Component level investigations of liquid accumulation on sliders-“fly stiction”

When carbon coated sliders are flown over lubricated thin film disk surfaces over an extended period of time, there is a marked increase in stiction compared to values observed during rest stiction or instant measurements on the same surface. This phenomenon, commonly referred to now as “fly stiction”, is the result of excessive liquids that accumulate over the slider air-bearing surface, the trailing edge of the slider as well as in the etch cavity areas of a negative pressure slider. The physical origins of this stiction increase, processes that lead to higher stiction and the influence of test variables are discussed