Effect of disjoining pressure on disk-to-head lubricant transfer

In this paper, the effect of disjoining pressure was investigated for its role in lubricant transfer from magnetic recording disks to heads. The disjoining pressure was calculated from contact angle measurements on disks. The amount of lubricant transfer was measured with a slow seek test on a spin stand. The results showed that the amount of lubricant transfer is reduced as the disjoining pressure becomes more positive and the slope of the disjoining pressure-lubricant thickness curve more negative. Also, the disjoining pressure takes several weeks to stabilize, depending on the carbon-lubricant system. However, stabilization can be accelerated with a thermal or UV treatment.