Stability Model for Ultra-thin Lubricant Films with a Slider

This paper investigates a thermodynamic stability model that defines the film stability with respect to the film thickness h, molecular weight M, and fly height of the slider h_f. The model incorporates non-dispersive interaction between an endgroup of lubricant and carbon overcoat surface so that it is capable of a Fomblin Zdol type lubricant. The Zdol lubricant film exhibits autophobic dewetting, which is initiated by the functional endgroups localizing at substrate interface and by the low surface energy in its buckbone. In such a system, the surface free energy of the film must be properly described as a function of thickness to incorporate effects due to the characteristic nanostructure near the surface.