Vacuum evaporated Co-O thin films for perpendicular magnetic recording media

A study of the preparation of vacuum-evaporated Co-O thin films for perpendicular magnetic recording has been carried out. The influence of a high deposition rate and high incidence angle of the evaporating Co beam on the magnetic properties of the films was examined. Thin film obtained at a high deposition rate of 3000 Å/s and at a high incidence angle of 20°<φ<40° exhibits good recording and playback characteristics in the short-wavelength region. The output level of Co-O thin-film tape at 0.5 μm was higher by 13 dB than that of metal particulate tape for an 8-mm video system. The present process of preparing Co-O thin films requires neither heating of the substrate nor precoating of the underlayer to optimize the magnetic properties and recording and playback characteristics and so offers higher manufacturing productivity than the conventional process