Bonding Mechanism of Perfluoropolyether Lubricant Film with Functional Endgroup on Magnetic Disks by Ultraviolet Irradiation

We studied the bonding mechanism of ultrathin perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant (Fombline Z-tetraol and Moresco D-4OH) films with hydroxyl end groups by measuring the bonding film thickness after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Nonfunctional PFPE lubricants (Z-03 and D2 N) were compared to two types of functional PFPE lubricants. The bonded thickness of both functional lubricants increased after a short period of UV irradiation, whereas that of the nonfunctional lubricants did not increase after the same treatment. This result suggests the occurrence of three kinds of mechanisms. First, Z-tetraol and D-4OH bond because of the photodissociation of the end groups by the UV light. Second, they bond because of the interaction between the end groups and the photoelectron from the carbon surface generated by UV irradiation. Third, they bond because of the photodissociation of the main chain by the UV light. In contrast, the dynamic reaction coordinate calculations suggest that the end groups in the PFPE lubricant dissociate because of the electron capture by the lubricant. As a result, we infer that the bonding of PFPE lubricant films with hydroxyl end groups on magnetic disks occurs by selective dissociation of the end groups because of UV irradiation.