STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF COCRPT(TA,B)/CR MAGNETIC THIN-FILM MEDIA FOR ULTRA-HIGH DENSITY LONGITUDINAL MAGNETIC RECORDING

CoCrPt(Ta,B) thin films with Cr underlayers were studied as potential candidates for ultra-high density magnetic recording media for data storage at 10 Gbits/inch(2). The experimental approach used was aimed at an analysis of the structure-properties relationships in these thin films. As a result structural and composition changes resulting in magnetic and noise properties have been identified. It has been shown that very high inplane coercivities of 2700 Oe and above could be obtained in CoCrPt films with Pt contents < 20 at.%; in CoCrPtTa for Pt contents < 12% Pt (with 2.5 - 5% Ta) and in CoCrPtB (with 3 - 7% B) for Pt contents < 11%. Also methods for improvement of S*, noise characteristics and refinement of grain size and surface roughness have been demonstrated.