Uv cross-linking neat lubricant mixtures for magnetic recording media

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a lubricant for lubricating a surface of a magnetic recording medium. The lubricant is a substantially solvent free lubricant that includes a plurality of lubricant molecules. Each lubricant molecule includes a polymer chain that has a backbone section and at least one functional end group. Each lubricant molecule is exposed to a physical treatment to cross-link one of the backbone section of the polymer chain and the at least one functional end group with at least one other molecule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lubricant for lubricating a surface of a magnetic recording medium, the lubricant comprising:
 a substantially solvent free lubricant comprising a plurality of lubricant molecules, each lubricant molecule comprising a polymer chain having a backbone section and at least one functional end group;   wherein each lubricant molecule is exposed to a physical treatment to cross-link one of the backbone section of the polymer chain and the at least one functional end group with at least one other molecule.   
     
     
         2 . The lubricated of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially solvent free lubricant comprises a lubricant selected from Z-DOL, Z-TETRAOL, ZTMD and Demnum. 
     
     
         3 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a second lubricant molecule from the plurality of lubricant molecules of the substantially solvent free lubricant, wherein the backbone section of the lubricant molecule and the backbone section of the second lubricant molecule are cross-linked. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a lubricant additive, wherein the lubricant has at least one enhanced lubricating characteristic with respect to the lubricant additive, the at least one enhanced lubricating characteristic comprising a characteristic selected from an enhanced surface bonding characteristic and an enhanced tribological characteristic. 
     
     
         5 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a lubricant additive having at least on enhanced lubricating characteristic with respect to the substantially solvent free lubricant, the at least one enhanced lubricating characteristic comprising a characteristic selected from an enhanced surface bonding characteristic and an enhanced tribological characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a lubricant additive selected from X-1P and A20H. 
     
     
         7 . A lubricated recording medium for magnetic recording applications, the lubricated recording medium comprising:
 a substrate comprising a rigid support structure for depositing a plurality of layers thereon;   an overcoat layer comprising a protective coating;   a magnetic recording layer disposed between the substrate and the overcoat layer; and   a lubricating layer disposed on the overcoat layer opposite the substrate, the lubricating layer comprising a lubricant compound developed from at least one substantially solvent free lubricant, the at least one substantially solvent free lubricant comprising a plurality of lubricant molecules, each lubricant molecule comprising a polymer chain having a backbone section and at least one functional end group, wherein the at least one substantially solvent free lubricant is exposed to 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.   
     
     
         8 . The lubricated recording medium of  claim 7 , wherein the substantially solvent free lubricant comprises a lubricant selected from Z-DOL, Z-TETRAOL, ZTMD, and Demnum. 
     
     
         9 . The lubricated recording medium of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a second lubricant molecule from the plurality of lubricant molecules of at least one substantially solvent free lubricant, wherein the backbone section of the lubricant molecule and the backbone section of the second lubricant molecule are cross-linked. 
     
     
         10 . The lubricated recording medium of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a lubricant additive, wherein the substantially solvent free lubricant has at least one enhanced lubricating characteristic with respect to the lubricant additive, the at least one enhanced lubricating characteristic comprising a characteristic selected from an enhanced surface bonding characteristic and an enhanced tribological characteristic. 
     
     
         11 . The lubricated recording medium of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a lubricant additive having at least on enhanced lubricating characteristic with respect to the substantially solvent free lubricant, the at least one enhanced lubricating characteristic comprising a characteristic selected from an enhanced surface bonding characteristic and an enhanced tribological characteristic. 
     
     
         12 . The lubricated recording medium of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a lubricant additive selected from X-1P and A20H. 
     
     
         13 . A lubricant for lubricating a surface of a magnetic recording medium, the lubricant comprising:
 a substantially solvent free lubricant comprising a plurality of lubricant molecules, each lubricant molecule comprising a polymer chain having a backbone section and at least one functional end group;   wherein the backbone section of the polymer chain of the lubricant molecule and the functional end group are cross-linked with at least one other molecule.   
     
     
         14 . The lubricant of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a second lubricant molecule from the plurality of lubricant molecules of the substantially solvent free lubricant. 
     
     
         15 . The lubricant of  claim 14 , wherein the backbone section of the lubricant molecule and the backbone section of the second lubricant molecule are cross-linked. 
     
     
         16 . The lubricant of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one other molecule comprises a lubricant additive.