Investigation on the tribological properties of Al\(_{2}\)O\(_{3}\)-TiC substrates in fixed abrasive lapping for data storage applications

Benjie Locsing  FERNANDEZ; Thanakrit SRISUWAN; Duangamol TUNGASMITA; Sukkaneste TUNGASMITA

doi:10.55713/jmmm.v36i1.2510

ผู้แต่ง

Benjie Locsing FERNANDEZ Nanoscience and Technology Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Western Digital Storage Technologies (Thailand) Ltd., Bang Pa-in, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13160, Thailand
Thanakrit SRISUWAN Western Digital Storage Technologies (Thailand) Ltd., Bang Pa-in, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13160, Thailand
Duangamol TUNGASMITA Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Sukkaneste TUNGASMITA Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55713/jmmm.v36i1.2510

คำสำคัญ:

AlTiC substrate, Fixed abrasive, Lapping material removal rate, Coefficient of friction, Surface finish

บทคัดย่อ

Alumina titanium-carbide (Al₂O₃-TiC) or simply AlTiC substrates were widely used in the magnetic recording industry for their superior mechanical and tribological properties. This study investigated the effect of AlTiC substrate crystal structure, chemical bonding and grain size in slider fix abrasive lapping tribology. Two types of AlTiC substrates, Type-A AlTiC and Type-B AlTiC equipped with an electro lapping guide (ELG), fully functional reader and writer devices were used in the study. The type-B lower material removal rate resulting to rougher surface finish was mainly due weakening caused by the titanium oxycarbide phase, which was the dominant factor, outweighing the minimal contribution from grain-boundary strengthening (Hall-Petch effect). Furthermore, the grain size investigated in this study was between 420 nm to 670 nm, making it far too large for the inverse Hall–Petch effect which involves softening at exceedingly small grain sizes typically below 100nm to be a relevant mechanism. The findings also highlight the importance of lapping parameters optimization to balance material removal rate (process productivity and efficiency) and surface finish (magnetic head reliability and areal density performance).

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