A Description of Multiscale Modeling for the Head-Disk Interface Focusing on Bottom-Level Lubricant and Carbon Overcoat Models

The challenges in designing future head disk interface (HDI) demand efficient theoretical modeling tools with flexibility in investigating various combinations of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) and carbon overcoat (COC) materials. For broad range of time and length scales, we developed multiscale/multiphysical modeling approach, which can bring paradigm-shifting improvements in advanced HDI design. In this paper, we introduce our multiscale modeling methodology with an effective strategic framework for the HDI system. Our multiscale methodology in this paper adopts a bottom to top approach beginning with the high-resolution modeling, which describes the intramolecular/intermolecular PFPE-COC degrees of freedom governing the functional oligomeric molecular conformations on the carbon surfaces. By introducing methodology for integrating atomistic/molecular/mesoscale levels via coarse-graining procedures, we investigated static and dynamic properties of PFPE-COC combinations with various molecular architectures. By bridging the atomistic and molecular scales, we are able to systematically incorporate first-principle physics into molecular models, thereby demonstrating a pathway for designing materials based on molecular architecture. We also discussed future materials (e.g., graphene for COC, star-like PFPEs) and systems (e.g., heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR)) with higher scale modeling methodology, which enables the incorporation of molecular/mesoscale information into the continuum scale models

Force field parameter estimation of functional perfluoropolyether lubricants

The head disk interface in a hard disk drive can be considered to be one of the hierarchical multiscale systems, which require the hybridization of multiscale modeling methods with coarse-graining procedure. However, the fundamental force field parameters are required to enable the coarse-graining procedure from atomistic/molecular scale to mesoscale models. In this paper, we investigate beyond molecular level and perform ab initio calculations to obtain the force field parameters. Intramolecular force field parameters for Zdol and Ztetraol were evaluated with truncated PFPE molecules to allow for feasible quantum calculations while still maintaining the characteristic chemical structure of the end groups. Using the harmonic approximation to the bond and angle potentials, the parameters were derived from the Hessian matrix, and the dihedral force constants are fit to the torsional energy profiles generated by a series of constrained molecular geometry optimization

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF MULTI-PARTICLE DYNAMICS IN TRIBOELECTROSTATIC SYSTEMS

Using state-of-the-art flow/particle visualization and animation techniques, the time-dependent statistical distributions of charged-particle swarms exposed to external fields (both electrostatic and flow) are analyzed. We found that interparticle interaction and drag forces mainly influenced swarm dispersion in a Lagrangian reference frame, whereas the ''average'' particle trajectory was affected primarily by the external electric field