Abstract
The influence of buffer layer characteristics on the structural and magnetic properties of CoCrPt perpendicular media has been investigated. Thin (∼10-15 nm) buffer layers consisting of Ta/Ru, Ta/Hf, or amorphous (CoCrPt)Ta25 produced media layers having high perpendicular coercivity of nearly 3 kOe, but the coercivity was only 1.7 kOe when using a Ta/Ti buffer. X-ray diffraction rocking curves showed the highest degree of (0002) texture for the Ta/Ru buffer. In-plane diffraction indicated that the Ta/Ru buffer also had the smallest lattice mismatch (5.6%) with the CoCrPt. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy showed that the Ta/Ru buffer promoted local epitaxy with the media layer. Amorphous transition regions were observed at the interfaces between the media and the Ta/Hf and Ta/Ti buffer layers. Some small CoCrPt grains were observed at the interface with the amorphous CoCrPtTa buffer.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 153-158 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials |
Volume | 247 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2002 |
Keywords
- Buffer layer
- Interface
- Media
- Microstructure
- Perpendicular recording
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics