Abstract
To tailor the characteristics of molecularly thin lubricant films, magnetic disk surfaces coated with nanometer-thick perfluoropolyether AM3001 lubricant films were irradiated with 172nm ultraviolet (UV) rays through a photo mask in nitrogen atmosphere. By measuring the time-dependent thickness profiles, we found that lubricant molecules in the non-UV-irradiated area spread toward the UV-irradiated area until the re-distributed lubricant thickness reaches an equilibrium state. We also confirmed that three-dimensional lubricant textures can be formed on magnetic disk surfaces utilizing the UV-induced film re-distribution phenomenon.
