Contact-start-stop studies with silicon planar head sliders against thin-film disks

Silicon planar head (SPH) sliders produced by using integrated circuit (IC) technology are desirable for their low manufacturing cost. Contact-start-stop tests were conducted on SPH sliders against thin-film disks. The CSS data presented show that SPH sliders exhibit superior life to conventional thin-film head sliders. SPH sliders can be satisfactorily used beyond 160000 CSS cycles. Magnetic performance of SPH sliders remains virtually unchanged. It is believed that matching of hardnesses of SiO/sub 2/ and DLC (diamond like carbon) coatings, high thermal conductivity of Si substrate for the slider, and high natural frequency of the SPH slider are responsible for long wear life.<
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