Tribological investigations of tri-pad sliders

The contact behavior and frictional performance of tri-pad sliders on nitrogenated carbon overcoated disks is investigated using acoustic emission and frictional force measurements. Disks lubricated with AM2001 and a mixture of AM2001 and phosphazene were studied. The acoustic emission signal during ramp-up of the disk from start to operating speed is investigated, and the occurrence of a second AE peak during start-up is studied as a function of disk roughness and disk velocity. The frictional behavior of mixed lubricated disk and AM2001 lubricated disks is examined by means of contact start/stop tests.