Abstract: A disk drive is provided with an enclosure and a disk mounted for rotation within the enclosure. The disk drive is also provided with a head mounted for rotation within the enclosure and adapted to engage the disk, a housing defining a cavity extending along an axis within the enclosure, and a shaft received within the cavity, mounted for rotation about the axis and coupled to one of the disk and the head. The disk drive is also provided with a bearing and a bearing seat. The bearing is formed generally spherical, oriented in a non-rolling configuration along the axis, and secured to one of the housing and the shaft. The bearing seat has a surface secured to the other of the housing and the shaft and biased to engage the bearing, wherein at least one of the bearing and the surface includes a low-friction coating formed thereon.

Abstract: A disk drive is provided with an enclosure and a disk mounted for rotation within the enclosure. The disk drive is also provided with a head mounted for rotation within the enclosure and adapted to engage the disk, a housing defining a cavity extending along an axis within the enclosure, and a shaft received within the cavity, mounted for rotation about the axis and coupled to one of the disk and the head. The disk drive is also provided with a bearing and a bearing seat. The bearing is formed generally spherical, oriented in a non-rolling configuration along the axis, and secured to one of the housing and the shaft. The bearing seat has a surface secured to the other of the housing and the shaft and biased to engage the bearing, wherein at least one of the bearing and the surface includes a low-friction coating formed thereon.

Abstract: A hard, wear resistant coating and a method of forming the coating on a substrate to be exposed to hydrocarbons is provided. A substrate is provided in a chamber. A film is deposited onto the substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD), where the film includes a bulk layer and an outer termination layer. The deposition of the termination layer is mitigated. The termination layer is removed from the film, leaving the remaining bulk layer disposed over the substrate. And when the substrate is exposed to hydrocarbons in an environment having wear additives, friction modifiers, or naturally occurring compounds, a durable tribological layer is formed on an outer surface of the bulk layer to create a coating having low friction and anti-wear properties.

Abstract: A hard, wear resistant coating and a method of forming the coating on a substrate to be exposed to hydrocarbons is provided. A substrate is provided in a chamber. A film is deposited onto the substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD), where the film includes a bulk layer and an outer termination layer. The deposition of the termination layer is mitigated. The termination layer is removed from the film, leaving the remaining bulk layer disposed over the substrate. And when the substrate is exposed to hydrocarbons in an environment having wear additives, friction modifiers, or naturally occurring compounds, a durable tribological layer is formed on an outer surface of the bulk layer to create a coating having low friction and anti-wear properties.

Abstract: A high performance hard disk drive is disclosed in which a flying read/write head runs in contact or in near contact with a rotating platter. In this design there is no wear of the hard disk platter or flying head due to both head and platter being coated with an amorphous carbon that has an exceptionally low coefficient of friction in a sealed, inert gas environment. The overcoat contains carbon in the range between about 52 and 80 atomic percent and hydrogen in the range between about 20 to 48 atomic percent. There is no lubricant required in this design, which eliminates a significant cause of hard drive failure from oxidation of the lubricant, stiction and rippling of the lubricant. This contact method achieves a high areal density with no wear, within a robust, hermetically sealed environment.

Abstract: Improved boron-based metal working and machining fluids. Boric acid and boron-based additives that, when mixed with certain carrier fluids, such as water, cellulose and/or cellulose derivatives, polyhydric alcohol, polyalkylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, dextrin, in solid and/or solvated forms result in improved metalworking and machining of metallic work pieces. Fluids manufactured with boric acid or boron-based additives effectively reduce friction, prevent galling and severe wear problems on cutting and forming tools.

Abstract: A high performance hard disk drive is disclosed in which a flying read/write head runs in contact or in near contact with a rotating platter. In this design there is no wear of the hard disk platter or flying head due to both head and platter being coated with an amorphous carbon that has an exceptionally low coefficient of friction in a sealed, inert gas environment. The overcoat contains carbon in the range between about 52 and 80 atomic percent and hydrogen in the range between about 20 to 48 atomic percent. There is no lubricant required in this design, which eliminates a significant cause of hard drive failure from oxidation of the lubricant, stiction and rippling of the lubricant. This contact method achieves a high areal density with no wear, within a robust, hermetically sealed environment.

Abstract: A durable, reliable high performance drive and method for digitizing, storing and retrieving data from a disk. In a first embodiment, at least one disk and components for spinning the disk, and digitizing, writing and reading data from the disk are covered with a 0.1 to 4 microns thick ultra low friction and wear, structurally amorphous carbon coating eliminating the need for a lubricant for sliding and rotating components. In a second embodiment the components for spinning the disk, and digitizing, writing and reading data from the disk are enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing and the housing is filled with a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas.

Abstract: Improved boron-based metal working and machining fluids. Boric acid and boron-based additives that, when mixed with certain carrier fluids, such as water, cellulose and/or cellulose derivatives, polyhydric alcohol, polyalkylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, dextrin, in solid and/or solvated forms result in improved metalworking and machining of metallic work pieces. Fluids manufactured with boric acid or boron-based additives effectively reduce friction, prevent galling and severe wear problems on cutting and forming tools.

Abstract: A chain conveyor assembly having the combination of a polymeric material and a hard diamond-like coating at the frictional interface of the chain links. The conveyor chain preferably includes male and female links connected to one another by connector pins. The shaft of each connector pin is coated with a diamond-like coating having high hardness, low friction and low wear characteristics. Opposite ends of the connector pins are connected to the female link while the shaft of the connector pin passes through the male link. A polymeric bushing is fitted to the male link in engagement with the shaft of the connector pin. Accordingly, relative movement between the links occurs at the interface of the DLC connector pin and the polymeric bushing.