Abstract: A film of magnetic recording media is formed by sputtering an alloy of cobalt and platinum onto a substrate. The sputtering takes place in a chamber containing argon and nitrogen. The magnetic coercivity of the resulting film is controlled by varying the concentration of nitrogen in the sputtering chamber. By using this technique, the film coercivity is controlled without varying other important parameters such as the saturation magnetization. The film coercivity can also be controlled by varying the concentration of oxygen in the sputtering chamber.

Abstract: A film of magnetic recording media is covered with a layer comprising ZrO.sub.2. Advantageously, the ZrO.sub.2 layer inhibits corrosion in the underlying magnetic recording media. The ZrO.sub.2 layer also exhibits desirable mechanical properties, e.g. reduced stiction. In one embodiment of our invention, the ZrO.sub.2 is sputtered onto the magnetic recording media.

Abstract: A film of magnetic recording media is covered with a layer comprising ZrO.sub.2. Advantageously, the ZrO.sub.2 layer inhibits corrosion in the underlying magnetic recording media. The ZrO.sub.2 layer is wear resistant and also exhibits reduced static friction. In one embodiment of our invention, an intermediate layer is sputtered onto the media and the ZrO.sub.2 is sputtered onto the intermediate layer. Advantageously, the intermediate layer adheres strongly to both the media and the ZrO.sub.2. We have discovered that by providing the intermediate layer, static and dynamic friction between a read-write head and the disk tends to remain consistently low, and reliability of the disk is enhanced.

Abstract: A film of magnetic recording media is formed by sputtering an alloy of cobalt and platinum onto a substrate. The sputtering takes place in a chamber containing argon and nitrogen. The magnetic coercivity of the resulting film is controlled by varying the concentration of nitrogen in the sputtering chamber. By using this technique, the film coercivity is controlled without varying other important parameters such as the saturation magnetization.