METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA
A method for manufacturing discrete track media and patterned media is disclosed which enables a magnetic recording layer having excellent magnetic characteristics to be obtained without imparting damage to a crystal orientation control layer which is at the surface when forming the magnetic recording layer. A method for manufacturing magnetic recording media comprises a process of forming a soft magnetic layer on a substrate; a process of forming a first crystal orientation control layer on the soft magnetic layer; a process of providing a depression in at least a portion of the first crystal orientation control layer; a process of forming a second crystal orientation control layer on the first crystal orientation control layer; and a process of forming a magnetic recording layer on the second crystal orientation control layer.
1 . A method for manufacturing magnetic recording media, comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a soft magnetic layer on a substrate;
(b) forming a first crystal orientation control layer on the soft magnetic layer;
(c) providing a depression in at least a portion of the first crystal orientation control layer;
(d) forming a second crystal orientation control layer on the first crystal orientation control layer; and
(e) forming a magnetic recording layer on the second crystal orientation control layer.
2 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 1 , wherein the depression in the first crystal orientation control layer has a depth of 1 nm to 12 nm.
3 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 1 , wherein said method does not include removal of the magnetic recording layer to form depressions.
4 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 1 , wherein said method does not include removal of the soft magnetic recording layer to form depressions.
5 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 3 , wherein said method does not include removal of the soft magnetic recording layer to form depressions.
6 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 1 , wherein a nanoimprinting method is used to produce the depressions in the first crystal orientation control layer.
7 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises applying and patterning a resist layer.
8 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 7 , wherein said resist layer is patterned by a nanoimprinting method.
9 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 7 , wherein said resist layer is patterned by actinic radiation.
10 . The method for manufacturing magnetic recording media according to claim 6 , wherein the nanoimprinting method is produces the depressions in the first crystal orientation directly.
11 . A magnetic recording medium, comprising a soft magnetic layer, a crystal orientation layer comprising a first crystal orientation control layer and a second crystal orientation control layer, and a magnetic recording layer, formed in this order on a nonmagnetic substrate, wherein a depression is provided in at least a portion of the first crystal orientation control layer.
12 . The magnetic recording medium according to claim 11 , wherein the depression in the first crystal orientation control layer has a depth of 1 nm to 12 nm.