MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME
A magnetic recording medium has a recording layer, a protection layer and a lubricant layer that are stacked above a substrate. The lubricant layer includes a bond layer in contact with the protection layer, and a mobile layer at a surface of the magnetic recording medium and having a bonding strength weaker than that of the bond layer with respect to the protection layer. A height of convex portions at a surface portion of the mobile layer is approximately 0.3 nm or less.
1 . A magnetic recording medium comprising:
a substrate; and
a recording layer, a protection layer and a lubricant layer that are stacked above the substrate,
wherein the lubricant layer includes a bond layer in contact with the protection layer, and a mobile layer at a surface of the magnetic recording medium and having a bonding strength weaker than that of the bond layer with respect to the protection layer, and
a height of convex portions at a surface portion of the mobile layer is approximately 0.3 nm or less.
2 . The magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a film thickness of the mobile layer with respect to a total film thickness of the lubricant layer is approximately 5% to approximately 10%.
3 . The magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lubricant layer is made of a fluoric material.
4 . A method of fabricating a magnetic recording medium comprising:
forming a lubricant layer on a protection layer of the magnetic recording medium, so that the lubricant layer includes a bond layer in contact with the protection layer, and a mobile layer at a surface of the magnetic recording medium and having a bonding strength weaker than that of the bond layer with respect to the protection layer; and
rinsing the lubricant layer on the protection layer by a rinsing process in order to reduce a film thickness of the mobile layer.
5 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said forming coats the lubricant layer on the protection layer by a dipping process, and increases the bonding strength of the bond layer with respect to the protection layer and increases a film thickness of the bond layer by a baking process.
6 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:
the lubricant layer is made of a fluoric material; and
said rinsing process dips the magnetic recording medium in a fluoric solvent or pure water.
7 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said forming and said rinsing are carried out so that a ratio of the film thickness of the mobile layer with respect to a total film thickness of the lubricant layer is approximately 5% to approximately 40%.
8 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said rinsing controls a height of convex portions at a surface portion of the mobile layer to approximately 0.3 nm or less.
9 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said forming and said rinsing are carried out so that the bond layer is formed to a thickness of approximately 0.6 nm to approximately 1.2 nm and the mobile layer is formed to a thickness of approximately 0.1 nm to approximately 0.5 nm.
10 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said forming and said rinsing are carried out by dipping the magnetic recording medium in a single processing chamber containing a rinsing liquid on top of a lubricant, in order to coat the lubricant on the protection layer and reduce the film thickness of the mobile layer by the rinsing liquid.
11 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the lubricant is made of a fluoric material, and the rinsing liquid is made of a fluoric solvent or pure water.
12 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 11 . wherein said forming and said rinsing are carried out so that a ratio of the film thickness of the mobile layer with respect to a total film thickness of the lubricant layer is approximately 5% to approximately 40%.
13 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said rinsing controls a height of convex portions at a surface portion of the mobile layer to approximately 0.3 nm or less.
14 . The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said forming and said rinsing are carried out so that the bond layer is formed to a thickness of approximately 0.6 nm to approximately 1.2 nm and the mobile layer is formed to a thickness of approximately 0.1 nm to approximately 0.5 nm.