Seagate Technology Incorporated

Thanh Thien Ha

Phuong Binh Nguyen

Elsie Yang Chuang

Charles Chengyea Leu

Qixu David Chen

Mariana Rodica Munteanu

Xing Song

Abebe Hailu

Taesun Ernest Kim

Charles Changqing Chen

Steve Kuo-Hsing Hwang

CoCrPtB is a conventional material used in some of the layers of a thin film magnetic media structure used for recording data in data storage devices such as hard drives. Typically the CoCrPtB layers used for magnetic media have high Cr and low B in bottom magnetic layers and low Cr and high B in top magnetic layers. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention and to improve media electrical performance, fifth elements, such as Ta, Nb and Hf, etc. were added to the CoCrPtB materials, resulting in CoCrPtB&#x2014;X, to enhance the grain segregation. The five element CoCrPtB&#x2014;X layers were deposited using a pulsed direct current sputter technique instead of conventional direct current sputtering techniques. The resulting magnetic media structure having CoCrPtB&#x2014;X alloy layers exhibits an increase in coercivity Hc and improvement in recording performance.

Magnetic recording media having five element alloy deposited using pulsed direct current sputtering

A magnetic medium is formed with a barrier layer between the magnetic layer and protective overcoat to prevent degradation of magnetic properties during deposition of the protective overcoat due to poisoning effects by reactive gases on the magnetic layer. Embodiments include sputter depositing a Cr or Cr alloy barrier layer, having a thickness of about 5 &angst; to about 25 &angst;, on a magnetic layer and sputter depositing a protective overcoat containing carbon and nitrogen on the barrier layer in a nitrogen-containing environment.

Magnetic recording medium with protective barrier layer

Adhesion between a deposited seed layer, e.g., a sputter-deposited NiP seed layer, on an alternate substrate, such as a glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic substrate, is significantly enhanced by depositing a chromium or chromium-alloy adhesion enhancement film between the substrate and seed layer. Magnetic recording media comprising a surface-oxidized NiP seed layer and chromium adhesion enhancement film exhibit low media noise and are suitable for high density longitudinal magnetic recording.

Magnetic thin film medium with adhesion enhancement layer

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Thanh Thien Ha