A method of thermally bonding lubricant over a surface of a magnetic disk
in a disk drive involves providing a heat source at an air bearing surface
(ABS) of a magnetic head; causing the heat source to be energized to
produce heat; and causing the magnetic head to be moved across a surface
portion of a magnetic disk so that lubricant is thermally bonded over the
surface portion from the heat produced by the heat source. Preferably,
this lubricant bonding mode of operation is performed on a regular or
periodic basis. Alternatively, the mode is activated based on a
predetermined environmental condition (e.g. temperature or humidity) or
from an external signal. In one example, the heat source is comprised of
first and/or second pole pieces of the magnetic head through which an
electrical current is passed. In another example, the heat source is
comprised of a separate heating element which is formed on or within the
magnetic head (which may be the same heating element utilized for
thermal-assist writing to the magnetic disk). In yet another example, heat
for thermally bonding lubricant is generated by reading data from a data
block on the magnetic disk and writing the data back to the data block in
a repetitive fashion.
