Head–Disk Lubricant Transfer and Deposition During Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording Write Operations

Author

Yang Yang ; Xinwei Li ; Stirniman, Michael ; Xiaoping Yan ; Fujian Huang ; Zavaliche, Florin ; Hongbo Wang ; Junwei Huang ; Huan Tang ; Jones, Paul M. ; Kiely, James D. ; Brand, John L.

Author_Institution

Seagate Technol., Fremont, CA, USA

Volume

51

Issue

11

fYear

2015

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

Lubricant accumulation was found on the media surface the instant when the laser is turned OFF during heat-assisted magnetic recording write operations. By changing the write cycles, laser ON/OFF duration, media, and head temperatures, we find that this lubricant accumulation is related to the change in head-media temperatures. The observed lubricant deposition process is restricted to a short time window (1-2 μs) after the laser is turned OFF. An equilibrium model of thermal displacement due to evaporation and condensation processes is presented and used to discuss the effect of the head-media temperature changes on the lubricant accumulation. Possible solutions to minimize the lubricant transfer and deposition are discussed.

Keywords

lubricants; magnetic recording; head-disk lubricant deposition; head-disk lubricant transfer; head-media temperatures; heat-assisted magnetic recording write operations; thermal displacement; Heat-assisted magnetic recording; Heating; Lasers; Lubricants; Magnetic heads; Media; Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR); heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR); lubricant; temperature difference;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2015.2434826

Filename

7109908