Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-7drxs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T08:51:35.708Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

New Microstructural Model for Sputtered Co-Cr Magnetic Thin Films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

Yoshiro Niimura
Affiliation:
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering 2-12-1, Oh-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152, JAPAN
Masahiko Naoe
Affiliation:
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering 2-12-1, Oh-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152, JAPAN
Get access

Abstract

Rapidly solidified Co-Cr thin films with a perpedicular magnetic anisotropy have been extensively investigated as one of the most promising media for perpendicular magnetic recording system. Most of these films used to be prepared by conventional RF diode sputtering and vacuum evaporation methods. We have developed the Facing Targets Sputtering apparatus which is able to deposite the magnetic thin films without the bombardment by high energy particles to the substrate along with the capabilities to deposit films under wide range of argon gas pressure at high deposition rate. It has been found that the texture and crystallographic structure of the sputtered films are primarily dependent on the argon gas pressure and the films prepared by the Facing Targets Sputtering exhibit quite different properties from the films prepared by conventional methods. The films deposited in the argon gas at the low pressure on the plasma-free substrate using the Facing Targets Sputtering are composed of the fine polyhedral grains packed densely from the initial growth layer to the surface layer of the film. They show exellent c-axis orientation of hcp crystallites, smoother surface textures and the superior perpendicular magnetic anisotropy as compared with the films composed of so-called columnar grains deposited in the argon gas at the higher pressures using the conventional RF diode sputtering. These results imply that the sputtering apparatus which is capable to deposit Co-Cr films in the argon gas at relatively low pressure is indispensable for the preparation of superior perpendicular magnetic recording media. Therefore, the Facing Targets Sputtering apparatus seems to be quite suitable for this purpose. Further, we have proposed a new micro structural model with fine polyhedral grains obtained by our sputtering method, because this model will have the ideal structural characteristics for ultra high density perpendicular magnetic recording.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Iwasaki, S., “Perpendicular magnetic recording”, IEEE Trans. Magn, vol. MAG–16 (1980)71Google Scholar
[2] Iwasaki, S., Ouchi, K. and Honda, N., “Studies of the perpendicular magnetization mode in Co-Cr sputtered films”, IEEE Trans. on Magn., vol. MAG–16 (1980)1111Google Scholar
[3] Sugita, R., “Co-Cr perpendicular magnetic recording tape by vacuum deposition”, IEEE Trans. on Magn., vol. HAG–20 (1984)687Google Scholar
[4] Craig, S. and Harding, G.L., “Effects of argon pressure and substrate temperature on the structure and properties of sputtered copper films”, J. Vac. Sci. Technol., vol.19, no.2, (1981)205.Google Scholar