Abstract
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysiland were deposited on the magnetic hard disk surface by immersion. SAM formation was confirmed by contact angle measurement ellipsometry, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Friction of unlubricated, SAM coated and perfluoropolyether (PFPE) Zdol coated disk surfaces was measured with lateral force microscopy, spin-stand tester and scratch tester. The SAM coated disk surfaces had lower friction as compared to the unlubricated disk surfaces. This result is in agreement with the hydrophobic nature of the SAM coated surface. On the other hand, friction of the SAM coated surface was larger than the 2-nm-thick PFPE-coated surface, even though the hydrophobicity of the SAM-coated surface was higher than that of the PFPE-coated surface. This would be attributed to the mobility of the multilayered PFPE lubricant, whereas the friction of SAM coated surface showed comparable or even better compared to that of 1.1-nm-thick PFPE-coated surface that had a small mobile portion.
