Tribology of X-1P vapor lubricated hard disks

The tribological characteristics of vapor lubricated X-1P films on carbon coated disks were investigated as a function of lubricant thicknesses (0.2–2 nm) and compared with traditionally dip-coated X-1P and PFPE films. Glide and flyablity tests were performed and the lubricant redistribution in the ‘wear track’ was investigated using a surface reflectance analyzer (SRA). A critical lubricant thickness was found to exist for X-1P below which lubricant accumulation was observed, while lubricant loss was found to be present if the thickness of the lubricant film was greater than the critical thickness.