Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media structure is disclosed. The HAMR media structure includes a magnetic recording layer comprising an array of magnetic grains for storing information; a heat sink layer disposed below the magnetic recording layer and having a first thermal conductivity; and an anisotropic thermal barrier layer disposed between the magnetic recording layer and the heat sink layer and having a vertical thermal conductivity and an in-plane thermal conductivity, wherein the vertical thermal conductivity is substantially higher than the in-plane thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A novel lubricant comprising a perfluoropoyether (PFPE) molecule terminated with a benzene molecule or a functional benzene molecule for a magnetic recording media structure is disclosed. The magnetic recording media structure includes a substrate, a magnetic recording layer for recording information disposed over the substrate, a protective overcoat layer for protecting the magnetic recording layer disposed over the magnetic recording layer, and a lubricant layer disposed over the protective overcoat layer and comprising a perfluoropoyether (PFPE) molecule terminated with a benzene molecule or a functional benzene molecule.

Abstract: A heater assembly for a disk processing system including a heater element configured to heat a substrate carried by a holder, and a heater cover having an aperture to expose the heater element to the substrate. The cover may be metal to thermally couple the heater to a cooling plate. The cover may have an outer surface having a thermal barrier surrounding the aperture to thermally insulate the holder.

Abstract: A disk processing system having a heater chamber and dual single-sided sputter chambers each with a sustaining heater.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide for a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media comprising: a magnetic recording layer; a barrier layer disposed under the magnetic recording layer; a first underlayer disposed under the barrier layer; and an amorphous seedlayer disposed under the first underlayer. For some embodiments, the recording medium may comprise: a magnetic recording layer including FePt alloy, a CoPt alloy, or a FePd alloy; a barrier layer including MgO, TiC, TiN, CrN, TiCN, ?-WC, TaC, HfC, ZrC, VC, NbC, or NiO; a first underlayer including RuAl-oxide, NiAl, FeAl, AlMn, CuBe, or AlRe; or an amorphous seedlayer including a Cr—X alloy, where X comprises Al, B, C, Cu, Hf, Ho, Mn, Mo, Ni, Ta, Ti, V, W, or Ru.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a perpendicular magnetic recording disk is described. The method may include providing a magnetic recording layer disposed above a substrate with a plurality of intermediate layers disposed there between and electrochemically etching the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: Systems for recycling slurry materials during polishing processes are provided. One system includes a polisher having an inlet and drain outlet, and a slurry storage tank to supply a slurry including a preselected material to the polisher inlet, and a recycling assembly including a cross flow filter including an inlet to receive a waste slurry including the preselected material from the polisher drain outlet, where the cross flow filter is configured to concentrate the preselected material in an outlet slurry, a density meter configured to measure a concentration of the preselected material in the filter outlet slurry, a valve coupled to the filter outlet and configured to supply the slurry storage tank, and a controller coupled to the density meter and valve, where the controller is configured to open the valve when the concentration of the preselected material reaches a first concentration threshold.

Abstract: Recording media press systems and methods of operating such press systems. Press system embodiments include a first die and a second die. The press system further includes a mandrel extending along a longitudinal mandrel axis through the first die. A rod portion of the mandrel to receive a magnetic recording disk to be pressed. The press system further includes a foil holder coupled to the first die. The foil holder to clamp a first portion of an embossing foil to the first die and allow the clamped foil portion to move in a radial direction relative to the foil holder.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a recording medium comprising: a hard magnetic recording layer and an interlayer disposed under the hard magnetic recording layer, wherein the interlayer comprises an upper layer of Ru-based alloy and a lower layer of RuCo or ReCo alloy. Generally for embodiments of the present invention, the lower layer of RuCo or ReCo alloy is formed over a seed layer using a low-pressure sputter process, and the upper layer of Ru-based alloy is formed over the lower layer using a high-pressure sputter process.

Abstract: A disk processing system having a plurality of processing chambers, a load chamber comprising a heater, and a disk transport system coupled to the plurality of processing chambers and the load chamber to transport a disk there among.

Abstract: A vortex reducing apparatus and method for drainage of a process tank are described. The vortex reducer including a keel having a longitudinal axis, a top flow foil coupled to the keel and a bottom flow foil coupled to the keel. The top flow foil and the bottom flow foil are each coupled to the keel at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Method of incorporating atomic oxygen into a magnetic recording layer by sputtering a target containing an oxide of cobalt. The oxide of cobalt may be sputtered to provide a readily dissociable source of oxygen which may increase the concentration of free cobalt atoms (Co) in the magnetic recording layer and also increase oxide content in the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A disk processing system with a load chamber having a stationary heater and a movable heater.

Abstract: A spin stand is disclosed comprising a spindle motor having a rotor. A first disk clamp is operable to clamp a first disk to the rotor, and a second disk clamp is operable to clamp a second disk to the rotor. An actuator is operable to clamp the second disk clamp in order to clamp the second disk to the rotor after the first disk has been clamped to the rotor.

Abstract: Methods for improving the strength of glass substrates are described. One such method for strengthening a glass disk substrate for a storage device includes immersing at least a portion of the glass substrate in a solution, the solution including a solvent and a coating material selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH, and KNO3, removing the glass substrate from the solution, allowing the solvent to evaporate from the glass substrate, and heating the glass substrate at a preselected temperature for a preselected duration, where the preselected temperature is sufficient to substantially melt the coating material and is less than a transition temperature of the glass substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving accuracy of head positioning using existing servo patterns are provided. In one embodiment, a method for improving read head positioning is provided that comprises: writing a series of tracks over a range of read offsets to be calibrated; measuring a set of raw track profiles from the series of tracks; sampling the set of raw track profiles at a series of signal amplitude levels; constructing a reference track profile from the set of sampled track profiles; calculating a set of read offset deltas from each sampled track profile; merging the sets of read offset deltas into a set of average read offset deltas; and converting the set of average read offset deltas into a read offset correction table. A similar method for improving disk write head positioning is also provided which utilizes such a read offset correction table to eventually create write offset correction table.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing glass hard disk substrates comprises annealing and then tempering previously formed glass hard disk substrates. The annealed and tempered glass hard disk substrates have improved strength and stress resistance without chemical treatments.

Abstract: A method and system for interrogating a thickness of a carbon layer are described. The carbon layer is on a magnetic media having an underlayer and at least one magnetic layer on the underlayer. The carbon layer resides on the magnetic layer(s). A sample underlayer is deposited on a sample substrate and a sample carbon layer provided on the sample underlayer. The sample substrate corresponds to a substrate including the magnetic media. The sample underlayer corresponds to the underlayer of the magnetic media. The sample carbon layer corresponds to the carbon layer. A region between the sample carbon layer and the sample underlayer is free of magnetic material. The sample substrate including the sample carbon layer is exposed to light. Emitted light from the sample substrate is detected to provide a Raman spectrum. The thickness of the carbon layer is determined based on the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprises a substrate; a heatsink layer comprising a layer of crystallized CuTi; and a hard magnetic recording layer. The crystallized CuTi is applied in an amorphous state and then crystallized through heating. The use of this heatsink improves surface and underlayer roughness compared to previous heatsink designs.

Abstract: A magnetic recording (PMR) disk structure is described. The PMR disk structure may include a magnetic capping layer being substantially free of an oxide, an upper magnetic layer with an oxide content disposed directly below and in contact with the magnetic capping layer, and an upper exchange coupling layer disposed below the upper magnetic layer.