Effect of head slider DLC overcoats produced by various deposition techniques on the interface failure

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings were deposited on A1203-TiC substrate of head sliders by filtered cathodic are (FCA), ion beam (IB), electron cyclo tron resonance chemical vapor deposition (ECR-CVD) and sputtering (SP) with thicknesses of 5, 10 and 20 nm, Drag and CSS tests were performed using a commercial laser-textured disk. The interface failures, correlated to tribo logical properties of coatings on the head slider and disk surfaces, are di scussed. The ID coatings show the longest interface durability whereas sput tered DLC coatings show the lowest interface durability. However, if DLC co atings on the head slider and disk surfaces are deposited with the compatib le elastic modulus, based on mechanical characterization it is believed tha t FCA and ECR-CVD may also hold a promise for superior tribological perform ance.