Patent ID: 6762909
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic recording disk drive comprising:a rotatable magnetic recording disk; a slider having a gas-bearing surface for maintaining the slider near the surface of the disk when the disk is rotating; a head supported on the slider and having a magnetic element for reading data from or writing data to disk, the magnetic element being formed of a material corrosive to an environment having a relative humidity greater than a predetermined value, the magnetic element being covered by a protective coating that wears away when in contact with the rotating disk; an actuator connected the slider for moving the slider and head across the surface of the disk; and a hermetically sealed housing surrounding the disk and slider and providing a gaseous environment having a relative humidity less than said predetermined value, whereby said gaseous environment is non-corrosive to the magnetic element after the protective coating has been worn away.