MAGNETIC PERFORMANCE AND TRIBOLOGY OF SPUTTER-TEXTURED THIN-FILM DISKS (INVITED)

A novel method for fabricating thin film disk media with controlled su rface roughness via sputter deposition is described. This technique us es the deposition of a metal nitride such as AlN on a polished substra te to create discrete spherical features. The Cr or Cr alloy interlaye r, the magnetic layer and the carbon overcoat are then deposited onto the AlN. The magnetic and mechanical performance of thin film disks fa bricated with this technique is presented and compared to that of a di sk made with conventional mechanical texture. It is shown that the dis ks fabricated with this technique have no texture-induced noise, excel lent magnetic performance, and tribological characteristics which make them suitable for high density recording applications.