Comparison of Corrosion and Tribological Properties of Ultrathin (< 2 nm) Carbon Films on Hard-Disk Media by DC Sputtering and FCVA Processes

作者：Dwivedi Neeraj; Goohpattader Partho S; Yeo Reuben J; Satyanarayana Nalam; Rismani Ehsan; Bhatia Charanjit S^*

来源：IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 2014, 50(11): 3302304.

DOI：10.1109/TMAG.2014.2320517

• Filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA)
• oxidation resistance
• sputtering
• tribological properties
• ultrathin carbon overcoat (COC)

Ultrathin carbon overcoats (COCs) are of great interest for future hard-disk media. In view of future requirements, the key research focus lies in investigating/maintaining tribological and oxidation resistance properties of different types of COCs with thicknesses < 2 nm. We report on the tribological and oxidation resistance properties of sputtering and filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) processed ultrathin COCs of thicknesses in the range of similar to 1.2-1.6 nm. FCVA-deposited 1.6 nm COC exhibits excellent properties in terms of lower coefficient of friction (COF, 0.2-0.25), higher wear resistance and greater oxidation resistance. In contrast, sputtered 1.2 and 1.5 nm COCs show higher COF (similar to 0.4-0.5), poor wear and oxidation resistance properties. The tribological and oxidation resistance performance of 1.2 and 1.6 nm thick FCVA-processed COCs are found to be comparable with, or even better than, significantly thicker similar to 2.7 nm commercial COC, demonstrating the effectiveness of the FCVA processed ultrathin protective magnetic media overcoats.

• 出版日期2014-11