Development and investigation of disk lubricants for heat assisted magnetic recording systems

Lubricant degradation caused by laser beam exposure is one of the critical issues in heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) systems. Advanced lubricants are needed to resist the high temperatures generated by laser heating. In this study, new lubricants (HAMR lubricants) were developed by modifying perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants with photo stabilizer end groups. Tribological tests were performed with the new HAMR lubricants after laser beam exposure and the results were compared with conventional lubricants. Preliminary results have shown that the modified lubricants are promising candidates for application in future HAMR systems.