Abstract: A recording medium, comprising: (a) a substrate having at least one surface; (b) a stacked plurality of thin film layers on the at least one surface and including at least one magnetic or magneto-optical (MO) recording layer; and (c) a protective overcoat layer on an outer surface of an outermost layer of the layer stack, comprising: (i) a first sub-layer layer (c1) of undoped tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) formed by filtered cathodic arc deposition (FCAD) on the outer surface of the outermost layer of the stacked plurality of thin film layers and having a high mass density of carbon (C) atoms greater than about 2.5 gms/cm3; and (ii) a second sub-layer (c2) of nitrogen-doped tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:N) formed by FCAD on the undoped ta-C layer and having a high mass density of carbon (C) atoms greater than about 2.0 gms/cm3.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made by depositing a diamond like carbon (DLC) layer over a magnetic layer and then depleting a portion of the DLC protective layer of hydrogen before it is coated with a Perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) using an in-situ vapor lubrication technique. The portion of the DLC layer which is depleted can be data zone of the media so that the lubricant-bonding ratio is higher for the landing zone than it is for the data zone.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing magnetic recording media, comprising sequential steps of: (a) providing an apparatus for manufacturing the media; (b) supplying the apparatus with at least one substrate for the media; (c) forming a magnetic recording layer on the at least one substrate in a first portion of the apparatus, the magnetic recording layer including a surface; (d) treating the surface of the magnetic recording layer with an ionized oxygen-containing plasma in a second portion of the apparatus to form a plasma oxidized surface layer; and (e) forming a protective overcoat layer on the plasma oxidized surface layer of the magnetic recording layer in a third portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made by depositing a diamond like carbon (DLC) layer over a magnetic layer and then depleting a portion of the DLC protective layer of hydrogen before it is coated with a Perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) using an in-situ vapor lubrication technique. The portion of the DLC layer which is depleted can be data zone of the media so that the lubricant-bonding ratio is higher for the landing zone than it is for the data zone.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer and a protective carbon-containing overcoat comprising a first carbon density, preferably of a low-density carbon, and a second carbon density different from the first carbon density, preferably of a high-density carbon, and a method of making and using the magnetic recording medium are disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium with low bonded lubricant at the landing zone, where the head takes off and lands, for better wear resistance, and with high bonded lubricant at the data zone to protect the data from corrosion, and a method of making the same are disclosed.

Abstract: Ion beam-deposited, nitrogen-doped C:H films having substantially lower resistivities than undoped ion beam-deposited C:H films and suitable for use as hard, abrasion-resistant overcoat layers for magnetic recording media, such as hard disks, are formed by supplying a mixture of hydrocarbon and nitrogen gases to an ion beam generator. Nitrogen atom content of the films is controlled to within from about 5 to about 25 at. % by appropriate selection of the ratio of hydrocarbon gas flow to nitrogen gas flow. The resultant IBD i-C:HN films exhibit a reduced tendency for charge build-up thereon during hard disk operation by virtue of their lower resistivity vis-à-vis conventional a-C:H materials.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made by depositing a diamond like carbon (DLC) layer over a magnetic layer and then depleting the DLC protective layer of hydrogen before it is coated with a Perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) using an in-situ vapor lubrication technique.

Abstract: Ion beam-deposited, nitrogen-doped C:H films having substantially lower resistivities than undoped ion beam-deposited C:H films and suitable for use as hard, abrasion-resistant overcoat layers for magnetic recording media, such as hard disks, are formed by supplying a mixture of hydrocarbon and nitrogen gases to an ion beam generator. Nitrogen atom content of the films is controlled to within from about 5 to about 25 at. % by appropriate selection of the ratio of hydrocarbon gas flow to nitrogen gas flow. The resultant IBD i-C:HN films exhibit a reduced tendency for charge build-up thereon during hard disk operation by virtue of their lower resistivity vis-à-vis conventional a-C:H materials.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium with a dual-layer lubricant for better and faster mobility of a lubricant to ensure rapid healing of areas of the medium that have been depleted of the lubricant is disclosed.

Abstract: A component of a recording device comprising a magnetic layer, means for improving corrosion resistance of the magnetic layer and a carbon overcoat, and a method of making and using the same are disclosed. The means for improving corrosion resistance of the magnetic layer comprises a sealing layer comprising a refractory metal or a refractory metal-containing alloy.

Abstract: A method of texturing the surface of a CSS/landing zone of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium, comprising steps of: (a) providing a disk-shaped substrate having a surface; (b) providing a patterned mask in overlying relation to the substrate surface, (c) selectively implanting ions in portions of the surface of the CSS/landing zone exposed by the patterned mask openings, whereby the height of the selectively ion-implanted portions is increased or decreased relative to the height of non-ion-implanted portions of the CSS/landing zone to form bumps or depressions, thereby providing the surface of the CSS/landing zone with a texture for reducing stiction and friction when the medium is used with a low flying height read/write transducer. Embodiments of the invention include hard disk magnetic recording media with textured CSS/landing zones produced by the inventive ion implation methodology.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium with low bonded lubricant at the landing zone, where the head takes off and lands, for better wear resistance, and with high bonded lubricant at the data zone to protect the data from corrosion, and a method of making the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer and a protective carbon-containing overcoat comprising a first carbon density, preferably of a low-density carbon, and a second carbon density different from the first carbon density, preferably of a high-density carbon, and a method of making and using the magnetic recording medium are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made by depositing a diamond like carbon (DLC) layer over a magnetic layer and then depleting a portion of the DLC protective layer of hydrogen before it is coated with a Perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) using an in-situ vapor lubrication technique. The portion of the DLC layer which is depleted can be data zone of the media so that the lubricant-bonding ratio is higher for the landing zone than it is for the data zone.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer and means for resisting corrosion of the magnetic layer, and a method of making and using the magnetic recording medium are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a layer of a novel hard, abrasion and corrosion resistant, nitrogen-doped, high carbon density, amorphous carbon or hydrogenated carbon (C:H) protective overcoat material on a surface of a recording medium comprises steps of: (a) providing a substrate including a stacked plurality of thin film layers thereon constituting the medium; (b) forming, by a process comprising generation and deposition of C ions having energies of at least about 90 eV, a layer of an amorphous carbon or hydrogenated carbon (C:H) material on the at least one surface of the substrate, the C:H layer having a high carbon density of at least about 2.0 gm/cm3; and (c) implanting nitrogen (N) ions in a surface portion of the high carbon density amorphous carbon or C:H layer to form an N-doped amorphous carbon or C:H surface layer having a carbon density substantially equal to said high C density of the C:H layer formed in step (b).

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium with low bonded lubricant at the landing zone, where the head takes off and lands, for better wear resistance, and with high bonded lubricant at the data zone to protect the data from corrosion, and a method of making the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made by depositing a diamond like carbon (DLC) layer over a magnetic layer and then depleting the DLC protective layer of hydrogen before it is coated with a Perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) using an in-situ vapor lubrication technique.

Abstract: A device for increasing the incident energy of an ion for coating a disc in an ion beam deposition process. The ion beam deposition process is performed in a chamber with the disc to be coated disposed therein. An ion source, having a voltage level, is introduced into the chamber for generating an ion beam for depositing ions on the disc. A bias contact is coupled to the disc and a power supply is coupled to the bias contact. The power supply applies a voltage level to the bias contact that is less than the voltage level of the ion source thereby creating a negative bias voltage between the disc and the ion source. This negative bias voltage causes the incident energy of the ion to increase. As a result, the optimal incident energy can be achieved using a lower original energy.