Ni-Fe-O intermediate layer and [Ni-Fe/Si]n laminated soft underlayer for backlayer of Co-Cr-Ta-Pt perpendicular recording media

Ni-Fe-O layers prepared by a natural oxidation method were examined for the intermediate layer between Co-Cr-Ta(-Pt) recording layers and soft magnetic [Ni-Fe/Si]_n multilayered backlayers in perpendicular magnetic recording media. [Ni-Fe/Si]_n multilayers exhibited soft magnetic properties and improved the c axis orientation of Co-Cr-Ta crystallites in the recording layer deposited on them. Ni-Fe-O intermediate layers were suitable to obtain a finer grain as well as epitaxial growth in Co-Cr-Ta(-Pt) recording layers. The intermediate layer was effective in reducing media noise for high recording density applications.