U.S. patent application number 11/600728 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for production apparatus for magnetic recording medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to TDK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kazuhiro Hattori, Takahiro Suwa, Mitsuru Takai.
Application Number | 20070062450 11/600728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32929694 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062450 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hattori; Kazuhiro ; et
al. |
March 22, 2007 |
Production apparatus for magnetic recording medium
Abstract
A production apparatus, which enable the efficient production of
a discrete type magnetic recording medium, while reliably
preventing any deterioration of the partitioned recording elements.
The magnetic recording medium production apparatus includes:
recording layer processing device, which by forming a plurality of
grooves, with a spacing therebetween in a planar direction, in an
intermediate product of a magnetic recording medium comprising a
continuous recording layer, partitions the continuous recording
layer into a plurality of partitioned recording elements;
non-magnetic body filling device for filling the grooves between
the partitioned recording elements with a non-magnetic body;
protective layer formation device for forming a protective layer on
the partitioned recording elements and the non-magnetic body; and
vacuum retention device which houses the recording layer processing
device, the non-magnetic body filling device, and the protective
layer formation device, and maintains the environment surrounding
the intermediate product in a state of vacuum.
Inventors: |
Hattori; Kazuhiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Takai; Mitsuru; (Tokyo, JP) ; Suwa;
Takahiro; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
TDK CORPORATION
TOKYO
JP
|
Family ID: |
32929694 |
Appl. No.: |
11/600728 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10791712 |
Mar 4, 2004 |
7166318 |
|
|
11600728 |
Nov 17, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
118/719 ;
156/345.31; G9B/5.289; G9B/5.306 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B82Y 10/00 20130101;
G11B 5/743 20130101; G11B 5/74 20130101; G11B 5/855 20130101; G11B
11/10582 20130101; G11B 5/851 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
118/719 ;
156/345.31 |
International
Class: |
C23F 1/00 20060101
C23F001/00; C23C 16/00 20060101 C23C016/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 5, 2003 |
JP |
2003-058381 |
Apr 4, 2003 |
JP |
2003-101570 |
Claims
1. A production apparatus for a magnetic recording medium
comprising: recording layer processing device, which by forming a
plurality of grooves, with a spacing therebetween in a planar
direction, in an intermediate product produced by forming a
continuous recording layer on top of a substrate surface,
partitions said continuous recording layer into a plurality of
partitioned recording elements; non-magnetic body filling device
for filling said grooves between said partitioned recording
elements with a non-magnetic body; protective layer formation
device for forming a protective layer that protects said
partitioned recording elements and said non-magnetic body; and
vacuum retention device, which houses said recording layer
processing device, said non-magnetic body filling device and said
protective layer formation device, and maintains an environment
surrounding said intermediate product in a state of vacuum.
2. The production apparatus for a magnetic recording medium
according to claim 1, wherein dry process cleaning device for
removing foreign matter from an environment surrounding said
partitioned recording elements using either one of a gas and a
plasma is provided inside said vacuum retention device.
3. The production apparatus for a magnetic recording medium
according to claim 1, wherein barrier film formation device for
forming a barrier film on said partitioned recording elements using
either one of a plasma CVD method and a sputtering method is
provided inside said vacuum retention device.
4. The production apparatus for a magnetic recording medium
according to claim 1, wherein smoothing device for smoothing a
surface of said partitioned recording elements and said
non-magnetic body is provided inside said vacuum retention device.
Description
[0001] This is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/791,712 filed
Mar. 4, 2004. The disclosure of the prior application is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a production apparatus for
a magnetic recording medium.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In recent years, magnetic recording media such as hard disks
and the like have undergone significant increases in recording
density as a result of improvements including miniaturization of
the magnetic particles that make up the recording layer,
development of new materials, and miniaturization of head
processing technology, and it is envisaged that the future will
bring further increases in recording density.
[0006] However, increasing the recording density by conventional
improvement techniques such as miniaturization of the magnetic
particles has now reached its limit, and discrete type magnetic
recording media, in which a continuous recording layer is
partitioned into a plurality of partitioned recording elements, and
a non-magnetic body is then used to fill the grooves between these
partitioned recording elements, have been proposed (for example,
see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-97419) as an
example of magnetic recording media which will enable further
improvements in recording density.
[0007] Dry etching techniques such as reactive ion etching are
examples of processing techniques that can be used to create minute
partitions within a continuous recording layer (for example, see
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 12-322710).
[0008] Furthermore, embedding techniques that utilize wet processes
such as those used in the field of semiconductor production (for
example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei
13-323381) can be used to achieve the non-magnetic filling
described above.
[0009] If level differences occur between the surfaces of the
partitioned recording elements and the non-magnetic body then
problems such as instability of the head flying movement and the
accumulation of foreign matter can arise, and consequently the
surface of the partitioned recording elements and the non-magnetic
body are preferably smoothed. This smoothing operation can also be
conducted using processing techniques used in the field of
semiconductor production, such as CMP (Chemical Mechanical
Polishing) techniques based on wet processes.
[0010] In addition, a wet cleaning technique used in semiconductor
production (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication
No. Hei 12-091290) can be used for removing foreign matter from the
surface of the partitioned recording elements.
[0011] However, if the type of dry etching used in a semiconductor
production process is used, as is, for processing a continuous
recording layer, then sections of the partitioned recording
elements are prone to problems of deterioration such as oxidation
and corrosion. Deterioration of the partitioned recording elements
may also occur over a period of time following production. In
addition, the action of solvents and the like during other wet
processes such as cleaning can also cause problems such as
oxidation and corrosion within some sections of the partitioned
recording elements. Another problem arises in that the use of wet
processes increases the likelihood of contamination of the surface
of the partitioned recording elements with foreign matter. These
problems of deterioration and contamination of the partitioned
recording elements can cause a loss of precision in the recording
and reading of information.
[0012] Furthermore, combining dry processes and wet processes
creates additional problems in that transportation of work
(intermediate products of the magnetic recording medium) becomes
more difficult, and production efficiency deteriorates.
[0013] In other words, because magnetic recording media have unique
problems, including the fact that the magnetic material tends to be
prone to oxidation, the use of processing techniques that are
effective within other fields, such as semiconductor production,
during the production of magnetic recording media results in a
variety of problems such as oxidation of the magnetic material, and
accordingly producing discrete type magnetic recording media with
good efficiency, while preventing deterioration of the partitioned
recording elements, has proven to be very difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention takes the problems described above
into consideration, and has an object of providing a production
apparatus for a magnetic recording medium, which enable the
efficient production of a discrete type magnetic recording medium,
while reliably preventing any deterioration of the partitioned
recording elements.
[0015] The present invention is able to resolve the above problems
by maintaining the work environment in a state of vacuum, and
conducting processing of the continuous recording layer using dry
processes. Completely isolating the partitioned recording elements
from the atmosphere is very effective in reliably preventing any
deterioration of the partitioned recording elements, and
consequently the steps from the formation of the partitioned
recording elements through to the formation of the protective layer
are preferably all conducted with the work environment maintained
in a state of vacuum.
[0016] In this specification, the term "vacuum" is not restricted
to the definition of a state in which the air pressure is 0 [Pa],
but rather defines a state of extremely low air pressure in which
the pressure is within a range from approx. 0 to 100 [Pa].
Furthermore, the term "magnetic recording medium" is not restricted
to hard disks, floppy disks (registered trademark) and magnetic
tapes and the like, which use only magnetism for the recording and
reading of information, but also includes magneto-optical recording
media such as MO (Magneto Optical) disks which combine both
magnetic and optical characteristics.
[0017] Accordingly, various exemplary embodiments of this invention
provide a production apparatus for a magnetic recording medium
comprising recording layer processing device, which by forming a
plurality of grooves, with a spacing therebetween in a planar
direction, in an intermediate product produced by forming a
continuous recording layer on top of a substrate surface,
partitions said continuous recording layer into a plurality of
partitioned recording elements; non-magnetic body filling device
for filling said grooves between said partitioned recording
elements with a non-magnetic body; protective layer formation
device for forming a protective layer that protects said
partitioned recording elements and said non-magnetic body, and
vacuum retention device, which houses said recording layer
processing device, said non-magnetic body filling device and said
protective layer formation device, and maintains an environment
surrounding said intermediate product in a state of vacuum.
[0018] In this specification, the term "barrier film" is used to
describe a thin film that separates the partitioned recording
elements from the non-magnetic body.
[0019] Furthermore, the term "diamond-like carbon" (hereafter
abbreviated as DLC) is used to describe a material with an
amorphous structure containing carbon as the primary component,
with a Vickers hardness within a range from 200 to 8000
kgf/mm.sup.2.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic illustration
of the structure of a production apparatus for a magnetic recording
medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the structure of an intermediate product of a
magnetic recording medium prior to processing with the same
production apparatus;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the structure of a magnetic recording medium
following processing with the same production apparatus;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the steps for producing a
magnetic recording medium with the same production apparatus;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product
following the transfer of a partition pattern into the third mask
layer;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product
following the removal of those sections of the third mask layer at
the bottom surfaces of the concave sections;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product
following the removal of those sections of the second mask layer at
the bottom surfaces of the concave sections;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product
following the removal of those sections of the first mask layer at
the bottom surfaces of the concave sections;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product with
the partitioned recording elements formed;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product
following the removal of those sections of the first mask layer
remaining on the upper surface of the partitioned recording
elements;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product
following filling of the spaces between the partitioned recording
elements with a non-magnetic body;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing a schematic
illustration of the shape of the above intermediate product
following smoothing of the surfaces of the partitioned recording
elements and the non-magnetic body;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a photograph from an atomic force microscope
showing an enlargement of the surface of the partitioned recording
elements and the non-magnetic body of a magnetic recording disk
from an example of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a photograph from an optical microscope showing
an enlargement of the surface of the magnetic recording disk from
the same example; and
[0034] FIG. 15 is a photograph from an optical microscope showing
an enlargement of the surface of a magnetic recording disk from a
comparative example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] As follows is a detailed description of embodiments of the
present invention, with reference to the drawings.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic illustration
of the structure of a production apparatus for a magnetic recording
medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] First, in order to facilitate a better understanding of the
structure of the production apparatus for magnetic recording media,
a simple description is given of the structures of the magnetic
recording medium intermediate product and the magnetic recording
medium itself.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic recording medium
intermediate product 10 comprises a glass substrate 12 with a
backing layer 14, a soft magnetic layer 16, an orientation layer
18, a continuous recording layer 20, a first mask layer 22, a
second mask layer 24, and a third mask layer 26 formed sequentially
thereon.
[0039] The material of the backing layer 14 is either Cr (chromium)
or a Cr alloy, the material of the soft magnetic layer 16 is an Fe
(iron) alloy or a Co (cobalt) alloy, the material of the
orientation layer 18 is CoO, MgO or NiO or the like, and the
material of the continuous recording layer 20 is a Co (cobalt)
alloy. Furthermore, the materials of each of the mask layers are
TiN (titanium nitride) for the first mask layer 22, Ni (nickel) for
the second mask layer 24, and a negative resist (NEB22A,
manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) for the third mask
layer 26.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic recording medium 30 is a
perpendicular recording, discrete type recording disk, wherein the
continuous recording layer 20 is partitioned into a plurality of
partitioned recording elements 31 by spacings formed along the
radial direction of the tracks, a non-magnetic body 32 fills the
grooves 33 between the partitioned recording elements 31, and a
protective layer 34 and a lubricating layer 36 are formed
sequentially on top of the partitioned recording elements 31 and
the non-magnetic body 32. A barrier film 38 is formed between the
partitioned recording elements 31 and the non-magnetic body 32.
[0041] The material of the non-magnetic body 32 is SiO.sub.2
(silicon dioxide), the material for both the protective layer 34
and the barrier film 38 is the hard carbon film known as DLC
described above, and the material of the lubricating layer 36 is
PFPE (perfluoropolyether).
[0042] Returning to FIG. 1, the magnetic recording medium
production apparatus 40 comprises recording layer processing device
42 for forming the partitioned recording elements 31 by forming the
grooves 33 in the intermediate product 10, dry process cleaning
device 44 for removing foreign matter from the environment
surrounding the partitioned recording elements 31, barrier film
formation device 46 for forming the barrier film 38 on the
partitioned recording elements 31, non-magnetic body filling device
48 for filling the grooves 33 between the partitioned recording
elements 31 with the non-magnetic body 32, smoothing device 50 for
smoothing the surface of the partitioned recording elements 31 and
the non-magnetic body 32, protective layer formation device 52 for
forming the protective layer 34 on the partitioned recording
elements 31 and the non-magnetic body 32, and vacuum retention
device 56 which houses the recording layer processing device 42,
the dry process cleaning device 44, the barrier film formation
device 46, the non-magnetic body filling device 48, the smoothing
device 50, and the protective layer formation device 52, and
maintains the environment surrounding the intermediate product 10
in a state of vacuum.
[0043] In addition, the production apparatus 40 also comprises
transfer device 58 for transferring a partition pattern onto the
third mask layer 26 of the magnetic recording medium intermediate
product 10, and lubricating layer formation device 54 for forming
the lubricating layer 36 on top of the protective layer 34. The
transfer device 58 and the lubricating layer formation device 54
are positioned outside the vacuum retention device 56.
[0044] The recording layer processing device 42 comprises a plasma
processing device 60 for processing the third mask layer 26 with a
plasma utilizing oxygen, ozone or a mixed gas thereof, an ion beam
etching device 62 for processing the second mask layer 24 with ion
beam etching utilizing Ar (argon) gas, a first reactive ion etching
device 64 for processing the first mask layer 22 with reactive ion
etching utilizing either CF.sub.4 (tetrafluoromethane) gas or
SF.sub.6 (sulfur hexafluoride) gas, a second reactive ion etching
device 66 for processing the continuous recording layer 20 with
reactive ion etching utilizing CO (carbon monoxide) gas containing
added NH.sub.3 (ammonia) gas, and a third reactive ion etching
device 67 for removing those sections of the first mask layer 22
remaining on the surface of the partitioned recording elements 31
with reactive ion etching utilizing either CF.sub.4 gas or SF.sub.6
gas.
[0045] The dry process cleaning device 44 is a dry process cleaning
device that utilizes a plasma.
[0046] The barrier film formation device 46 is a CVD (Chemical
Vapor Deposition) device for forming the DLC barrier film 38 using
CVD.
[0047] The non-magnetic body filling device 48 is a bias sputtering
device for forming a film of the SiO.sub.2 non-magnetic body 32 on
top of the partitioned recording elements 31 using bias
sputtering.
[0048] The smoothing device 50 is an ion beam etching device for
smoothing the medium surface using ion beam etching with Ar
gas.
[0049] The protective layer formation device 52 is a CVD device for
forming the protective layer 34 of DLC using CVD.
[0050] The lubricating layer formation device 54 is an application
device for applying a lubricating layer 36 of PFPE using
dipping.
[0051] The vacuum retention device 56 comprises a vacuum chamber
68, and a vacuum pump 70 that interconnects with the vacuum chamber
68.
[0052] The transfer device 58 is a press device that utilizes a
nano-imprint method to press and transfer a pattern (not shown in
the drawings) prepared using lithography onto the third mask layer
26.
[0053] Next is a description of the actions of the magnetic
recording medium production apparatus 40.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for the
magnetic recording medium production apparatus 40.
[0055] First, a magnetic recording medium intermediate product 10
is prepared. The intermediate product 10 is formed by using
sputtering to form sequentially, on top of a glass substrate 12, a
backing layer 14 with a thickness of 300 to 2000 .ANG., a soft
magnetic layer 16 with a thickness of 500 to 3000 .ANG., an
orientation layer 18 with a thickness of 30 to 300 .ANG., a
continuous recording layer 20 with a thickness of 100 to 300 .ANG.,
a first mask layer 22 with a thickness of 100 to 500 .ANG., and a
second mask layer 24 with a thickness of 100 to 300 .ANG., and then
using either spin coating or dipping to form a third mask layer 26
with a thickness of 300 to 3000 .ANG..
[0056] The transfer device 58 then uses a nano-imprint method to
transfer the type of concave sections shown in FIG. 5, which
correspond with the partition pattern for the partitioned recording
elements 31, into the third mask layer 26 of the intermediate
product 10.
[0057] At this point the intermediate product 10 is transported
into the vacuum chamber 68, and the plasma processing device 60 is
used to process the third mask layer 26 until those sections of the
third mask layer 26 at the bottom surfaces of the concave sections
have been removed, as shown in FIG. 6. Those areas of the third
mask layer 26 outside the concave sections are also partially
removed, but the level difference between these other areas and the
bottom surfaces of the concave sections is retained.
[0058] Next, the ion beam etching device 62 is used to remove those
sections of the second mask layer 24 at the bottom surfaces of the
concave sections, as shown in FIG. 7. During this process a small
quantity of the first mask layer 22 is also removed. Furthermore, a
large proportion of those areas of the third mask layer 26 outside
the concave sections is also removed, although a small quantity
still remains.
[0059] Subsequently, the first reactive ion etching device 64 is
used to remove those sections of the first mask layer 22 at the
bottom surfaces of the concave sections, as shown in FIG. 8. At
this time, the remaining quantity of those areas of the third mask
layer 26 outside the concave sections is completely removed.
Furthermore, a large proportion of those areas of the second mask
layer 24 outside the concave sections is also removed, although a
small quantity still remains.
[0060] Next, the second reactive ion etching device 66 is used to
remove those sections of the continuous recording layer 20 at the
bottom surfaces of the concave sections, thus partitioning the
continuous recording layer 20 into a plurality of partitioned
recording elements 31 with grooves 33 formed between the
partitioned recording elements 31, as shown in FIG. 9 (S1).
[0061] During this process a small quantity of the orientation
layer 18 is also removed. Furthermore, the remaining quantity of
those areas of the second mask layer 24 outside the concave
sections is completely removed, and a large proportion of those
areas of the first mask layer 22 outside the concave sections is
also removed, although a small quantity still remains on the upper
surface of the partitioned recording elements 31.
[0062] This residual first mask layer 22 is completely removed with
the third reactive ion etching device 67, as shown in FIG. 10.
[0063] At this point, the dry process cleaning device 44 is used to
remove foreign matter from the surface of the partitioned recording
elements 31 (S2).
[0064] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 11, a CVD device is used to
form a barrier film 38 of DLC, with a thickness of 10 to 200 .ANG.,
on top of the partitioned recording elements 31 (S3), and the
non-magnetic body filling device 48 is then used to fill the
grooves 33 between the partitioned recording elements 31 with a
non-magnetic body 32, using a bias sputtering method (S4). The
non-magnetic body 32 is formed so as to completely cover the
barrier film 38. Because the partitioned recording elements 31 are
covered and protected by the barrier film 38, they undergo no
deterioration during the bias sputtering of the non-magnetic body
32.
[0065] Next, the smoothing device 50 is used to remove a portion of
the non-magnetic body 32 by ion beam etching, until the upper
surfaces of the partitioned recording elements 31 are exposed, as
shown in FIG. 12, thereby smoothing the surface of the partitioned
recording elements 31 and the non-magnetic body 32 (S5). During
this process, in order to ensure high precision smoothing, the
incidence angle of the Ar ions is preferably set within a range
from -10 to 15.degree. relative to the surface. However if the
surface of the partitioned recording elements 31 and the
non-magnetic body 32 has been produced with a good level of
smoothness during the non-magnetic body filling step, then the
incidence angle of the Ar ions may be set within a range from 60 to
90.degree.. This type of increased incidence angle increases the
processing speed, and enables an improvement in productivity. The
barrier film 38 on the upper surface of the partitioned recording
elements 31 may be either completely removed, or a portion may be
left intact, although the non-magnetic body 32 above the
partitioned recording elements 31 is completely removed.
[0066] The protective layer formation device 52 then uses a CVD
method to form a protective layer 34 of DLC, with a thickness of 10
to 50 .ANG., on the upper surface of the partitioned recording
elements 31 and the non-magnetic body 32 (S6), and the structure is
then transported out of the vacuum chamber 68.
[0067] Subsequently, the lubricating layer formation device 54 is
used to apply a lubricating layer 36 of PFPE, with a thickness of
10 to 20 .ANG., to the top of the protective layer 34, using a
dipping method. This completes the formation of the magnetic
recording medium 30 shown in FIG. 3.
[0068] Because the formation and processing of the partitioned
recording elements 31 is conducted with the environment surrounding
the intermediate product 10 in a state of vacuum, deterioration of
the partitioned recording elements 31 through oxidation or
corrosion can be prevented during processing.
[0069] In addition, the intermediate product 10 is transported into
the vacuum chamber 68 with the continuous recording layer 20
covered by the various mask layers, and once inside the vacuum
chamber 68 the partitioned recording elements 31 are formed,
filling of the non-magnetic body 32 is performed, and the
protective layer 34 is formed on top of the partitioned recording
elements 31 and the non-magnetic body 32 before the magnetic
recording medium 30 is transported out of the vacuum chamber 68,
and consequently the partitioned recording elements 31 (and the
continuous recording layer 20) are isolated from atmospheric oxygen
and the like at all times, meaning deterioration of the partitioned
recording elements 31 can be even more reliably prevented.
[0070] Furthermore, because each of the steps utilizes a dry
process, problems that arise when wet processes are used, such as
deterioration of the partitioned recording elements 31 caused by
the process liquids, or contamination of the surface of the
partitioned recording elements 31 caused by foreign matter within
the process liquids or cleaning liquids, can be avoided.
[0071] In other words, the magnetic recording medium production
apparatus 40 displays superior reliability, and is able to reliably
prevent deterioration during formation of the partitioned recording
elements 31.
[0072] Furthermore, because each of the steps utilizes a dry
process, transportation of the work in progress is easier than
processes which combine wet and dry processes, meaning the magnetic
recording medium production apparatus 40 displays good levels of
production efficiency.
[0073] In the present embodiment, the steps from the etching of the
third mask layer 26 through to the formation of the protective
layer 34 are all performed inside the vacuum chamber 68, but the
present invention is not restricted to this arrangement, and
provided the partitioned recording elements 31 and the continuous
recording layer 20 are isolated from the atmosphere to prevent
deterioration of the partitioned recording elements 31, the steps
for processing each of the masks, prior to the processing of the
continuous recording layer 20, may also be performed outside of the
vacuum chamber 68. However, during processing of the first mask
layer 22, sections of the continuous recording layer 20 are exposed
(see FIG. 9), and consequently the processing of the first mask
layer 22 is preferably conducted inside the vacuum chamber 68.
[0074] Furthermore, in the present embodiment three mask layers of
different materials are formed on the continuous recording layer
20, and a four-stage dry etching process is then used to form the
grooves 33 in the intermediate product 10 and partition the
continuous recording layer 20, but there are no particular
restrictions on the type of dry etching used, the materials used
for the mask layers, the number of mask layers, or the thickness of
the mask layers, provided the continuous recording layer 20 is able
to be partitioned with a high level of precision.
[0075] Furthermore, in the present embodiment a dry process
cleaning operation using a plasma is used for removing foreign
matter from the surface of the partitioned recording elements 31,
but the present invention is not restricted to this method, and the
foreign matter on the surface of the partitioned recording elements
31 could also be removed by a dry process cleaning operation using
a gas.
[0076] In addition, in the present embodiment the non-magnetic body
filling device 48 uses a bias sputtering method, but the present
invention is not restricted to this method, and the filling of the
non-magnetic body could also be performed using a plasma CVD method
with bias power to said magnetic recording medium intermediate
product 10.
[0077] Furthermore, in the present embodiment the magnetic
recording medium 30 is a perpendicular recording, discrete type
magnetic disk in which the partitioned recording elements 31 are
arranged with spacings in the track radial direction positioned
therebetween, but the present invention is not restricted to this
case, and can of course also be applied to the production of
magnetic disks in which the partitioned recording elements are
arranged with spacings in the track circumferential direction (the
sector direction) positioned therebetween, magnetic disks in which
the partitioned recording elements are arranged with spacings in
both the track radial direction and the track circumferential
direction positioned therebetween, and magnetic disks in which the
partitioned recording elements form a helical shape. Furthermore,
the present invention can also be applied to the production of
magneto-optical disks such as MO disks, and other non-disk type
discrete type magnetic recording media such as magnetic tapes and
the like.
[0078] Furthermore, in the present embodiment the magnetic
recording medium production apparatus 40 is equipped with a
separate processing device for each of the steps, but the present
invention is not restricted to such a configuration, and a
plurality of steps could also be conducted with a single device.
For example, the step for processing the first mask layer 22, and
the step for removing the residual first mask layer 22 from the
surface of the partitioned recording elements 31 could be conducted
using the same reactive ion etching device, using either CF.sub.4
or SF.sub.6 as the reactive gas. In addition, the step for
processing the second mask layer 24, and the step for smoothing the
partitioned recording elements 31 and the non-magnetic body 32
could be conducted using the same Ar gas ion beam etching device.
These rationalizations enable reductions in both the size and the
cost of the production apparatus.
EXAMPLE
[0079] Using the embodiment described above, the processing devices
provided inside the vacuum chamber were used to prepare a magnetic
recording disk with the continuous recording layer and the
partitioned recording elements isolated from the atmosphere. FIG.
13 is a photograph from an atomic force microscope showing an
enlargement of the surface of the partitioned recording elements
and the non-magnetic layer following smoothing by ion beam etching.
Measurement of the surface roughness of the partitioned recording
elements and the non-magnetic layer revealed a maximum level
difference of 2.88 nm, and a center line average roughness Ra of
0.723 nm. These results confirm that in this example, the surface
of the partitioned recording elements and the non-magnetic layer
have been satisfactorily smoothed, without the use of a wet process
such as CMP. Furthermore, when a surface defect inspection device
was used to inspect the surface of the medium for foreign matter,
two pieces of foreign matter of size 0.3 to 0.5 .mu.m were
identified. No foreign matter larger than 1.0 .mu.m, nor any
foreign matter of size 0.5 to 1.0 .mu.m was found. In addition, the
surface of the magnetic recording disk was observed through an
optical microscope, both immediately following production, and then
again after standing for approximately 48 hours in a high
temperature, high humidity environment (temperature: 80.degree. C.,
humidity: 80%), and on both occasions no corrosion of the
partitioned recording elements was visible. FIG. 14 is a photograph
from the optical microscope showing an enlargement of the surface
of the magnetic recording disk of the example after standing for
approximately 48 hours in the high temperature, high humidity
environment.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE
[0080] A magnetic recording disk was prepared in a similar manner
to the example above, but with the exception that the processing
devices were not housed inside a vacuum chamber, so that the
continuous recording layer and the partitioned recording elements
were permitted to come in contact with the atmosphere. When a
surface defect inspection device was used to inspect the surface of
the partitioned recording elements and the non-magnetic body for
foreign matter, a total of 193 pieces of foreign matter, including
28 pieces of size 0.3 to 0.5 .mu.m, 38 pieces of size 0.5 to 1.0
.mu.m, and 127 pieces larger than 1.0 .mu.m were identified.
Furthermore, when the surface of the magnetic recording disk was
observed through an optical microscope, both immediately following
production, and then again after standing for approximately 48
hours in a high temperature, high humidity environment, although no
corrosion of the partitioned recording elements was evident
initially, after standing for 48 hours following production, a
plurality of black spots were observed, indicating corrosion of the
partitioned recording elements. FIG. 15 is a photograph from the
optical microscope showing an enlargement of the surface of the
magnetic recording disk of the comparative example after standing
for approximately 48 hours in the high temperature, high humidity
environment.
[0081] In other words, corrosion of the partitioned recording
elements was prevented in the example, and the incorporation of
foreign matter was also markedly reduced when compared with the
comparative example.
[0082] As described above, the present invention enables the
efficient production of a discrete type magnetic recording medium
with reliable prevention of any deterioration of the partitioned
recording elements.
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