Ultrathin TiB2 protective films

TiB2 thin films demonstrate considerable potential for use as protective ov ercoats in the magnetic recording industry due to their excellent mechanica l and tribological properties and good chemical and thermal stability. In t he many studies performed on TiB2 films, the relative effectiveness of ultr athin TiB2 films has not been systematically investigated for very thin TiB 2 films. In the present investigation, film stress and microstructure in as -sputtered and annealed ultrathin TiB2 films were investigated as a functio n of thickness. Ultrathin TiB2 films, as thin as 5 nm, were observed to ade quately protect an underlying magnetic layer from oxidation up to 400 degre esC.