Iridium underlayer for heat assisted magnetic recording media

Abstract

A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media stack is provided in which Iridium (Ir)-based materials may be utilized as a secondary underlayer instead of a Magnesium Oxide (MgO) underlayer utilized in conventional media stacks. Such Ir-based materials may include, e.g., pure Ir, Ir-based alloys, Ir-based compounds, as well as a granular Ir layer with segregants. The use of Ir or Ir-based materials as an underlayer provide advantages over the use of MgO as an underlayer. For example, DC sputtering can be utilized to deposit the layers of the media stack, where the deposition rate of Ir is considerably higher than that of MgO resulting in higher manufacturing production yields. Further still, less particles are generated during Ir-based layer deposition processes, and Ir-based underlayer can act as a better heat sink. Further still, the morphology and structure of a recording layer deposited on an Ir-based layer can be better controlled.