MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM AND A METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME

摘要

A magnetic recording medium comprises a nonmagnetic support; a magnetic metal thin film formed on one major surface of the nonmagnetic support; and a protective film consisting of a corrosion-resistant protective film of a corrosion-resistant metal or a protective film of a multilayer structure consisting of at least one corrosion-resist-ant protective film of a corrosion-resistant metal and one durable protective film of a hard material. A sputtering process of forming the protective film of a multilayer structure consisting of at least one corrosion-resistant protective film and one durable protective film over the magnetic metal thin film formed on the nonmagnetic support traveling along the circumference of a cooling cylinder uses at least one target of a corrosion-resistant metal and at least one target of a hard material, or a composite target composed of at least one corrosion-resistant metal and one hard material. The protective film suppresses the corrosion of the magnetic metal thin film and improves the corrosion resistance and durability of the magnetic recording medium. The method of fabricating the magnetic recording medium can be carried out without requiring the modification of an existing manufacturing line, enables the fabrication of the magnetic recording medium at a high productivity and is of high industrial utility.