Sliders having at least two regions on the trailing edge surface

Abstract

A slider that includes a leading edge surface; a trailing edge surface; and an air bearing surface (ABS) positioned between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface, wherein the trailing edge surface includes a read-write element, at least one low surface energy region and at least one high surface energy region.

1 . A slider comprising:
 a leading edge surface;   a trailing edge surface; and   an air bearing surface (ABS) positioned between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface,   wherein the trailing edge surface comprises a read-write element, at least one low surface energy region and at least one high surface energy region.   
     
     
         2 . The slider according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one region of low surface energy and the at least one region of high surface energy form a pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The slider according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region and the at least one high surface energy region comprises coatings of materials. 
     
     
         4 . The slider according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the low surface energy region or the high surface energy region comprises self assembled monolayers (SAMs). 
     
     
         5 . The slider according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region comprises a coating of a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         6 . The slider according to  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobic material comprises fluorine. 
     
     
         7 . The slider according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region comprises a coating of an oleophobic material. 
     
     
         8 . The slider according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region and the at least one high surface energy region are configured to drive droplets of lubricant/contaminants away from the ABS. 
     
     
         9 . The slider according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region and the at least one high surface energy region are configured to drive droplets of lubricant/contaminants along the trailing edge surface towards the outer edges thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The slider according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region and the at least one high surface energy region are configured to drive droplets of lubricant/contaminants away from the ABS and along the trailing edge surface towards the outer edges thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The slider according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one region of low surface energy is disposed directly adjacent to the ABS. 
     
     
         12 . The slider according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one region of mid surface energy. 
     
     
         13 . The slider according to  claim 12 , wherein the high surface energy region comprises nitrogenated-diamond like carbon (N-DLC), the mid surface energy region comprises diamond like carbon (DLC), and the low surface energy region comprises fluorinated-diamond like carbon (F-DLC). 
     
     
         14 . The slider according to  claim 1 , wherein the high surface energy regions, low surface energy regions, or combinations thereof form an array of micro-pillars. 
     
     
         15 . A slider comprising:
 a leading edge surface;   a trailing edge surface; and   an air bearing surface (ABS) positioned between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface,   wherein the trailing edge surface comprises a read-write element, and a plurality of micro-channels, micro-pillars, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         16 . A slider comprising:
 a leading edge surface;   a trailing edge surface; and   an air bearing surface (ABS) positioned between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface,   wherein the trailing edge surface comprises a read-write element, at least one low surface energy region coating and at least one high surface energy region coating.   
     
     
         17 . The slider according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the low surface energy region coating or the high surface energy region coating comprises self assembled monolayers (SAMs). 
     
     
         18 . The slider according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region comprises a coating of a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         19 . The slider according to  claim 18 , wherein the hydrophobic material comprises fluorine. 
     
     
         20 . The slider according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one low surface energy region comprises a coating of an oleophobic material.