Abstract:
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a good thermal stability and a high recording density is provided. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes at least a first and a second perpendicular magnetic recording layer and a substrate supporting the first and the second perpendicular magnetic recording layers. The first and the second perpendicular magnetic recording layers have different physical/magnetic properties and are formed of materials that compensate the different physical/magnetic properties. The first and the second perpendicular magnetic recording layers are selected from a layer for improving perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku), a layer for reducing the size of crystal grains, a layer for reducing the size of magnetic domains, a layer for increasing an SNR, a layer for improving signal output, a layer for reducing noise, a layer for improving the uniformity of crystal grain sizes, and a layer for improving the uniformity of magnetic domain sizes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-57394, filed on Sep. 19, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.  
         [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to perpendicular magnetic recording media, and more particularly, to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a high thermal stability and a high recording density.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A perpendicular magnetic recording method is used in hard disk driver (HDD), which are widely used as data storage devices, to increase the recording density and capacity thereof. In a perpendicular magnetic recording method, a magnetization is oriented perpendicularly to the film plane of a recording medium to increase the recording density of the recording medium. In addition, in order to increase the thermal stability and recording density of perpendicular magnetic recording media, several key features of media should be satisfied such as strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy over 10e6 erg/cc, small average grain size, narrow distribution of grain size and small magnetic domains.  
         [0006]     In conventional perpendicular magnetic recording media, as perpendicular magnetic recording anisotropic energy increases, crystal grains or magnetic domains enlarge. Likewise, as crystal grains or magnetic domains diminish, perpendicular magnetic recording anisotropic energy decreases.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows the layer structure of a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium.  FIG. 2  shows the layer structure of a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a double magnetic layer.  
         [0008]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the two conventional perpendicular magnetic recording media have a perpendicular orientation underlayer  102  and a soft magnetic layer  202  that are placed below perpendicular magnetic recording layers  103  and  203 , respectively.  
         [0009]     To be more specific, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the perpendicular orientation underlayer  102  is placed on the upper surface of a substrate  101 , and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer  103  is placed on the perpendicular orientation underlayer  102 . A protection layer  104  is placed on the perpendicular magnetic recording layer  103  to protect the perpendicular magnetic recording layer  103 . Thereafter, a lubricating layer  105  is placed on the protection layer  104  to protect the perpendicular magnetic recording layer  103  and the protection layer  104  against collisions with a data writing/reading head slider and to induce a smooth sliding of the head slider.  
         [0010]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a double magnetic recording layer has the soft magnetic layer  202  instead of the perpendicular orientation underlayer  102  of  FIG. 1 . The soft magnetic layer  202  is formed on a substrate  201 . The perpendicular magnetic recording layer  203  is placed on the soft magnetic layer  202 . A protection layer  204  and a lubricating layer  205  are sequentially formed on the perpendicular magnetic recording layer  203 .  
         [0011]     Each of the two conventional recording media has a perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer is formed of a material with a large perpendicular anisotropy energy (Ku) to secure a high thermal stability required upon high-density recording. However, the material with a large perpendicular anisotropy energy provides large crystal grains and large magnetic domains and generates large noise and accordingly is not adequately helpful to achieve high-density recording. Meanwhile, if a material with small crystal grains and small magnetic domains is used, high-density recording can be achieved with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), but thermal stability cannot be secured because of its small perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention provides a perpendicular magnetic recording medium which has an increased recording density by increasing perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy and reducing the sizes of crystal grains and magnetic domains.  
         [0013]     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including: at least two perpendicular magnetic recording layers and a substrate which supports the perpendicular magnetic recording layers. Each of the perpendicular magnetic recording layers has different physical/magnetic properties and is formed of materials of the other layer such that the layer compensates compensate the different physical/magnetic properties.  
         [0014]     In the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, the perpendicular magnetic recording layers are selected from the group consisting of a layer for improving perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku), a layer for reducing the size of crystal grains, a layer for reducing the size of magnetic domains, a layer for increasing an SNR, a layer for improving signal output, a layer for reducing noise, a layer for improving the uniformity of crystal grain sizes, and a layer for improving the uniformity of magnetic domain sizes.  
         [0015]     According to an embodiment of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers are included. The first perpendicular magnetic recording layer has smaller crystal grains than the crystal grains of the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer, and the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer has greater perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku) than the first perpendicular magnetic recording layer.  
         [0016]     According to another embodiment of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers are included. The first perpendicular magnetic recording layer has greater perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku) than the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer, and the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer is used to reduce noise.  
         [0017]     According to still another embodiment of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, a perpendicular magnetic recording layer is used to improve perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku), and another perpendicular magnetic recording layer is used to reduce the size of crystal grains. Alternatively, a perpendicular magnetic recording layers is used to improve perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku), and another perpendicular magnetic recording layer is used to reduce the size of magnetic domains. Alternatively, a perpendicular magnetic recording layers is used to improve perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku), and another perpendicular magnetic recording layer is used to increase the uniformity of crystal grain sizes. Alternatively, a perpendicular magnetic recording layers is used to improve signal output, and another perpendicular magnetic recording layer is used to reduce noise. Alternatively, the first perpendicular magnetic recording layer has higher perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy (Ku) than the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer.  
         [0018]     In the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, the perpendicular magnetic recording layers have either crystalline structures or amorphous structures. Alternatively, one of the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers has a crystalline structure, and the other perpendicular magnetic recording layer has an amorphous structure.  
         [0019]     Both the perpendicular magnetic recording layers have magnetic domains that are either physically disconnected from one another or connected to one another. Alternatively, one of the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers has magnetic domains that are physically disconnected from one another, and the other perpendicular magnetic recording layer has magnetic domains that are physically connected to one another. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows the layer structure of a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a single magnetic layer;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows the layer structure of a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a double magnetic layer;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the layer structure of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a single magnetic recording layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows the layer structure of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a double magnetic recording layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows the layer structure of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a single magnetic recording layer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows the layer structure of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a double magnetic recording layer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows the layer structure of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium of  FIG. 3  in which specific materials are applied to form its component layers;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows the magnetic hysteresis loops of perpendicular magnetic recording media  2  and  3  according to the present invention and a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium  1 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a graph showing a perpendicular anisotropic energy (Ku) and a coercive force (Hc) between each of the perpendicular magnetic recording media  2  and  3  according to the present invention and the conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium  1 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a graph showing the results of a spectral analysis of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium  2  according to the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is a graph showing the results of a spectral analysis of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium  3  according to the present invention; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is a graph showing the results of the measurement of the SNR of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]     A perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a single magnetic recording layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perpendicular orientation underlayer  302  is deposited on a substrate  301 . First and second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  303  and  304  are sequentially formed on the perpendicular orientation underlayer  302 . The first perpendicular magnetic recording layer  303  is formed by depositing a material that reduces noise. The second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  304  is formed by depositing a material with a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy to improve a thermal stability. A protection layer  305  and a lubricating layer  306  are formed on the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  304 .  
         [0034]     A perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a double magnetic recording layer according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , a soft magnetic layer  402  is deposited on a substrate  401 , and a perpendicular orientation underlayer  403  is formed on the soft magnetic layer  402 . First and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers  404  and  405  are sequentially formed on the perpendicular orientation underlayer  403 . The first perpendicular magnetic recording layer  404  is formed by depositing a material that reduces noise. The second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  405  is formed by depositing a material with a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy to improve a thermal stability. A protection layer  406  and a lubricating layer  407  are sequentially formed on the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  405 .  
         [0035]     A perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a single magnetic recording layer according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perpendicular orientation underlayer  502  is placed on a substrate  501 . First and second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  503  and  505  are positioned on the perpendicular orientation underlayer  502 . An intermediate layer  504  for improving the characteristics of the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  505  is placed between the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers  503  and  505 . A protection layer  305  and a lubricating layer  306  are formed on the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  505 .  
         [0036]     A perpendicular magnetic recording medium with a double magnetic recording layer according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a soft magnetic layer  602  is deposited on a substrate  601 , and a perpendicular orientation underlayer  603  is formed on the soft magnetic layer  602 . A first perpendicular magnetic recording layer  604 , an intermediate layer  605 , and a second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  606  are sequentially formed on the perpendicular orientation underlayer  603 . The intermediate layer  605  is formed by depositing a material that can improve the physical/magnetic characteristics of the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  606 . A protection layer  607  and a lubricating layer  608  are sequentially formed on the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  606 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  shows the perpendicular magnetic recording medium of  FIG. 3  in which its component layers are formed of specific materials. Referring to  FIG. 7 , a Ti perpendicular orientation underlayer  702  is formed on a substrate  701  to improve the orientation of first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers  703  and  704 . The first perpendicular magnetic recording layer  703  is formed by depositing CoCrNbPt, and the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer  704  is formed by depositing CoCrBPt. A protection layer  705  is formed on the second CoCrBPt perpendicular magnetic recording layer  704  by depositing diamond like carbon (DLC). A lubricating layer  706  is formed on the DLC protection layer  705 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  shows the magnetic hysteresis loops of perpendicular magnetic recording media manufactured according to the embodiment of  FIG. 7  and of a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , reference numeral  1  denotes the magnetic hysteresis loops of conventional perpendicular magnetic recording media having a layer structure of “DLC/CoCrNbPt/Ti/substrate”. Reference numerals  2  and  3  denote the magnetic hysteresis loops of perpendicular magnetic recording media having a layer structure of “DLC/CoCrBPt/CoCrNbPt/Ti/substrate”. In contrast with the conventional recording medium  1 , the recording media  2  and  3  according to the present invention each has a CoCrBPt layer between the DLC protection layer and the CoCrNbPt perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The recording media  2  and  3  according to the present invention have a difference in that the ratio of the thickness of the second CoCrBPt perpendicular magnetic recording layer to that of the first CoCrNbPt perpendicular magnetic recording layer is different from each other.  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the perpendicular magnetic recording media according to the present invention having the CoCrBPt perpendicular magnetic recording layer with a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy deposited on the CoCrNbPt perpendicular magnetic recording layer has a significantly increased coercivity (Hc) and a significantly increased squareness.  
         [0041]      FIG. 9  is a graph showing the perpendicular anisotropic energy (Ku) and the coercivity (Hc) of the conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium  1  with a layer structure of “DLC/CoCrNbPt/Ti/substrate” and the perpendicular magnetic recording media  2  and  3  according to the present invention with a layer structure of “DLC/CoCrBPt/CoCrNbPt/Ti/substrate”.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the perpendicular magnetic recording media  2  and  3  according to the present invention have higher perpendicular anisotropic energy (Ku) and higher coercivity (Hc) than those of the conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium  1 . This indicates a great increase in the thermal stability.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are graphs showing the results of spectral analyses about the perpendicular magnetic recording media  2  and  3  according to the present invention, respectively, with respect to the recording density (kFCl) of the recording media  2  and  3 . It can be known from  FIGS. 10 and 11  that at a recording density of 900 kFCl or greater, recording can be achieved and an excellent output can be obtained.  
         [0044]      FIG. 12  is a graph showing the SNR values of perpendicular magnetic recording media  1  and  2  according to the present invention and a conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium  3  that has a high SNR. As shown in  FIG. 12 , all of the three recording media  1 ,  2 , and  3  have positive SNR values at a recording density of 500 kFCl or greater, and the recording media  1  and  2  according to the present invention have the same SNR as that of the conventional recording medium  3  that generates low noise.  
         [0045]     In the perpendicular magnetic recording media according to the present invention, both first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers may be formed of at least one alloy selected from the group of a CoCr alloy, a NiFe alloy, a FePt alloy, an Fe alloy, a Co alloy, a Ni alloy, a Pd alloy, a Pt alloy, and an alloy containing at least one material among Nd, Pd, Ru, B, and Nb. At least one underlayer is placed between the substrate and a pair of first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers. The underlayer is formed of an alloy containing either one material or at least two materials selected from Pt, Au, Ag, Pd, Ti, Ta, B, Nb, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, Ru, Ta, C, Oxide, and Si.  
         [0046]     Alternatively, both first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers may be formed of either a CoCrPt alloy or CoCrPtX (X=B, Nb, Ta, O, or C) alloy. However, the first perpendicular magnetic recording layer contains Pt by 10% or greater, while the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer contains Pt by 10% or less.  
         [0047]     As another alternative, first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers may be formed of a CoCrPt alloy and a CoCrPtX (X=B, Nb, Ta, O, or C) alloy, respectively. As still another alternative, the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers may be formed of a CoCrNbPt alloy and a CoCrBPt alloy, respectively.  
         [0048]     As still yet another alternative, first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers may be formed of a CoCrPt alloy and a CoCrBPt alloy, respectively. Alternatively, the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers may be formed of a CoCrPt alloy and a CoCrNbPt alloy, respectively.  
         [0049]     The first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers can be formed of an alloy containing Co, Cr, and Pt. Alternatively, one of the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers can be formed of an alloy containing CoCrPtX (X=B, Nb, Ta, O, and C). Preferably, each of the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers has a thickness of 50 nm or less, and the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers make a thickness of 200 nm or less.  
         [0050]     Both the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers have lattice matching structures. Alternatively, one of the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers has a lattice matching structure, and the other one has a lattice mismatching structure.  
         [0051]     In the above-described embodiments, the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer is placed on the first perpendicular magnetic recording layer. However, the first perpendicular magnetic recording layer may be placed on the second perpendicular magnetic recording layer. As long as a provisory clause is not mentioned in the accompanying claims, the stacking order of the first and second perpendicular magnetic recording layers may also be construed as the second and first perpendicular magnetic recording layers are sequentially stacked.  
         [0052]     Perpendicular magnetic recording media according to the present invention still have a good thermal stability and a high SNR, which are the advantages of conventional perpendicular magnetic recording media, and are additionally suitable for ultra-high density recording.  
         [0053]     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.