HCP structured CoCrMn underlayer for Co-based longitudinal magnetic recording media

Nonmagnetic hcp CoCrMn alloy was investigated with a view of new underlayer for CoCrPt longitudinal magnetic recording media. Magnetic properties and crystallographic textures of CoCrPt/CoCrMn thin films were compared with th ose of CoCrPt/Cr thin films. Only Co (10.0) and (11.0) peaks were observed in CoCrPt/CoCrMn thin films deposited on glass substrates without any hcc-t ype underlayer, CoCrPt/CoCrMn thin films showed higher coercivity and narro wer grain size distribution than CoCrPt/Cr thin films prepared under same c onditions. CoCrPt/CoCrMn thin films showed better lattice matching and grai n-to-grain growth than CoCrPt/Cr thin films and no transition layer between a magnetic layer and an underlayer.