Abstract: A self-cleaning colloidal slurry and process for finishing a surface of a glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic, metal or alloy substrate for use in a data storage device, for example. The slurry comprises a carrying fluid, colloidal particles, etchant, and a surfactant adsorbed and/or precipitated onto a surface of the colloidal particles and/or substrate. The surfactant has a hydrophobic section that forms a steric hindrance barrier and substantially prevents contaminates, including colloidal particles, from bonding to the substrate surface. The slurry is applied to the surface of the substrate while a pad mechanically rubs the surface. Subsequent cleaning with standard soap solutions removes substantially all remaining contamination from the substrate surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the slurry is used to superfinish a glass disk substrate to a surface roughness of less than 2 ?, with substantially no surface contamination as seen by atomic force microscopy (AFM) after standard soap cleaning steps.

Abstract: The circumferential edges of glass or ceramic disks used in disk drive data storage devices are preferably finished by ductile grinding to produce an essentially fracture-free surface, which is not chemically strengthened. Preferably, the material is glass, and both the inner and outer edges of the disk are finished. Edge finishing is preferably achieved in a two-stage process, involving a coarse grind and a ductile grind, using air bearing spindles rotated at high speed for grinding wheels and workpiece. Preferably, the grinding wheels are shaped to provide a radius at the juncture of the circumferential edges and flat disk surfaces.

Abstract: The circumferential edges of glass or ceramic disks used in disk drive data storage devices are preferably finished by ductile grinding to produce an essentially fracture-free surface, which is not chemically strengthened. Preferably, the material is glass, and both the inner and outer edges of the disk are finished. Edge finishing is preferably achieved in a two-stage process, involving a coarse grind and a ductile grind, using air bearing spindles rotated at high speed for grinding wheels and workpiece. Preferably, the grinding wheels are shaped to provide a radius at the juncture of the circumferential edges and flat disk surfaces.

Abstract: A self-cleaning colloidal slurry and process for finishing a surface of a glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic, metal or alloy substrate for use in a data storage device, for example. The slurry comprises a carrying fluid, colloidal particles, etchant, and a surfactant adsorbed and/or precipitated onto a surface of the colloidal particles and/or substrate. The surfactant has a hydrophobic section that forms a steric hindrance barrier and substantially prevents contaminates, including colloidal particles, from bonding to the substrate surface. The slurry is applied to the surface of the substrate while a pad mechanically rubs the surface. Subsequent cleaning with standard soap solutions removes substantially all remaining contamination from the substrate surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the slurry is used to superfinish a glass disk substrate to a surface roughness of less than 2 ?, with substantially no surface contamination as seen by atomic force microscopy (AFM) after standard soap cleaning steps.