Abstract: Lubricant with non-terminal functional groups. The location of the functional groups minimizes free chain length and molecular weight of a lubricant while simultaneously maximizing evaporation temperature. The locations of the functional groups to the backbone of the molecule of the lubricant allows for shorter lengths of free backbone length between functional groups attached to a lubricated surface. The lubricant lubricates mechanical devices including hard disk drives. The lubricant can also be added to media or other mechanical parts in conjunction with other lubricants.

Abstract: A method of polishing workpieces includes final tape polishing (FTP) a media disk by rotating the media disk; applying a liquid that is substantially pure to the media disk adjacent to an FTP tape; applying the FTP tape to the media disk at a pad load to polish the media disk, such that the liquid acts as a transient lubricant between the media disk and the FTP tape; and completing FTP. The FTP process is completely independent of the final disk lubricant, such that the final disk lubricant may be applied before or after FTP.

Abstract: A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include a terminal section and a midsection. The terminal section includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroethyl ether unit. The middle portion includes at least one perfluorobutyl ether unit.

Abstract: Lubricant with non-terminal functional groups. The location of the functional groups minimizes free chain length and molecular weight of a lubricant while simultaneously maximizing evaporation temperature. The locations of the functional groups to the backbone of the molecule of the lubricant allows for shorter lengths of free backbone length between functional groups attached to a lubricated surface. The lubricant lubricates mechanical devices including hard disk drives. The lubricant can also be added to media or other mechanical parts in conjunction with other lubricants.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic media for magnetic data recording that greatly reduces the time required to manufacture the magnetic media. After constructing the magnetic disk with the desired magnetic media layer, a protective overcoat is deposited on the disk. The disk is then exposed to ozone in order to speed the rate of oxidation of the protective overcoat and thereby reduce the time needed to treat the overcoat. After exposing the overcoat to an ozone a lubrication layer can be applied. This process reduces the time necessary to cure the overcoat from a time of about 24 hours to a time range of 10 seconds to 30 minutes.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed for forming a lubricant film for magnetic recording applications. The method includes, in certain embodiments, providing at least one substantially solvent free lubricant having a plurality of lubricant molecules with each lubricant molecule comprising a polymer chain having a backbone section and at least one functional end group. The method also includes treating the at least one substantially solvent free lubricant with a physical treatment to cross-link the backbone section of each polymer chain with at least one other molecule to create a cross-linked lubricant.

Abstract: A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include an anchor group or a truncation group. The anchor group includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroalkyl-branched perfluorinated ether unit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic media having an extremely thin lubricant layer on a magnetic media. The thin lubricant layer decreases magnetic spacing to maximize magnetic performance of the magnetic data recording system. The lubricant layer is formed by first depositing a lubricant that includes two different lubricant materials, one bonded and the other non-bonded. After lubricant deposition a burnishing process can be performed, with the lubricant being thick enough for effective burnishing. Then, the disk is exposed to a solvent vapor, which removes most of the lubricant leaving only a very thin layer of the bonded lubricant material.

Abstract: A method for smoothing a medium includes depositing a magnetic layer onto a base, depositing an overcoat layer onto an outer surface of the magnetic layer, and burnishing an outer surface of the overcoat layer. Further, the method includes at least one of (i) directing a first ion beam comprised of first energetic ions toward the outer surface of the magnetic layer at a first shallow grazing angle and smoothing the outer surface of the magnetic layer via etching engagement between the first ion beam and the outer surface of the magnetic layer; and (ii) directing a second ion beam comprised of second energetic ions toward the outer surface of the overcoat layer at a second shallow grazing angle and smoothing the outer surface of the overcoat layer via etching engagement between the second angled ion beam and the outer surface of the overcoat layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bit patterned magnetic media for magnetic data recording. The method includes selectively depositing a self assembled monolayer over a seed layer and then oxidizing the deposited self assembled monolayer. The self-assembled monolayer can be deposited by use of a stamp to form a pattern covering areas where a non-magnetic segregant (such as an oxide) is to be formed and openings where a magnetic material is to be formed. A magnetic alloy and a segregant (such as an oxide) are then co-sputtered. The magnetic alloy grows only or selectively over the seed layer, whereas the segregant grows only or selectively over the oxidized self-assembled monolayer.

Abstract: A system and associated methods are described for preparing a magnetic disk for installation within a disk drive system. For example, a polyfunctional lubricant may be mixed with a chemical agent to esterify the polyfunctional lubricant and cap hydroxyl groups of the polyfunctional lubricant. The magnetic disk may then be dip coated with the polyfunctional lubricant and chemical agent mixture. A polishing system then polishes the magnetic disk via an abrasive polishing tape after dip coating the magnetic disk. A portion of the chemical agent is then removed from the magnetic disk to bond a portion of the lubricant to the magnetic disk to prevent the lubricant from interfering with a read/write head when installed within a disk drive system.

Abstract: Cleaning or polishing magnetic recording media (MRM) may comprise mounting and rotating the MRM on a spindle; circulating a tape adjacent to a surface of the MRM; and applying an electrostatic (ES) voltage to the tape and attracting particles located on the MRM to the tape. The ES voltage may apply an ES load to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM. No mechanical load may be applied to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM. Additionally, a mechanical load may be applied to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM.

Abstract: A method for planarizing a magnetic recording disk that has surface features of elevated lands and recessed grooves includes forming two coatings of cured perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) polymers over the surface features. The disk may have a protective carbon overcoat with a surface that replicates the topography of lands and grooves. A liquid functionalized-PFPE is applied over the disk surface and then cured to form a first coating with the functionalized end groups bonding to the carbon overcoat. A liquid non-functionalized-PFPE polymer is then applied over the functionalized-PFPE coating and cured to form a second coating. The combined coatings substantially planarize the disk surface so that there is minimal recession between the top of the coating over the lands and the top of the coating over the grooves.

Abstract: A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include a terminal section and a midsection. The terminal section includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroethyl ether unit. The middle portion includes at least one perfluorobutyl ether unit.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive having a layer of ZTMD raffinate coated within a housing of the disk drive to trap debris in order to prevent contamination related failure of the disk drive. The ZTMD raffinate can be applied to the inside of the housing of the disk drive, such as to side walls of the housing and or the cover of the housing. The ZTMD raffinate can also be applied to a filter structure within the housing in order improve the performance of the filter structure and prevent contamination collected thereon from becoming dislodged.

Abstract: Nanoimprint lithography using resist material with the addition of a surfactant is described. A template release layer is formed on a pattern of a template. A non-ionic surfactant is added to a resist material to form a mixed resist material. The resist material may comprise a hydrocarbon material having an unsaturated bond, such as an acrylate material. The surfactant may comprise polyalkylene glycol or an organically modified polysiloxane. A resist layer is then formed on a substrate from the mixed resist material. The surfactant added to the resist material forms a resist release layer on the surface of the resist layer. The template is then pressed into the resist layer, where the template release layer and the resist release layer are between the pattern of the template and the resist layer.

Abstract: A method of processing media comprises bonding a high molecular weight first lubricant to media; loading and rotating the media in a burnishing device; applying a tape to the rotating media while applying a second lubricant to the tape, such that at least some of the second lubricant is transferred from the tape to the media; and evaporating substantially all of the second lubricant from the polished media within 24 hours. The second lubricant may comprise a low molecular weight, non-functional, free lubricant that does not bond with the media.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of an electronic information storage apparatus and an associated method and system. For example, according to one illustrative embodiment, a disk drive comprises a base and at least one disk that are rotatably attached to the base. The at least one disk can include a burnished and lubricant-free outer surface. The disk drive can also include an actuator coupled to the base. The actuator can comprise a read/write head that is positionable in a reading/writing relationship with the at least one disk to define a lubricant-free space intermediate the read/write head and the outer surface. The disk drive can further include a read/write head loading and unloading ramp that is attached to the base. The ramp can include a ramp surface that is positioned proximate a periphery of the at least one disk.

Abstract: A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include a terminal section and a midsection. The terminal section includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroethyl ether unit. The middle portion includes at least one perfluorobutyl ether unit.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive having a layer of ZTMD raffinate coated within a housing of the disk drive to trap debris in order to prevent contamination related failure of the disk drive. The ZTMD raffinate can be applied to the inside of the housing of the disk drive, such as to side walls of the housing and or the cover of the housing. The ZTMD raffinate can also be applied to a filter structure within the housing in order improve the performance of the filter structure and prevent contamination collected thereon from becoming dislodged.