study makes a first attempt to address long term stiction as a fu nction of lubricant film thickness and its viscosity, and if stiction ever approaches a constant value. Three types of lubricants are chosen in the tests. The equilibrium rest time, defined as the time for stat ic friction force to reach its steady-state value, is reached after th e head slider rests on the disk surface for a long enough time. A thic ker lubricant film increases the static friction force but shortens th e defined equilibrium rest time. Higher viscosity increases the static friction force and equilibrium rest time. Comparison between unlubric ated and lubricated disks shows that stiction due to solid-solid asper ity contact is negligible. The effect of lubricant viscous flow on the meniscus force at intermediate humidities is discussed.