Abstract: A laminated magnetic recording structure for use in perpendicular or longitudinal recording is described. A small amount of ferromagnetic coupling is added between the two magnetic layers that are sufficiently decoupled to switch independently. In one embodiment the coupling is achieved by doping the spacer layer with a ferromagnetic material. Ruthenium (Ru), which is a preferred nonmagnetic material for spacer layers with cobalt (Co) being the preferred magnetic material. The weak ferromagnetic coupling can also be achieved through the use of platinum, palladium and alloys thereof for the spacer layer without the addition of a ferromagnetic element, but alternatively they can also be doped with ferromagnetic elements. For embodiments for perpendicular recording the spacer layer further can additionally comprise oxides of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Si, Ta, Ti, Nb, Cr, V and B.

Abstract: The invention includes a disk drive with a magnetic recording disk with an upper and lower sublayer in at least one magnetic layer of a laminated magnetic layer structure that includes a spacer layer that substantially decouples the magnetic layers. The lower sublayer has a lower boron content than the upper sublayer and a preferred embodiment is CoPtCrBTa. The upper sublayer is deposited onto the lower sublayer and is preferably CoPtCrB with a higher boron content than the lower sublayer. The composition of the lower sublayer gives it a very low moment with low intrinsic coercivity which would not be useful as a recording layer on its own. The upper sublayer is a higher moment alloy with high intrinsic coercivity. An embodiment of the invention includes a laminated magnetic layer structure which is antiferromagnetically coupled to a lower ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: An improved structure for the construction of perpendicular recording media is disclosed. The structure includes a perpendicular recording layer with at least two oxide sublayers or a lower sublayer of a non-oxide. One structure includes an upper sublayer comprised of a Silicon-oxide, while a lower sublayer is comprised of a Tantalum-oxide. The structures provide for increased coercivity and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An improved structure for the construction of perpendicular recording media is disclosed. The structure includes a tri-layer IML resident between a soft under layer CoTaZr film and a CoPtCr—SiO2 magnetic media. In an embodiment, the tri-layer comprises a RuxCr1?x layer over dual nucleation layers of Ni—Fe and Ni—Fe—Cr. The tri-layer replaces the typical Ru and Ni—Fe intermediate layers of the prior art, resulting in considerable improvement in lattice matching between the Ru containing intermediate layer and the CoPtCr—SiO2 magnetic media, further resulting in improved magnetic media performance.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a layered magnetic thin film structure that uses antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) magnetic layers where the top layer structure consists of an upper magnetic layer that is weakly ferromagnetically coupled via a nonmagnetic or weakly magnetic exchange coupling layer (interlayer) to a ferromagnetic exchange enhancing layer that is in turn, AF coupled to the lower ferromagnetic layer of the AFC structure. Preferred materials for the weak coupling layer include alloys of cobalt such as CoRu, CoBRu and CoCr in which the Co content is below the point at which the material would be ferromagnetic. A second embodiment of the invention is a laminated, AF-coupled media structure. In this structure the lower AFC layer that makes up the lower laminate layer includes: the middle magnetic layer, the weak ferromagnetic coupling layer, and the exchange enhancing layer.

Abstract: An improved structure for the construction of perpendicular recording media is disclosed. The structure includes a perpendicular recording layer with at least two oxide sublayers or a lower sublayer of a non-oxide. One structure includes an upper sublayer comprised of a Silicon-oxide, while a lower sublayer is comprised of a Tantalum-oxide. The structures provide for increased coercivity and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A laminated magnetic recording structure for use in perpendicular or longitudinal recording is described. A small amount of ferromagnetic coupling is added between the two magnetic layers that are sufficiently decoupled to switch independently. In one embodiment the coupling is achieved by doping the spacer layer with a ferromagnetic material. Ruthenium (Ru), which is a preferred nonmagnetic material for spacer layers with cobalt (Co) being the preferred magnetic material. The weak ferromagnetic coupling can also be achieved through the use of platinum, palladium and alloys thereof for the spacer layer without the addition of a ferromagnetic element, but alternatively they can also be doped with ferromagnetic elements. For embodiments for perpendicular recording the spacer layer further can additionally comprise oxides of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Si, Ta, Ti, Nb, Cr, V and B.