As the slider flying height decreases to sub-5-nm to obtain extremely high-density magnetic recordings of the order of 1Tbit∕in.2, problems of adhesion can cause catastrophic behavior at the magnetic recording head-disk interface (HDI). In the earlier part of the paper, a number of interfacial adhesive models were implemented for simplified HDI configurations (i.e., two flat parallel surfaces and a sphere on a flat surface). With the use of realistic HDI properties, individual adhesive force models, such as van der Waals and electrostatic forces, can provide initial approximations to the adhesive forces present during sub-5-nm flying. In the second part of the paper, realistic roughness conditions applicable to actual HDI’s were modeled using an improved Derjaguin–Muller–Toporov-based elastic-plastic rough surface adhesion model. Specifically, the proposed adhesion model accounts for roughness, the presence of molecularly thin lubricant, and includes electrostatic forces. Using experimentally measured roughness values from ultralow flying HDI’s (root-mean-square roughness of 0.65–1.62 nm), it was found that while the contact force is negligible for an interface with low roughness, the adhesive force dominates such interface. Moreover, the effect of roughness promotes adhesion at higher separations than if a two flat parallel surface configuration is considered. Prior to the onset of contact, the total adhesive force for an interface with low roughness is comparable to a two flat parallel surface approximation. However, the simple flat parallel surface approximation fails to predict the realistic onset of contact due to the exclusion of roughness.

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Miniature devices including MEMS and the head disk interface in magnetic storage often include very smooth surfaces, typically having root-mean-square roughness, σ of the order of 10 nm or less. When such smooth surfaces contact, or come into proximity of each other, either in dry or wet environments, then strong intermolecular (adhesive) forces may arise. Such strong intermolecular forces may result in unacceptable and possibly catastrophic adhesion, stiction, friction and wear. In the present paper, a model termed sub-boundary lubrication (SBL) adhesion model is used to calculate the adhesion forces, and an elastic-plastic model is used to calculate the contact forces at typical MEMS interfaces. Several levels of surface roughness are investigated representing polished and as-deposited polysilicon films that are typically found in MEMS. The SBL adhesion model reveals the significance of the surface roughness on the adhesion and pull-off forces as the surfaces become smoother. The validity of using the SBL adhesion model to estimate the pull-off forces in miniature systems is further supported by direct comparison with experimental pull-off force measurements performed on silicon and gold interfaces. Finally, the significance of the interfacial forces as relate to the reliability of MEMS interfaces is discussed.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) with its environmental benefits is considered a good replacement for commonly used synthetic refrigerants. In this study, the surface and sub-surface changes in simulated CO 2 environment during the initial or transient stages of a sliding contacting interface were investigated. Pin-on-disk configurations involving Al390-T6 disks in contact with 52100 steel pins were used in controlled tribological experiments using a High Pressure Tribometer. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of CO 2 refrigerant, comparative tribological experiments involving a conventional refrigerant and different commonly used lubricants were initially performed in a step-increasing load manner under submerged lubricated conditions. Subsequent detailed experiments for investigating the surface and sub-surface changes were performed in the presence of CO 2 refrigerant and the best performing lubricant, polyalkyline glycol. Burnishing was observed on the surfaces during the transient (evolutionary) stage, which indicated asperity contacts due to the breaking of the elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication film. In order to quantify the surface and sub-micron sub-surface changes that occurred during this transient stage of tribological operation, several analytical tasks were performed, which involved the measurements of nanomechanical properties, chemical compositions of the topmost 200 nm surface layer, and surface roughness. Such studies of detailed evolutionary changes that occurred during the transient stage of a tribopair shed light on the complex interactions between surface and sub-surface changes that determine whether successful tribological conditions will eventually be achieved. Based on the analyses presented in this work, it is concluded that CO 2 is a viable refrigerant from a tribology point of view.

To understand better the friction force and wear processes at contacting slider-disk interfaces, we have developed an experimental method for measuring and a theoretical method for calculating the friction force. For this study, a slider with a 1500 lm 2 contact pad located at the recording head is burnished against a relatively rough disk ( $ 12 Å rms), which ensures smooth sliding. In the experimental method, the friction force is measured as the disk is spun-down to bring the slider-disk interface into an increasing degree of contact. A modified air bearing code is used to determine the experimental normal contact force for each friction measurement. In the theoretical method, the friction force and other relevant interfacial forces are calculated using an improved sub-boundary lubrication (ISBL) rough surface model. The friction force calculation in this model is based on the force needed to induce yielding of the individual disk asperities contacting the flat surface of the contact pad without any assumption of the coefficient of friction. Good agreement is found between the measured and theoretical friction vs. normal contact force curves, indicating that the model is capturing the essential origins of friction at this interface. The model also provides valuable insights into how wear particles may be generated at this contacting slider-disk interface.

To achieve extremely high-density magnetic recording of 1 Tbit per square inch using conventional technologies, the distance between the recording slider and the rotating disk needs to be less than 5 nm. For successful operation, disk and slider surfaces must also be extremely smooth with root-mean-square roughness values of few angstroms. However, ultra-low flying super smooth head-disk interfaces may be exposed to a significant amount of intermittent contact, adhesion, stiction and friction that can cause the interface to collapse. In order to circumvent such problems, many novel techniques have been proposed, such as laser zone texturing, contact pads and surface microtexturing. A reliable method to reduce adhesion and friction in ultra-low flying head-disk interfaces is to control the area of contact and roughen the interface, which allows the slider to fly at sub-5 nm with minimal contact. A technique known as preferential texturing provides a unique roughening of the air-bearing surface, where parts of the surface are removed, i.e., subtractive texturing process. In this paper, the effect of preferential texturing (roughening) of slider air-bearing surfaces on the adhesion and friction forces are investigated using quasi-dynamic models. The simulation results show that surface texturing reduces adhesion and friction by reducing the effective area of contact between the slider and media surfaces and by preferentially roughening the interface. The simulation results of friction compare favorably with experimental data.

Sub-5nm flying head-disk interfaces (HDIs) designed to attain extremely high areal recording densities of the order of Tbit∕in2 are susceptible to strong adhesive forces, which can lead to subsequent contact, bouncing vibration, and high friction. Accurate prediction of the relevant interfacial forces can help ensure successful implementation of ultra-low flying HDIs. In this study, an improved rough surface model is developed to estimate the adhesive, contact, and friction forces as well as the mean contact pressure relevant to sub-5nm HDIs. The improved model was applied to four different HDIs of varying roughness and contact conditions, and was compared to the sub-boundary lubrication rough surface model. It was found that the interfacial forces in HDIs undergoing primarily elastic-plastic and plastic contact are more accurately predicted with the improved model, while under predominantly elastic contact conditions, the two models give similar results. The improved model was then used to systematically investigate the effect of roughness parameters on the interfacial forces and mean contact pressure (response). The trends in the responses were investigated via a series of regression models using a full 33 factorial design. It was found that the adhesive and net normal interfacial forces increase with increasing mean radius R of asperities when the mean separation is small (≈0.5nm), i.e., pseudo-contacting interface, but it increases primarily with increasing root-mean-square (rms) surface height roughness between 2 and 4nm, i.e., pseudo-flying interface. Also, increasing rms roughness and decreasing R, increases the contact force and mean contact pressure, while the same design decreases the friction force. As the directions of optimization for minimizing the individual interfacial forces are not the same, simultaneous optimization is required for a successful ultra-low flying HDI design.

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