Abstract: High thermal gradient heatsinks for heat assisted magnetic recording media are provided. One example magnetic recording medium for heat assisted magnetic recording includes a substrate, a first seed layer on the substrate, a heatsink layer on the first seed layer and including Ru having a crystal texture of (11.0), a second seed layer on the heatsink layer, and a magnetic recording layer on the second seed layer. Methods for manufacturing such magnetic recording media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Magnetic media having dual phase MgO-X seed layers with both MgO grains and segregants are provided. One such magnetic medium includes a substrate, a heatsink layer on the substrate, a dual phase seed layer on the heatsink layer, where the dual phase seed layer comprises MgO and a segregant, where a concentration of the MgO is greater than 50 percent by volume in the dual phase seed layer, and a magnetic recording layer including FePt on the dual phase seed layer.

Abstract: Thermal barrier layers and seed layers for control of thermal and structural properties of heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media are provided. One such HAMR medium includes a substrate, a heat sink layer on the substrate, a thermal barrier layer of SrTiO3 on the heat sink layer, an underlayer of MgO on the thermal barrier layer, and a magnetic recording layer on the underlayer. Another such HAMR medium includes a substrate, a heat sink layer on the substrate, a thermal barrier layer of an ABO3-type oxide on the heat sink layer, and a magnetic recording layer on the thermal barrier layer.

Abstract: A magnetic-recording medium includes a hydrogen and nitrogen implanted carbon overcoat (HNICOC) on a magnetic-recording layer. The HNICOC includes nitrogen implanted in a top-surface layer of the HNICOC such that a percentage ratio of a concentration of the implanted nitrogen to a concentration of carbon is between about 30 percent (%) to about 10% within a depth from about 2 ?ngstrom (?) to about 5 ? from the top surface of the HNICOC. An amount of hydrogen implanted in the top-surface layer is between about 1% to about 12% within a distance less than about 5 ? from the top surface. A data storage device that incorporates the magnetic-recording medium within a magnetic-recording disk, and a method for making the magnetic-recording medium are also described.

Abstract: A cryogenic dynamic cooling apparatus and a cooling method for heat assisted magnetic recording media substrate are provided. The cooling apparatus includes a chamber that is configured to receive a substrate. A substrate holder secures the substrate inside the chamber. The apparatus has a cooling plate that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position inside the chamber. The cooling plate provides clearance for movement of the substrate holder inside the chamber in the retracted position, and the cooling plate cools the substrate in the extended position. Also, the cooling plate is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the substrate. The apparatus further includes a cryogenic operatively coupled to the cooling plate that is cooled by the cryogenic cooling element.

Abstract: A data storage medium having a seed structure formed of a first seed layer comprising a nickel alloy NiY, where Y is an element selected from Al, B, Fe, Nb, W, and Co, and a second seed layer represented by NiWAX, where A is an element selected from Al, B, Fe, Nb, and Co, and X is either B, Si, Ti, Nb, V, Cr, Ru, or an oxide, with the second seed layer being disposed on the first seed layer; and a magnetic recording layer above the seed structure. In addition, a method for manufacturing a data storage medium containing the aforementioned seed structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic disk of is provided, the magnetic disk having at least a magnetic layer, a carbon protective layer, and a lubrication layer sequentially provided on a substrate. In an embodiment, the lubrication layer a film formed by a lubricant having a perfluoropolyether compound A having a perfluoropolyether main chain in the structure and also having a hydroxyl group at the end and a compound C obtained from a reaction between a compound B expressed by: [Chemical formula 1] CF3(—O—C2F4)m-(O—CF2)n-OCF3 [m and n in the formula are natural numbers.] and aluminum oxide.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying electric fields during ultraviolet exposure of lubricant layers for hard disk media. One such method involves inserting a magnetic medium into a chamber, the magnetic medium including a lubricant on an outer surface thereof, and applying an electric field and an ultraviolet radiation to the lubricant within the chamber. Another such method involves inserting a magnetic medium into a chamber, depositing a lubricant on the medium within the chamber, and applying an electric field and an ultraviolet radiation to the lubricant within the chamber.

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.

Abstract: A soft underlayer (SUL) and methods for making an SUL are provided, the SUL having characteristics that make it compatible with the high temperature requirements associated with heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media growth and writing, e.g., temperatures greater than 500° C. The SUL may have a high crystallization temperature of greater than 450° C. and a high Curie temperature greater than 300° C., for example. Additionally, the SUL can maintain a saturation magnetization value greater than, e.g., 9 kGauss, at such high temperatures, thereby having the ability to remain amorphous at temperatures up to, e.g., 650° C., and exhibiting a relatively flat integrated noise profile from approximately 300° C. to 650° C. Further still, a spacer layer material is chosen such that inter-diffusion does not occur at these high temperatures.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic recording media usable in a magnetic storage device. The magnetic recording media includes a substrate, at least one intermediate layer and a magnetic recording stack for storing magnetic data. The intermediate layer(s) include a majority phase having a first diffusion constant and a secondary phase having a second diffusion constant greater than the first diffusion constant. The magnetic recording stack residing on the intermediate layer such that the at least one intermediate layer is between the substrate and the magnetic recording stack.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium includes a substrate, a split heat-sink structure (SHSS) and a magnetic recording layer. The SHSS includes a first heat-sink layer disposed on the substrate, a heat-sink break layer (HSBL) disposed on the first heat-sink layer, and a second heat-sink layer disposed on the HSBL. The magnetic recording layer is disposed on the SHSS. The SHSS is configured to enable use of a reduced operating current of the laser while maintaining about the same write performance properties as a thermal barrier layer, heat-assisted magnetic recording (TBLHAMR) medium that includes a thermal barrier layer (TBL) and a heat-sink layer that is greater than about 20% thicker than the thickness of the SHSS. A HAMR data storage device that incorporates the HAMR medium within a HAMR disk, and a method for making the HAMR medium are also described.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium includes a substrate, a bi-layer, a heat-sink layer, and a magnetic-recording layer. The bi-layer includes a seed layer disposed on the substrate, and a thermal-transport-control layer (TTCL) disposed on seed layer. The heat-sink layer is disposed on the TTCL; and the magnetic-recording layer is disposed on the heat-sink layer. The bi-layer is configured to enable use of a 50% thinner heat-sink layer that allows use of a reduced operating current of a laser in HAMR write operations while maintaining about the same write performance parameters as a HAMR medium that includes a thermal-barrier layer (TBL) and twice as thick heat-sink layer. A HAMR data-storage device that incorporates the HAMR medium within a HAMR disk, and a method for making the HAMR medium are also described.

Abstract: A recording medium having improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) capabilities includes a NiFeX-based magnetic seed layer over a soft magnetic underlayer, where X comprises an element that is soluble in and has a higher melting point than Ni. X may be selected from a group of elements, including ruthenium (Ru), which may facilitate growth of smaller grains and distributions in the corresponding magnetic recording layer(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods are illustrated for manufacturing hard disks with double lubrication layers that allow minimization of a HDD head DFH touchdown point while maintaining good tribology performance for HDD reliability. An exemplary hard disk includes a magnetic recording layer, a carbon overcoat, and a double lubrication layer: a bonded lubrication layer and a mobile lubrication layer. The bonded lubrication layer includes a high conformity and high density first lubricant. The mobile layer include a high lubricity lubricant that promotes HDI reliability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing high performance soft magnetic underlayers for magnetic recording media are described. One such magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an amorphous soft magnetic underlayer including CoFeMoNb on the substrate, where an atomic percent of the Mo is greater than about 8 and an atomic percent of the Nb is greater than about 9, and a magnetic recording layer on the soft magnetic underlayer.

Abstract: FePt-based heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media comprising a thick granular FePt:C magnetic recording layer capable of maintaining a single layer film having desirable magnetic properties. According to one embodiment, the thick granular FePt:C magnetic recording layer comprises a plurality of carbon doped FePt alloy columnar grains, where the plurality of carbon doped FePt alloy columnar grains comprise a carbon gradient along the thickness of the hard magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention provide a testing apparatus and methods for testing a bellows of a sputter machine for air leakage. One such testing apparatus is configured to simulate conditions of the sputter machine and thereby test a bellows for air leakage in both a compressed and an uncompressed configuration. Accordingly, a bellows can be ensured to be in satisfactory working condition before it is installed in the gate valve assembly and also tested for air leakage after removal from the gate valve assembly.

Abstract: A detergent composition comprising ethylene oxide/propyleneoxide (EO/PO), sodium-2-ethylhexyliminodipropionate, potassium hydroxide, hydroxyethylene diphosphonic acid (HEDP), and diethylenetriamine-penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP) for removing contaminants from the surface of a hard disk.

Abstract: A recording medium having improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) capabilities and head-disk interface characteristics includes an etched smoothened underlayer, over which the recording layer is grown. One mechanism for increasing the SNR is by growing more columnar magnetic grain structures within the recording layer, which is facilitated by a smoother underlayer template.