Simulation of Magnetic Erasure Due to Transient Slider-Disk Contacts

Erasure of magnetic information due to transient slider-disk contacts is investigated. A three-dimensional thermal-mechanical model of a transient contact between a slider and a multilayered thin film disk is developed. Temperature and plastic strain distributions in the contact zone are evaluated and erasure of information is determined based on a simplified erasure criterion. The effect of material properties and impact conditions on erasure is determined for disks with glass and aluminum substrate. Design recommendations for minimization of erasure are discussed.