EFFECTS OF CR INTERMEDIATE LAYERS ON COCRPT THIN-FILM MEDIA ON NIAL UNDERLAYERS

Sputter-deposited NiAl underlayers can induce better in-plane c-axis textures in the overlying CoCrPt films and have a smaller grain size than Cr underlayers, However, it is found that the CoCrPt/NiAl films on glass substrates have lower coercivity values than the CoCrPt/Cr films, A scheme which inserts a Cr intermediate layer, about 2.5nm thick, between the CoCrPt and NiAl layers is found to greatly improve the in-plane magnetic properties of the CoCrPt/NiAl films. The existing (10 (1) over bar 0) texture of the CoCrPt/NiAl films is enhanced by the Cr intermediate layer. Coercivity as high as 4500 Oe can be achieved, This increase is attributed to the change in interface structure.