Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds of formula I: X-(L-Z)p-L-R[L-(Z-L)p-Y]q??(I) wherein L is a perfluoropolyether; R is q can be an integer equal to or greater than 1; p can independently be integers from 0 to 7; X and Y can independently be chosen from: —OH, —CH2CH2OH, CH2CH2OCH2CH2OH, —CH2CH(OH)CH2OH, —C6H5, —CH2C6H5, —CH2CH(OH)CH3, F, —CF3, —CF2CF3, piperonyl, triazine, benzotriazole, and derivatives thereof; and Z, if present, can independently be chosen from: —C6H4—, —CH2C6H4CH2—, —CH2CH(OH)CH2—, —CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)CH2—, —CH(OH)CH(OH)CH2—, —CH(CH2OH)—, or —CH(C6H5)—.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds of formula I: X-(L-Z)p-L-R[L-(Z-L)p-Y]q??(I) wherein L is a perfluoropolyether; R is q can be an integer equal to or greater than 1; p can independently be integers from 0 to 7; X and Y can independently be chosen from: —OH, —CH2CH2OH, CH2CH2OCH2CH2OH, —CH2CH(OH)CH2OH, —C6H5, —CH2C6H5, —CH2CH(OH)CH3, F, —CF3, —CF2CF3, piperonyl, triazine, benzotriazole, and derivatives thereof; and Z, if present, can independently be chosen from: —C6H4—, —CH2C6H4CH2—, —CH2CH(OH)CH2—, —CH2CH(OH)CH2CH(OH)CH2—, —CH(OH)CH(OH)CH2—, —CH(CH2OH)—, or —CH(C6H5)—.

Abstract: A system and method for corrosion problems in magnetic media resulting from moisture penetrating through the carbon layer into the magnetic layer by diffusion or other methods are overcome by processing the carbon overcoat to stop and/or inhibit the moisture penetration. The process involves removing moisture channels from protective overcoats of thin film magnetic media by irradiating the protective overcoat with ultraviolet (UV) radiation in an inert hydrophobic chemical environment. Afterwards, the thin film magnetic media can be removed into ambient atmosphere where it is coated with a lubricant.

Abstract: A system having a deposition chamber comprising a xenon excimer lamp and an inlet for deposition of a lubricant into the deposition chamber, wherein the deposition chamber has an ability to perform both a vapor deposition of the lubricant and an in-situ UV exposure of the lubricant is disclosed. Also, a method including depositing a lubricant on a magnetic recording medium in a deposition chamber and in-situ UV exposing of the lubricant to irradiation from a xenon excimer lamp is disclosed.

Abstract: A granular magnetic recording medium comprises a non-magnetic substrate having a surface, a layer stack on the substrate surface, including an outermost granular magnetic recording layer, a cap layer on the granular magnetic recording layer, having a sputter-etched outer surface, and a protective overcoat layer on the sputter-etched outer surface of the cap layer.

Abstract: A lubricant for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. The lubricant comprises a perfluoropolyether main chain with a first end attached to a hexa(trifluoromethylphenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene, a second end attached to a bonding enhancer for enhancing bonding between the lubricant and a carbon-containing layer. The bonding enhancer of the lubricant can contain multiple hydroxyl, amide groups, 2,3-dihydroxy-1-propoxyl, acetamide, methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and glycidyl ether. Some bonding enhancers such as methacrylate, methyl methacrylate or glycidyl ether, can be further activated with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a substrate, a Cr-doped Fe-alloy-containing underlayer containing about 8 to 18 at % Cr and a perpendicular recording magnetic layer, and a process for improving corrosion resistance of the recording medium and for manufacturing the recording medium are disclosed.

Abstract: A perfluoropolyether hard disk lubricant having a UV curable functional end group that may be UV cured at a rapid rate with a Xenon excimer lamp. The perfluoropolyether preferably has at least one UV curable functional end group. In one embodiment, the UV curable end group comprises an acrylate.

Abstract: A data/information storage and retrieval medium comprises: (a) a substrate having a layer stack thereon, the layer stack including an outer surface and comprising at least one magnetic or magneto-optical (“MO”) recording layer; and (b) a thin film or layer of a lubricant on the outer surface of the layer stack and comprised of a derivatized perfluoropolyether-based material including at least one generally linear perfluoropolyether chain and at least one phosphite antioxidant/stabilizer moiety attached to at least one end of at least one the chain.

Abstract: A method of depositing a layer of a coating material (e.g., DLC protective overcoats of magnetic and magneto-optical recording media) on a surface of a substrate/workpiece, the layer including relatively thin and relatively thick regions defining a thickness gradient at a boundary therebetween, comprising steps of: (a) providing a filtered cathodic arc deposition (FCAD) process/treatment chamber comprising a FCAD source including means for providing a focused plasma beam containing ions of a coating material and means for scanning the plasma beam over a substrate/workpiece surface; (b) providing the process/treatment chamber with a substrate/workpiece including a surface for deposition thereon; and (c) forming on the surface a layer of coating material including the relatively thin and relatively thick regions defining the thickness gradient at the boundary therebetween by scanning the plasma beam over at least a portion of the surface.

Abstract: A recording medium, comprising: (a) a substrate having at least one surface; (b) a stacked plurality of thin film layers on the at least one surface and including at least one magnetic or magneto-optical (MO) recording layer; and (c) a protective overcoat layer on an outer surface of an outermost layer of the layer stack, comprising: (i) a first sub-layer layer (c1) of undoped tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) formed by filtered cathodic arc deposition (FCAD) on the outer surface of the outermost layer of the stacked plurality of thin film layers and having a high mass density of carbon (C) atoms greater than about 2.5 gms/cm3; and (ii) a second sub-layer (c2) of nitrogen-doped tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:N) formed by FCAD on the undoped ta-C layer and having a high mass density of carbon (C) atoms greater than about 2.0 gms/cm3.

Abstract: A granular longitudinal or perpendicular magnetic recording medium with enhanced corrosion resistance comprises: (a) a non-magnetic substrate having a surface; (b) a layer stack on the substrate surface, including a granular longitudinal or perpendicular magnetic recording layer having a surface distal the substrate surface treated to provide at least one of: (i) a reduction of nano-scale roughness and porosity; (ii) increased compositional homogeneity; (iii) increased microstructural homogeneity; (iv) preferential removal of at least one element; and (v) increased grain boundary coverage by the subsequently deposited protective overcoat layer; and (c) a protective overcoat layer on the treated surface of the granular magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made of diamond like carbon (DLC) is first deposited over a magnetic layer. A lubricant layer, typically containing Moresco lubricant or a perfluoropolyether (PFPE), is then deposited over the protective overcoat. Finally, the lubricant layer is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light for a period of time.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made by depositing a diamond like carbon (DLC) layer over a magnetic layer and then depleting a portion of the DLC protective layer of hydrogen before it is coated with a Perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) using an in-situ vapor lubrication technique. The portion of the DLC layer which is depleted can be data zone of the media so that the lubricant-bonding ratio is higher for the landing zone than it is for the data zone.

Abstract: A system and method for corrosion problems in magnetic media resulting from moisture penetrating through the carbon layer into the magnetic layer by diffusion or other methods are overcome by processing the carbon overcoat to stop and/or inhibit the moisture penetration. The process involves removing moisture channels from protective overcoats of thin film magnetic media by irradiating the protective overcoat with ultraviolet (UV) radiation in an inert hydrophobic chemical environment. Afterwards, the thin film magnetic media can be removed into ambient atmosphere where it is coated with a lubricant.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing magnetic recording media, comprising sequential steps of: (a) providing an apparatus for manufacturing the media; (b) supplying the apparatus with at least one substrate for the media; (c) forming a magnetic recording layer on the at least one substrate in a first portion of the apparatus, the magnetic recording layer including a surface; (d) treating the surface of the magnetic recording layer with an ionized oxygen-containing plasma in a second portion of the apparatus to form a plasma oxidized surface layer; and (e) forming a protective overcoat layer on the plasma oxidized surface layer of the magnetic recording layer in a third portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a lubricant film containing a non-phase separated additive and a lubricant a base layer, wherein the additive is bonded to the base layer, for better and faster mobility of a lubricant to ensure rapid healing of areas of the medium that have been depleted of the lubricant, and a method of manufacturing thereof, is disclosed.

Abstract: A perfluoropolyether lubricant topcoat having at least one end-group having an epoxide ring is applied to a magnetic recording medium. Post-lubing treatment, such as ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, of the perfluoropolyether lubricant topcoat initiates chemical bonding between the epoxide end-group and the medium surface. The lubricant of the present invention provides improved tribological performance over conventional lubricants.

Abstract: Thin lubricant films are prepared on optical and magnetic substrates by applying a lubricant having at least one UV polymerizable group onto the substrate and polymerizing the lubricant by UV irradiation at elevated temperatures. Embodiments include applying a lubricant having at least two acrylate groups onto a magnetic recording disc, heating the magnetic recording disc from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and exposing the lubricant to UV radiation substantially free of wavelengths of 200 nm or less.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer and a protective carbon-containing overcoat comprising a first carbon density, preferably of a low-density carbon, and a second carbon density different from the first carbon density, preferably of a high-density carbon, and a method of making and using the magnetic recording medium are disclosed.