MAGNETIC DISK DRIVE WITH SELF-LIMITING WEARABLE CONTACT PAD AIR-BEARING SLIDER IN HERMETICALLY SEALED ENVIRONMENT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk drive having a read/write head in which a protective layer for protecting corrosion of the magnetic elements of the heads is not required and magnetic spacing in the disk drive is reduced accordingly. SOLUTION: The magnetic elements 240, 242 and 244 of the head 106 extend into and are surrounded by wearable pads 221 that protrudes beyond the air-bearing surface 216 of a slider 108. The end of the wearable pad and the ends of the magnetic elements are covered by a corrosion-resistant protective film 230. Sliders are assembled into the disk drive in a special environment, typically air with humidity controlled below a level above which corrosion of the magnetic elements would occur. The drive is then hermetically sealed and driven, and the wearable pads 221 are brought into contact with a disk until the protective film 230 and the pads are worn or burnished away. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO