International Business Machines Corporation

Komag Corporation

Li-Ju J Lin

Christopher S Gudeman

John S Foster

Gerard H Vurens

David D Saperstein

Andrew M Homola

Tsutomu Tom Yamashita

Javier Wong

Hongchuan Wong

Douglas Allan Iams

A method of manufacturing a magnetic disk comprises the steps of: a) providing a substrate with a layer of an amorphous multi-component material at its surface; b) irradiating the amorphous layer (e.g. by applying heat from a heating element, laser beam, or the like) to thereby create micro-structurally changed regions in the amorphous layer; and c) chemo-mechanically polishing the amorphous layer to produce micro-texture features at or near the micro-structurally changed regions. The disk is then completed by depositing additional layers such as an underlayer, a magnetic layer, a protective overcoat, etc.

Micro-texture media made by polishing of a selectively irradiated surface

The present invention is a method for bonding a lubricant onto the surface of rotating storage media. In particular, the method bonds reactive and non-reactive lubricants onto the carbon based protective coating of a magnetic storage disk. The lubricant is first applied onto the disk surface through conventional coating techniques, such as dipping, spinning, spraying, or vapor deposition. The thickness of the applied coating is thicker than the final bonded thickness of the lubricant. Typically, the applied thickness of the film is approximately 30 Angstroms. The lubricant coated disk surface is then exposed to low energy electron irradiation. The energy level of the accelerated electrons is below 100 eV. The lubricated film is exposed to a dosage level of approximately 1000 microcoulombs per square centimeter. This dosage level bonds approximately 15 Angstroms of lubricant to the disk surface. The non-bonded or excess lubricant is then rinsed off in a liquid freon or other suitable rinse.

Process for bonding lubricants to a thin film storage media

Thin film recording media are protected and lubricated by overcoating them with a carbon overcoat applying a lubricant to said overcoat and bonding the lubricant to the carbon overcoat by irradiating it by UV radiation.

Process for bonding lubricants to thin film recording media

In the manufacture of a thin film metal alloy or metal oxide magnetic recording disk, a fluoroether lubricant is bonded to the carbon or hydrogenated carbon overcoat of the disk. The lubricant is applied to the carbon overcoat by dipping the disk in a solution of the lubricant. The lubricated disk is then exposed to the plasma of an inert gas, such as nitrogen. The resulting disk contains a layer of lubricant which is bonded to the disk surface so as to be resistant to spin-off and which has a relatively uniform thickness so as to substantially eliminate the problems of stiction during the operation of the disk file.

Process for bonding lubricant to a thin film magnetic recording disk

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Li-Ju J Lin