A model for lubricant flow from disk to slider

Abstract

As head/media magnetic spacing in disk drives is fast approaching the 10 nm mark, the need to understand the spacing contribution of the disk lubricant becomes more pressing. In this paper, a model of lubricant transfer between disk and slider surface is presented that takes into account evaporation/condensation driven by thin film vapour pressure, as well as shear of the film towards the back of the slider.