Seed layer induced (002) crystallographic texture in NiAl underlayers

The magnetic properties of Co alloy thin films are strongly dependent on their crystallographic texture and microstructure which in turn can be controlled by the texture of the underlayer. For Co alloy longitudinal recording media with Cr underlayers, it is desirable to have (002) textured Cr underlayers. Since NiAl has the B2 structure and has a lattice constant similar to that of Cr, NiAl has the potential to be an alternative underlayer to Cr. However the (002) crystallographic texture of the NiAl films is difficult to obtain. It is found that the (002) texture in NiAl underlayers can be achieved by employing a seed layer of either (002) textured Cr or MgO. Because of the improved texture a significant increase of the in-plane coercivity in CoCrPt/NiAl films was obtained. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.