We propose to establish flying clearance at the head-disk interface by wearing the slider region that contains the transducer. The wear process is controlled by slider design, disk design, and the techniques used to control contact pressure at the wear region. The resulting distribution of flying clearance for a population of head-disk interfaces provides performance gains associated with lower magnetic spacing.

Capacitance between a slider and disk was measured to relate slider/disk interplanar separation to static friction. The parallel plate capacitance formula was used to convert the capacitance into separation with a resolution of less than 1 nm. Separation and coefficient of static friction (stiction) were measured using assorted lubricant thicknesses with and without bonding on polished and textured disks. Separation was measured during contact start/stop (CSS) and long term slider dwell times, after which static friction was measured. Polished disks had high stiction events with smaller separations during and after the stiction event, unlike textured disks. Long-term dwell studies showed the coefficient of static friction and slider micro descent (decrease in interplanar separation) to be greatest with greater lubricant thickness and polished disks. Static friction and separation with bonded and unlubricated disks were time independent.

Heuchera americana ‘Dale's Variety’, Aquilegia × cultorum ‘Crimson Star’ and Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa ‘Goldsturm’ were grown in a soilless medium and watered weekly with either 0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 M NaCl solutions for 6 weeks. Foliage and leachate were analyzed for pH, Na+ and Cl−, and digital images were taken of all plants. Sodium and chloride concentrations in the leachate increased over time, while pH values remained unchanged. Aquilegia and Rudbeckia took up both Na+ and Cl−in increasing amounts over time. Heuchera took up large quantities of Cl−initially, but lesser amounts over time, and minimal Na+ into the foliage until the last week. At the highest treatment levels of NaCl, all plants showed significant visual damage. Aquilegia was the first to show visual damage at 0.05 M NaCl. Heuchera was intermediate in terms of symptom development. Based on the results of this study, Rudbeckia and Heuchera are listed as salt tolerant, and Aquilegia is listed as salt intolerant.