Tribology challenges of modern magnetic hard disk drives

This paper reviews the effect of the design evolution of modern magnetic hard disk drives on tribological challenges, such as wearless high-speed contact, ultra-thin lubrication, corrosion protection, and requirements of thinner carbon overcoat. We will present some data on slider wear measurements on the order of nanometers, lubricant migration and depletion as linked to tribological reliability, lubricant bonding kinetics on different carbon overcoats, corrosion protection using lubricant and thin carbon coatings, and lubricant de-wetting.