A study of tribo-charge/emission at the head-disk interface

The tribo-current/voltage buildup at head-disk interface during take-off an d flying at the landing zone was measured with an electrometer in conjuncti on with the measurement of acoustic emission. Effects of various parameters including airbearing designs on head, media texture, lubricant and carbon overcoat on the tribo-emission/charge were investigated. It was found that the intensity of tribo-emission/charge increases with the severity of head- disk interactions (generation of charge), and decreases with the conductivi ty of the carbon overcoat on disks (charge dissipation). There was a marked effect of relative humidity on the measurements for a given head-disk comb ination. The reasons for the results are discussed. (C) 1999 American Insti tute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)32208-8].