Method for reducing surface particle shedding

Abstract

A method for reducing surface particle shedding of a material, specifically a suspension mounting arm for a hard disk drive, made of an alloy such as 300 Series stainless steel, by thermally conditioning the mounting arm for a desirable time period sufficient to reduce residual stress in the mounting arm while substantially maintaining its original yield strength characteristics. To ensure fabrication free from oxidation and contamination, the contained heat source can be oxygen depleted by evacuating the interior of the container to a sub-atmospheric pressure or by filling the interior of with an inert gas such as argon or a reducing gas, such as hydrogen. After thermal exposure, the material is cooled to an ambient temperature. The resulting material exhibits adequate stiffness and yield strength for assembly and operation in a hard disk drive.

1 . A method for reducing surface shedding of a material formed from an alloy metal, the method comprising the steps of:
 heating an environment to a temperature sufficient to slightly soften the material;   exposing the material to the heated environment for a predetermined time period; and   allowing the material to cool to ambient temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period is sufficient to soften the material's outer surface layer while substantially maintaining the material's structural characteristics. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period is sufficient to soften the material while substantially maintaining the material's structural characteristics. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the heated environment is maintained above approximately 600° F. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material undergoes a hardness change of at least 20 Vickers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heated environment is oxygen depleted. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heated environment is oxygen depleted and filled with inert or reducing gas. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heated environment is oxygen depleted and evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure sufficient to form a vacuum. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy metal is a 300 Series stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . A method for reducing surface shedding of a mounting arm formed from an alloy metal, the method comprising the steps of:
 heating an environment to a temperature sufficient to slightly soften the mounting arm;   exposing the mounting arm to the heated environment for a predetermined time period; and   allowing the mounting arm to cool to ambient temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined time period is sufficient to soften the mounting arm's outer surface layer while substantially maintaining the mounting arm's structural characteristics. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined time period is sufficient to soften the mounting arm while substantially maintaining the mounting arm's structural characteristics. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature of the heated environment is maintained above approximately 600° F. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting arm undergoes a hardness change of at least 20 Vickers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the heated environment is oxygen depleted. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the heated environment is oxygen depleted and filled with inert or reducing gas. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the heated environment is oxygen depleted and evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure sufficient to form a vacuum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alloy metal is a 300 Series stainless steel. 
     
     
         19 . A method for reducing surface particle shedding of a mounting arm formed from an alloy metal, the method comprising the steps of:
 heating an environment to a temperature sufficient to relieve residual stress in the mounting arm;   exposing the mounting arm to the heated environment for a predetermined time period sufficient to relieve residual stress in the mounting arm's outer surface while substantially maintaining the mounting arm's yield strength; and   allowing the mounting arm to cool to ambient temperature.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the temperature of the heated environment is maintained between approximately 600° F. and approximately 1850° F. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the environment is oxygen depleted. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the environment is oxygen depleted and filled with inert or reducing gas. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the environment is oxygen depleted and evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure sufficient to form a vacuum. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mounting arm has a hardness of about 20 Vickers. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the alloy metal is a 300 Series stainless steel. 
     
     
         26 . A method for reducing surface scaling of a mounting arm formed from an alloy metal, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an oxygen depleted environment;   heating the environment to a temperature sufficient to relieve residual stress in the mounting arm while substantially maintaining the mounting arm's yield strength characteristics;   exposing the mounting arm to the heated environment for a predetermined time period; and   cooling the mounting arm to an ambient temperature.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the temperature of the heated environment is maintained between approximately 600° F. and approximately 1850° F. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of providing an oxygen depleted environment includes filling the environment with an inert or reducing gas. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of providing an oxygen depleted environment includes evacuating the environment to a sub-atmospheric pressure sufficient to form a vacuum. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the alloy metal is a 300 Series stainless steel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the mounting arm has a hardness of about 20 Vickers.