An investigation of wear and material transfer in magnetic recording disk files

Wear of specially designed and fabricated slider bearings, similar to the ones used in magnetic recording disk files, is investigated as a function of sliding velocity using interferometric analysis for measuring dimensional changes due to wear. The relationship between wear and the amount of material transfer is determined, after neutron activation, utilizing autoradiographic methods and optical microdensitometer analysis. For the specific slider type investigated, transfer and wear rates are seen to decrease to zero for velocities above 2000 cm/s, thus indicating hydrodynamic flying of the slider. © 1974.