Hard disk drive components and methods of making same

A hard disk drive component, comprising a device selected from the group consisting of sliders, load beams, support arms, actuators, actuator bearings, spacers, clamps, spindles, ball bearings, thrust bearings, journal bearings, base plates, housings, and covers, the device formed of an aluminum-boron-carbon-based material having the phases, B.sub.4 C, Al, AlB.sub.24 C.sub.4, Al.sub.3-4 BC, and AlB2, the material having a specific stiffness of greater than about 5.1.times.10.sup.6 m, a density of less than about 3 grams per cubic centimeter, and an electrical resistivity of less than about 10.sup.-3 ohm-cm.

A hard disk drive component comprising a non-disk device formed of a multi-phase aluminum-boron-carbide composite material having at least one phase being boron-carbide and at least one phase being free aluminum wherein the theoretical density of the hard disk drive component is greater than 98 percent.