IP Library Granted Patent US 12,584,075
Granted Patent B2
US 12,584,075 · App. 18/634,052 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Redesigned lubricant main chain repeat unit for enhanced thermal stability and tailored performance

Inventors: Daniel Demori Maksuta (San Jose, CA); Hantao Zhou (San Jose, CA); Ao Fan (Shenzhen, CN); Jianming Wen (Pleasanton, CA); Charles Cheng-Hsing Lee (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
C10M105/54C08G65/007G11B5/725C10M2211/0425C10N2030/08C10N2040/18G11B2005/0021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,584,075
App. No.
18/634,052
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lubricant provides enhanced performance at high temperatures, along with a higher evaporation temperature, where the main-chain includes a moiety with a rotational energy barrier that is higher than CF 2 . The lubricant has the general Formula (I): wherein Rc is a multivalent central group, Rb is a main chain group having a constituent with a higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 , Re is an end group having at least one anchoring functional group, m is from 2 to 50, and n is from 2 to 8. The constituent with a higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 , may be a substituted or non-substituted aromatic group.

Claims (38)

1 . A fluorinated lubricant, comprising:

wherein Rc is a multivalent central group,

Rb is a main chain group having a constituent with a higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 ,

Re is an end group having an aromatic group and at least one anchoring functional group,

m is from 2 to 50, and

n is from 2 to 8,

wherein the constituent with the higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 , comprises an aromatic group substituted with at least one of —C q R 2q+1 or —(C═O)—C q R 2q+1 where R is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I, and q is from 1 to 6.

2 . The fluorinated lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the aromatic group in the constituent with the higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 is selected from the group consisting of benzene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and anthracene.

3 . The fluorinated lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the constituent with the higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 is ortho, meta or para substituted benzene.

4 . A fluorinated lubricant, comprising:

wherein Rc is a multivalent central group,

Rb is a main chain group having a constituent with a higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 ,

Re is an end group having an aromatic group and at least one anchoring functional group,

m is from 2 to 50, and

n is from 2 to 8,

wherein the constituent with the higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 , is ortho, meta or para substituted benzene, and unsubstituted sites on the ortho, meta or para Rb substituted benzene are perfluorinated, or

wherein the constituent with the higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 is selected from the group consisting of:

5 . A fluorinated lubricant, comprising:

wherein Rc is a multivalent central group,

Rb is a main chain group having a constituent with a higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 ,

Re is an end group having an aromatic group and at least one anchoring functional group,

m is from 2 to 50, and

n is from 2 to 8,

wherein the constituent with the higher rotational energy threshold than CF 2 , is selected from the group consisting of:

6 . A magnetic recording medium, comprising:

a magnetic recording layer on a substrate;

a protective overcoat on the magnetic recording layer; and

a lubricant layer comprising the lubricant according to claim 1 on the protective overcoat.

7 . A data storage system, comprising:

at least one magnetic head;

a magnetic recording medium including the lubricant of claim 1 ;

a drive mechanism for positioning the at least one magnetic head over the magnetic recording medium; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head.

8 . A data storage system, comprising:

a slider comprising at least one magnetic head and an air bearing surface (ABS), wherein a lubricant according to claim 1 is disposed on the ABS; and

a magnetic recording medium including a magnetic recording layer;

wherein the slider is configured to write information to the magnetic recording layer using heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR).

9 . The fluorinated lubricant of claim 1 , wherein Re contains an aromatic group selected from the group consisting of anisole, benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, pyrene, catechol and benzopyrene.

Assignments (2)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT (AR) Recorded May 15, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE AGENT
Reel/Frame 067417/0329 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2024
From: MAKSUTA, DANIEL DEMORI; ZHOU, HANTAO; FAN, AO; WEN, JIANMING; LEE, CHARLES CHENG-HSING
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067101/0110 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250320422A1 · Oct 16, 2025
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