Investigation of slider surfaces after wear using photoemission electron microscopy. [C:H]

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.581937· OSTI ID:6439686

Anders, S; Stammler, T ^[1]; Fong, W; Bogy, D B ^[2]; Bhatia, C S ^[3]; Stoehr, J ^[4]

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1. Advanced Light Source, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
2. Computer Mechanics Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
3. SSD/IBM, San Jose, California 95193 (United States)
4. IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California 95120 (United States)

The tribo-chemical interactions between the slider and the hard disk surface strongly influence the performance properties of a disk drive. To study these interactions, uncoated and carbon coated sliders were subjected to various wear tests using different disks. After the wear, the test slider surfaces were studied by photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) using tunable x rays produced by a synchrotron. Using PEEM, one can identify the elemental and chemical state of the surfaces with a high spatial resolution. It was found that wear reduces the thickness of the carbon coating in some local areas of the slider surface. In particular, the coating was removed on elevated areas and in scratches. Scratches were found on the rails of the carbon coated and uncoated sliders after wear that showed the accumulation of a degraded (oxidized) lubricant which was transferred to the slider from the disk. It was also possible to analyze the chemical composition of the debris found on the slider surface. In the present case, the debris had the same chemical composition as the carbon coating of the slider. [copyright] [ital 1999 American Vacuum Society.]

• OSTI ID: 6439686
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A, Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A Vol. 17:5; ISSN 0734-2101; ISSN JVTAD6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
665100 -- Nuclear Techniques in Condensed Matter Physics -- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CARBON
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COATINGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGNETIC DISKS
MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES
MEMORY DEVICES
MICROSCOPY
NONMETALS
PHOTOEMISSION
RADIATIONS
SECONDARY EMISSION
SURFACES
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
WEAR
X RADIATION