Padded slider friction

The contact interface of a padded slider on media having no laser texture i s modeled as a collection of pads in contact with a flat surface, each pad fully wetted by the lubricant film. The shape of the lubricant meniscus is determined by equating disjoining and meniscus pressures in the film surrou nding the unique geometry of the pad in contact. Friction measurements veri fy the model's accuracy, and further allow the real friction coefficient to be determined directly.