The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of (per)fluoropolyether polymers, to certain novel (per)fluoropolyether polymers. The present invention also relates to the use of the (per)fluoropolyether polymers thus obtained as intermediate compounds for the manufacture of further polymers suitable for use as lubricants, notably for magnetic recording media (MRM).

A deposition composition includes a solvent comprising a hydrofluorothioether compound represented by the following general formula (I): Rf—S—Rh where Rf is a fluorinated or perfluorinated group having 2-9 carbon atoms and optionally includes one or more catenated heteroatoms or chlorine atoms, and Rh is a non-fluorinated hydrocarbon group having 1-3 carbon atoms. The deposition composition further includes a coating material that is soluble or dispersible in said solvent.

A lubricant composition for a resin-resin sliding portion or a resin-metal sliding portion that contains a base oil containing a perfluoropolyether oil including a side chain, and a polytetrafluoroethylene having a primary particle diameter of 1 μm or larger and a melamine cyanurate as thickeners.

There is provided a fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula. R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5 (in the formula. R.sup.3 represents a perfluoropolyether chain; R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 represent a divalent linking group having a polar group; R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 represent a terminal group bonded to an oxygen atom of R.sup.2 or R.sup.4; and at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 is any one selected from the group consisting of an alkenyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkynyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon-containing group, and an aromatic heterocycle-containing group).

The present invention provides a fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula:

R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5

(in the formula, R.sup.3 represents a perfluoropolyether chain; R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 each independently represent any of an alkyl group which may have a substituent, an organic group having a double bond or a triple bond, and a hydrogen atom; —R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3 is represented by -[A]-[B]—O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3; R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4— is represented by R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—O—[C]-[D]-; [A] is represented by Formula (4), [B] is represented by Formula (5), [C] is represented by Formula (6), and [D] is represented by Formula (7)):

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A tool configured to apply a lubricant includes an insert disposed within a shroud of an electrical connector. The insert has a central cavity and passages extending from the central cavity to portals defined in an outer surface of the insert and a spray valve disposed within the insert configured to dispense a lubricant mist into the central cavity, through the passages to the portals, and onto a seal wiping surface of the electrical connector.

A fluorine-containing ether compound characterized by being represented by the following formula (1):
R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5  (1) In the formula (1), R.sup.3 is a perfluoropolyether chain. R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are divalent linkage groups having a polar group and may be the same or different. R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are bonded to an atom other than a carbon atom of R.sup.2 or R.sup.4. R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are terminal groups composed of an organic group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and may be the same or different. At least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 is a chain organic group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms wherein one or more hydrogen atoms of the chain organic group is substituted with a group having an amide bond.

There is provided a fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following formula. R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—OCH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2O—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5 (in the formula, R.sup.3 represents a perfluoropolyether chain; R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 represent a divalent linking group having a polar group and may be the same or different from each other; R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 represent a terminal group bonded to an oxygen atom of R.sup.2 or R.sup.4 and may be the same or different from each other; and at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 is an organic group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and at least one of hydrogens included in the organic group is substituted by a cyano group).

A tribological system, comprising a main body and a sandwich lubrication, in which the sandwich lubrication includes a binder-free solid lubricant layer comprising a solid lubricant, and a lubricant layer comprising a lubricant. The binder-free solid lubricant layer and the lubricant layer are present as separate layers on the main body and wherein the mass ratio of solid lubricant to lubricant is at most 0.05:1

Provided is a compound which allows realization of a lubricant having high adsorbability and a high covering property with respect to a magnetic disk, particularly a carbon protective film. A perfluoropolyether compound in accordance with an aspect of the present invention has a naphthyl group or a phenoxyphenyl group at any one of terminals thereof.