Method of producing a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic recording medium formed thereby

摘要

A perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a magnetic recording layer with ferromagnetic crystalline grains and nonmagnetic and nonmetallic grain boundary region surrounding the grains. The surface of its underlayer, before forming the magnetic recording layer, is exposed to an O₂ or N₂ atmosphere or an atmosphere of rare gas and O₂ or N₂, to attach the O₂ or N₂ as nucleation sites for promoting growth of the nonmagnetic and nonmetallic region. By forming the magnetic recording layer thereafter, both ferromagnetic crystalline grains and the nonmagnetic and nonmetallic grain boundary region are formed from the initial stage of the growth of the magnetic recording layer. Thus, a magnetic recording layer having excellent segregation structure can be formed.