Humidity effects in magnetic recording

Humidity effects in magnetic recording are reviewed. We highlight the progress made toward quantifying water adsorption on lubricated overcoats, leading up to the present understanding of humidity effects on magnetic recording tribology. Recently, it was found that moisture is also absorbed by hygroscopic atmospheric contaminants to form liquid nanodroplets on the overcoat. Rheological and dielectric measurements were performed to investigate the properties of the nanodroplets. Solutions of 1 wt% to 10 wt% water in Ztetraol are gel like and highly viscous. Dissolved water increases the low-frequency permittivity and conductivity, and shortens the dielectric relaxation time, relative to dry lubricant.