JP2006085890A - Magnetic recording medium and production method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic recording medium having superior startup operability and durability as well as satisfactory surface lubricity. <P>SOLUTION: A production method of the magnetic recording medium in which at least a magnetic layer, a protective film layer and a lubricant layer are sequentially laminated on a non-magnetic substrate is characterized in that the protective film layer is surface treated using a gas activated by plasma generated at a pressure in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure. The magnetic recording medium produced according to the aforementioned production method is provided. The production process of the magnetic recording medium characterized in that the plasma is glow discharge plasma is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium used in a magnetic recording apparatus such as a magnetic disk apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same.

  A hard disk device, which is a magnetic recording device used as a storage device of an information processing device, includes a magnetic head for reproduction recording and a magnetic disk that is a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer. In a magnetic disk, the magnetic layer is formed by depositing a ferromagnetic metal or an alloy thereof on a nonmagnetic substrate by sputtering, vapor deposition, electroless plating, or the like. A hard disk device usually adopts a so-called CSS (Contact Start Stop) method as a recording and reproducing method of information. In a hard disk device adopting the CSS system, the magnetic head is in contact with a magnetic disk (hereinafter also referred to as a disk) at the time of startup, and when the disk starts rotating, the magnetic head slides on the disk. When the rotational speed of the disk increases, the magnetic head rises from the disk, and recording / reproduction is performed in this state. When the rotation speed of the magnetic disk decreases during the stop, the magnetic head slides on the disk again.

In magnetic disks, in order to prevent deterioration of the durability of the magnetic disk due to wear damage due to contact sliding with the magnetic head, a protective film layer and a lubricant layer are provided on the magnetic layer to prevent wear of the magnetic disk. In order to improve the performance, static friction and dynamic friction are reduced when the magnetic head and the magnetic disk slide in contact with each other. Conventionally, carbonaceous films, oxide films such as SiO ₂ and ZrO ₂ , nitride films, boride films, and the like are generally used as the protective film layer. The lubricant layer is generally formed by applying a lubricant such as a liquid perfluoropolyether compound to the disk surface.

In a magnetic disk, in general, the amount and nature of free mobile molecules in the lubricant layer and the binding molecules in the lubricant layer to the surface of the protective film layer have an important influence on the wear resistance. For example, if there are too many mobile molecules in the lubricant layer, the coefficient of static friction of the disk will increase, and an adsorption phenomenon (so-called stiction) will easily occur between the magnetic head and the disk. The coefficient of dynamic friction increases, the lubricity decreases, and head crashes are likely to occur.
In order to reduce stiction, the head is given a certain roughness called a texture on the disk surface or a low-height projection formed by irradiating a laser beam called a laser texture. And reducing the contact area of the disk. However, in order to achieve a higher recording density in recent years, the flying height of the magnetic head on the disk has become very low at 25 nm or less. Therefore, in order to avoid contact between the disk and the head during drive activation, it is necessary to make the disk surface as smooth as possible and to reduce the height of the protrusion formed by the laser texture. However, when this is done, stiction is worsened. The protrusions formed by the laser texture alone are not sufficient for reducing the stiction. As described above, free mobile molecules in the lubricant layer and binding molecules in the lubricant layer to the surface of the protective film layer It is necessary to control the amount and nature of the material.

  As for the lubricant layer, it is required to increase the bonding strength with the protective film layer as the recording density is improved. This is due to the following reason. In hard disk devices, magnetic heads have been made smaller and lighter by adopting MR elements, GMR elements, etc. to improve recording density, and the static friction coefficient has been reduced to reduce the initial driving force that also causes a load on the magnetic head. There has been a demand for lowering and improving the operability at startup. In order to reduce the static friction coefficient, it is effective to reduce the number of free mobile molecules in the lubricant layer by increasing the bonding force between the lubricant and the protective film layer.

  In addition to the CSS method, a ramp load method has been put into practical use in recent years. The ramp loading method is a method having a mechanism in which a head retreat location is prepared in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the disk, and the head is stored in this retreat location when the rotation of the disk is stopped. In this system, the head is not in contact with the disk when the disk is stationary, and it has been said that there is no concern about stiction as in the CSS system. However, even in the ramp load system, it has been found that it is necessary to reduce the adsorptivity of the head to the disk in order to reduce the change in the behavior of the head when the head and the disk are inadvertently contacted. Therefore, it is important to reduce the static friction coefficient even in the ramp load method.

  In order to improve the recording density, the rotational speed of the disc is increased at the time of recording and reproduction. When the rotational speed is increased, a so-called spin-off phenomenon occurs in which the lubricant is scattered by centrifugal force, which may cause a problem that the thickness of the lubricant layer is reduced. In order to prevent the spin-off phenomenon and increase the durability, it is desired to increase the bonding force with the protective film layer. In addition, there exists Bonded ratio as a parameter | index showing the coupling | bonding force of a lubricant and a protective film layer. This is a numerical value indicating the ratio (%) of the lubricant remaining when the magnetic disk on which the lubricant layer is formed is washed with a fluorine-based solvent (for example, AK225 manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.). This is a measure of the bonding strength to the protective film layer.

For this reason, it is attempted to perform various treatments on the lubricant layer for the purpose of increasing the bonding strength of the lubricant layer to the protective film layer. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-25452 discloses a method in which the applied lubricant is subjected to a heat treatment and further subjected to an ultraviolet irradiation treatment. JP-A-8-124142 discloses a method of irradiating the lubricant layer with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 150 to 180 nm after forming the lubricant layer. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-85461 discloses a method in which a lubricant is applied on a hydrogenated carbon protective film and then irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-217162 discloses a method in which a lubricant is applied on a carbon protective film and then heat-treated. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-150526 discloses a method by plasma treatment of a protective film.
JP-A-11-25254 JP-A-8-124142 JP-A-7-85461 JP-A-5-217162 JP-A-62-150526

  However, in the conventional method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium in which a lubricant layer and a protective film are formed by these processing methods, magnetic recording in which the binding force of the lubricant layer to the protective film layer is increased without increasing the dynamic friction coefficient. It was difficult to manufacture the medium. For this reason, there has been a demand for a magnetic recording medium that is excellent in terms of start-up operability and durability and that exhibits sufficient surface lubricity.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a magnetic recording medium excellent in start-up operability and durability and having good surface lubricity.

    As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have surface-treated the protective film layer using a processing gas activated by glow discharge plasma generated under a pressure near atmospheric pressure. Therefore, not only can the binding force of the lubricant to the protective film layer be increased, the static friction coefficient can be lowered to improve the startup operability, and high durability can be obtained, but also excellent surface lubricity can be obtained. As a result, the present invention has been completed.

That is, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration.
(1) In a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium in which at least a magnetic layer, a protective film layer, and a lubricant layer are sequentially laminated on a nonmagnetic substrate, a gas activated by plasma generated under a pressure near atmospheric pressure is used. A method for producing a magnetic recording medium, comprising subjecting a protective film layer to a surface treatment.
(2) The method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to (1), wherein the plasma is glow discharge plasma.
(3) After forming the protective film layer, the surface of the protective film layer is subjected to a surface treatment using the activated gas, and then a lubricant layer is formed. (1) or (2) A method for producing the magnetic recording medium according to 1.
(4) The method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the gas includes at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. .

(5) The plasma according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the plasma generated under a pressure in the vicinity of the atmospheric pressure is generated by applying an electric field between opposing electrodes. Manufacturing method of magnetic recording medium.
(6) The preceding item (5), wherein the opposing electrodes are disposed at an angle of 1 to 45 degrees with respect to a substrate to be processed on which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate. The method for producing a magnetic recording medium according to (1).
(7) The magnetic recording medium as described in (5) above, wherein the opposing electrodes are arranged perpendicular to a substrate to be processed in which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate. Manufacturing method.
(8) The surface treatment of the protective film layer is performed by disposing a substrate to be processed in which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate between the opposing electrodes. The method for producing a magnetic recording medium according to (1).
(9) The above items (1) to (1), wherein a surface treatment using the activated gas is simultaneously performed on both surfaces of a substrate to be processed on which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate. (8) The method for producing a magnetic recording medium according to any one of (8).

(10) The method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the nonmagnetic substrate is any one selected from a glass substrate and a silicon substrate.
(11) The non-magnetic substrate described above, wherein a film made of NiP or NiP alloy is formed on the surface of a substrate made of any one selected from Al, Al alloy, glass and silicon. 1) A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to any one of (9).

(12) A magnetic recording medium manufactured by the method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to any one of (1) to (11).
(13) A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head for recording / reproducing information on / from the magnetic recording medium, wherein the magnetic recording medium is the magnetic recording medium described in (12) above. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by the above.
(14) By applying an electric field between opposing electrodes under a pressure near atmospheric pressure, plasma is generated to form an activated gas, and the activated gas is at least a magnetic layer on the nonmagnetic substrate, A surface treatment apparatus having a function of irradiating the surface of a substrate to be treated on which a protective film layer is formed.

  The present invention is similar to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-150526 in that plasma is used to improve the surface characteristics of the protective film. However, the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-150526 performs plasma processing in a vacuum, whereas the present invention is greatly different in that plasma processing is performed under a pressure near atmospheric pressure. is there. When the plasma treatment is performed in a vacuum, the activated processing gas hits the surface of the protective film with almost no loss of activity, and the protective film itself is partially etched. On the other hand, if a processing gas that has been plasma-treated under a pressure near atmospheric pressure is used, the molecular density is extremely high, so collisions between molecules frequently occur and the activity decreases, making it suitable for surface treatment of protective films. It becomes. In addition, vacuum devices used for plasma processing in a vacuum are large and expensive devices such as a vacuum chamber, an exhaust pump, and a transfer system from atmospheric pressure to vacuum. On the other hand, when plasma processing is performed under a pressure in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure, vacuum equipment is unnecessary, and simplification and cost reduction of the apparatus can be achieved.

According to the method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a magnetic recording medium excellent in start-up operability and durability and having good surface lubricity.
The magnetic recording medium of the present invention has excellent start-up operability and durability, and good surface lubricity.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the magnetic recording medium of the present invention.
The magnetic recording medium of the present embodiment is configured such that an underlayer 2, an intermediate layer 3, a magnetic layer 4, and a protective film layer 5 are sequentially laminated on a nonmagnetic substrate 1, and a lubricant layer 6 is provided as the uppermost layer. The
Nonmagnetic substrate 1 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, an inorganic material such as glass, ceramic, titanium, carbon, or silicon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyethylene naphthalate, or polyvinyl chloride. In addition, a polymer compound such as a cyclic hydrocarbon group-containing polyolefin can be used. Further, one or more kinds of films selected from NiP, NiP alloys, and other alloys can be deposited on the surfaces of these substrates by plating, sputtering, or the like.

The material of the underlayer 2 is made of Cr alloy composed of one or more selected from Ti, Mo, Al, Ta, W, Ni, B, Si, Mn and V and Cr, or Cr. Can do.
When the underlayer 2 is a nonmagnetic underlayer having a multilayer structure, at least one of the constituent layers constituting the nonmagnetic underlayer can be made of the Cr alloy or Cr.
The nonmagnetic underlayer is made of NiAl alloy, RuAl alloy, or Cr alloy (one or more selected from Ti, Mo, Al, Ta, W, Ni, B, Si, and V and Cr). Alloy).
When the nonmagnetic underlayer has a multilayer structure, at least one of the constituent layers constituting the nonmagnetic underlayer can be made of a NiAl alloy, a RuAl alloy, or the Cr alloy.

As the material of the intermediate layer 3, for the purpose of promoting the epitaxial growth of the Co alloy, it is preferable to use a Co alloy containing Co as a main material and a non-magnetic material having an hcp structure. For example, it is preferable to include any one selected from Co—Cr, Co—Cr—Ru, Co—Cr—Ta, and Co—Cr—Zr alloys.
The material of the magnetic layer 4 is preferably a Co alloy containing Co as a main material and having a hcp structure. For example, any of Co—Cr—Ta, Co—Cr—Pt, Co—Cr—Pt—Ta, Co—Cr—Pt—B, and Co—Cr—Pt—B—Cu alloys It is preferable to include one kind.

  As the protective film layer 5, a carbon-based material such as CVD carbon, amorphous carbon, hydrogen-containing carbon, nitrogen-containing carbon, or fluorine-containing carbon formed by a plasma CVD method, or a ceramic-based material such as silica or zirconia is used. Can do. Among these, hard and dense CVD carbon is preferably used not only from the viewpoint of durability but also from the viewpoint of economy and productivity. When the thickness of the protective film layer 5 is thin, the durability is lowered, and when it is thick, the loss during recording / reproduction increases. Therefore, the thickness is set to 10 to 150 mm (1 to 15 nm), preferably 20 to 60 mm (2 to 6 nm). Is done. The protective film layer 5 is subjected to a surface treatment using a gas activated by plasma (processing gas) described later.

  The uppermost lubricant layer 6 includes a polymer of a polymerizable unsaturated group-containing perfluoropolyether compound. Examples of the polymerizable unsaturated group-containing perfluoropolyether compound include compounds in which an organic group having a polymerizable unsaturated bond is bonded to at least one end of the main chain perfluoropolyether.

  The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment includes the magnetic recording medium of the above-described embodiment having the protective film layer 5 that has been surface-treated with the processing gas, and the magnetic head that records and reproduces information on the magnetic recording medium. It is a thing.

An example of the manufacturing method of the magnetic recording medium of this embodiment will be described.
First, after forming the underlayer 2, the intermediate layer 3, the magnetic layer 4, and the protective film layer on the nonmagnetic substrate 1, a gas activated by plasma generated under a pressure near atmospheric pressure is used for the protective film layer. The surface treatment is performed to form the protective film layer 5, and then the lubricant layer 6 is formed on the protective film layer 5. The plasma is preferably glow discharge plasma.
As the surface treatment apparatus used for the surface treatment here, a plasma generation unit capable of stably generating plasma under a pressure near the atmospheric pressure can be used.
For example, an atmospheric pressure plasma surface modification unit (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical) or an atmospheric pressure plasma cleaning head (manufactured by Matsushita Electric Works) can be used.
Under the pressure near atmospheric pressure refers to a pressure of 1.3 × 10 ^{4 to} 13 × 10 ⁴ Pa. In particular, a pressure of 9.9 × 10 ^{4 to} 10.3 × 10 ⁴ Pa in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure is preferable because pressure adjustment is easy and the apparatus configuration is simplified.

The plasma generation unit of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
2 mainly applies a pair of opposed electrode plates (opposing electrodes) 21a and 21b, a gas inlet 22 for supplying gas between the electrode plates 21a and 21b, and an electric field between the opposed electrodes. And a substrate holder 26 for holding the substrate 25 to be processed.
The substrate 25 to be processed is formed by forming at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer before surface treatment on a nonmagnetic substrate. In the present embodiment, the underlayer 2, the intermediate layer 3, The magnetic layer 4 and the protective film layer before the surface treatment are formed.
This plasma generation unit generates an activated gas by generating an electric field by applying an electric field between a pair of electrode plates 21a and 21b under a pressure near atmospheric pressure, and the activated gas is converted into a substrate to be processed. 25 has a function of irradiating the surface.

As the material of each electrode plate, iron, copper, aluminum, or an alloy thereof is used. The distance between the counter electrodes is preferably 0.1 to 50 mm, but more preferably 0.1 to 5 mm in consideration of the stability of plasma discharge.
As the electric field applied between the electrode plates 21a and 21b, a pulse wave, a high frequency, a microwave, or the like is used, but it is more preferable to use a pulse wave that can adjust the application time of the electric field. The frequency of the pulse wave is preferably 1 to 500 kHz, more preferably 1 to 50 kHz in view of the stability of plasma discharge. The application time of the electric field, that is, the duration of the pulse wave is preferably 0.5 to 200 μsec. If it is less than 0.5 μsec, plasma discharge does not occur, and if it exceeds 200 μsec, arcing tends to occur, which is not preferable.
As a gas supplied between the electrode plates 21a and 21b, it is preferable to use nitrogen, oxygen, argon, or a mixed gas thereof. Since the gas consumption is large because it is used under a pressure near the atmospheric pressure, it is more preferable to use inexpensive nitrogen, oxygen, or a mixed gas of nitrogen and oxygen.

  In FIG. 2, the pair of electrode plates 21a and 21b are arranged perpendicular to the protective film layer (substrate to be processed 25) before the surface treatment. Although plasma is generated between the electrodes, since it has a spread, a plasma state is also generated in a portion protruding from between the electrodes. The distance L between one end of the opposing electrode plate and the protective film layer (substrate to be processed 25) is preferably 0.1 to 5 mm. If the thickness is less than 0.1 mm, the substrate 25 to be processed may collide with the electrode plate, which is not preferable. If it exceeds 5 mm, the plasma spreads too much and the effect is greatly reduced, so the surface treatment effect cannot be obtained. Under the pressure near atmospheric pressure, the gas supplied between the pair of electrode plates 21a and 21b is activated by the plasma generated between the electrodes to become a processing gas, and this processing gas has a very high molecular density. , Collisions between molecules frequently occur and the activity decreases, which is suitable for the surface treatment of the protective film.

  Since the magnetic recording medium (magnetic disk) uses both surfaces, it is preferable to use a transport method that does not contact both surfaces of the substrate. Accordingly, it is preferable that the substrate to be processed 25 be transported with the inner end or the outer end. The conveying speed is preferably 10 to 2000 mm / min. Considering the effects of high throughput and surface treatment, it is more preferably 100 to 1000 mm / min. As the transfer method, either the substrate to be processed 25 moves or the plasma generation unit moves. As a transfer method for moving the substrate 25 to be processed, for example, by using a substrate holder 26 having a function capable of moving up and down, the substrate 25 is moved by moving the substrate 25 with the processing gas. You may make it process sequentially.

Since the magnetic recording medium uses both surfaces, as shown in FIG. 3, plasma generating units similar to those described above are arranged on both sides of the substrate to be processed 25 and activated by plasma generated under a pressure near atmospheric pressure. It is preferable to perform a surface treatment using a gas on both surfaces of the substrate 25 to be processed.
When transporting with the inner end or the outer end of the substrate to be processed 25, the inner end or the outer end of the substrate to be processed 25 is hidden by the shadow of the holder 26, and the surface treatment effect may be reduced in the hidden place. is there. In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of electrode plates 21a and 21b facing each other are arranged at an angle of 1 to 45 degrees with respect to the protective film layer (substrate to be processed 25) before the surface treatment. It is preferable. FIG. 4 shows an example of the apparatus in the case of carrying with the outer end of the substrate 25 to be processed.

When a pair of opposing electrode plates 21a and 21b are disposed at an angle of 1 to 45 degrees with respect to the substrate 25 to be processed and the surface treatment is performed, the plasma is irradiated obliquely to the protective film. The process gas activated by the plasma also hits the shaded portion of the holder 26. Even in this case, it is preferable to arrange the plasma generation units on both sides of the substrate to be processed 25 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to surface-treat the protective film layer of the substrate to be processed 25 by passing the substrate to be processed 25 between a pair of opposed electrode plates 21a and 21b. In this case, since the plasma density is high, a stronger surface treatment can be performed.

An aluminum alloy substrate having a NiP plating film (diameter: 95 mm, inner diameter: 25 mm, plate thickness: 1.27 mm) was thoroughly washed and dried, then irradiated with a laser from a radius of 17 mm to 19 mm (CSS zone), and a height of 10 nm. A protrusion was formed. Thereafter, it was set in a DC magnetron sputtering apparatus (C3010 manufactured by Anerva Corporation (Japan)). After exhausting the vacuum to 2 × 10 ⁻⁷ Torr (2.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ Pa), the substrate was heated to 250 ° C. After heating, a nonmagnetic underlayer was laminated using a Cr target to a thickness of 5 nm. Further, a nonmagnetic underlayer was laminated from a Cr—Mo alloy (Cr: 80 at%, Mo: 20 at%) to a thickness of 5 nm using a target. Next, as a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, a target made of a Co—Cr alloy (Co: 65 at%, Cr: 35 at%) was used so as to have a thickness of 2 nm. Next, a CoCrPtB alloy layer as a magnetic layer is formed using a target made of a Co—Cr—Pt—B alloy (Co: 60 at%, Cr: 22 at%, Pt: 12 at%, B: 6 at%) as a magnetic layer. A protective film made of CVD carbon was laminated to a thickness of 5 nm by using a plasma CVD apparatus to form a substrate to be processed. The Ar pressure during film formation was 3 mTorr (0.4 Pa).
As the plasma generation unit, the protective film layer of the substrate to be processed was surface-treated in the form shown in FIG. As shown in Table 1, the transfer time, the N ₂ flow rate, the O ₂ flow rate, and the distance from one end of the counter electrode (the end closer to the substrate to be processed) to the protective film of the substrate to be processed were changed.

The contact angle of this sample was measured with a water contact meter. The results are shown in Table 1.
After the surface treatment, a lubricant composed of perfluoropolyether is adjusted to 0.05% by weight on the protective film layer and applied by a dipping method at a lifting speed of 3 mm / sec to obtain a magnetic disk (sample). It was. In addition, the fluorine solvent AK225 (made by Asahi Glass) was used for the solvent at this time. For comparison, a sample was prepared in the same manner as in the above method except that the surface treatment was not performed on the protective film layer, and Comparative Example 1 was obtained.
The lubricant film thickness of the various samples prepared was measured using FTIR. The results are shown in Table 1. Moreover, Bonded ratio was measured as follows as a standard of the bonding strength of the lubricant layer to the protective film layer. The magnetic disk was immersed in a fluorine-based solvent AK225 (Asahi Glass) for 15 minutes to clean the surface, and the thickness of the lubricant layer before and after cleaning was measured using FTIR at a radius of 20 mm. The lubricant layer thickness after cleaning with respect to the lubricant layer thickness was defined as Bonded ratio (%). The results are shown in Table 1.

The dynamic coefficient of friction was measured. A CSS (Contact Start Stop) durability test was performed under the conditions of a temperature of 25 ° C. and a humidity of 60% RH. In this test, a CSS tester was used, and a standard MR head (DLC coating, 30% slider, load 2.5 g) was used as the magnetic head, and 10,000 CSS operations (rotation at a maximum speed of 10,000 rpm (1 second) Maintenance) and stationary (1 second) repeated at 5 second intervals). The CSS operation was performed in the CSS zone. Table 1 shows the dynamic friction coefficient of the magnetic disk surface after 10,000 CSS operations.
The static friction coefficient was measured. A CSS (Contact Start Stop) durability test was performed under conditions of a temperature of 40 ° C. and a humidity of 80% RH. In this test, a CSS tester was used, and a standard MR head (DLC coating, 30% slider, load 2.5 g) was used as the magnetic head, and 10,000 CSS operations (rotation at a maximum speed of 10,000 rpm (1 second) Maintenance) and stationary (1 second) repeated at 5 second intervals). The CSS operation was performed in the CSS zone. Table 1 shows the dynamic friction coefficient of the magnetic disk surface after 10,000 CSS operations.
The film thickness reduction rate was measured (spin-off test). In an environment of 80 ° C., rotation was performed at a rotation speed of 10,000 rpm for 72 hours. Before and after this operation, the thickness of the lubricant layer at a position having a radius of 20 mm was measured, and the thickness reduction rate of the lubricant layer before and after the test was measured by FTIR. The results are shown in Table 1.
In Table 1, the numerical unit in the column of the lubricant film thickness is angstrom, but if (the numerical value in the column of the lubricant film thickness) × 0.1, the value when the unit is nm is obtained.

  As can be seen from the results shown in Table 1, the contact angle is greatly improved from 45.3 degrees (Comparative Example 1) to about 3 degrees (Example) by performing the plasma treatment. As the contact angle is improved, the bonded ratio is also greatly improved from 40% (Comparative Example 1) to about 70% (Example). This means that the mobilizable molecules of the lubricant are reduced, and as a result, the static friction coefficient and the amount of film thickness reduction by the spin-off test are also from 1.21 (Comparative Example 1) to 0.4-0. This is a significant improvement from 5,15% to 3-5%. In the example, it can be seen that the contact angle increases as the distance from the end of the counter electrode to the protective film increases. In the example, when the distance from one end of the counter electrode to the protective film layer is 10 mm, the effect of the surface treatment is not observed.

  From the above results, it can be understood that the contact angle is greatly improved by surface-treating the protective film layer with plasma under a pressure in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure, and as a result, the adhesion with the lubricant is improved. As a result, not only can the static friction coefficient be sufficiently lowered to improve the operability at the start-up, the spin-off phenomenon can be prevented and the durability can be increased, but also good surface lubrication characteristics can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a magnetic recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a plasma generation unit used for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the plasma generation unit used for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the plasma generation unit used for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the plasma generation unit used for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the plasma generation unit used for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Nonmagnetic board | substrate, 2 ... Underlayer, 3 ... Intermediate | middle layer, 4 ... Magnetic layer, 5 ... Protective film layer, 6 ... Lubricant layer, 21a, 21b ... -Electrode plate, 22 ... Gas inlet, 23 ... Pulse power supply, 24 ... Plasma, 25 ... Substrate to be processed, 26 ... Substrate holder

Claims (14)

  In a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium in which at least a magnetic layer, a protective film layer, and a lubricant layer are sequentially laminated on a nonmagnetic substrate, a protective film layer is formed using a gas activated by plasma generated under a pressure near atmospheric pressure. A method for producing a magnetic recording medium, characterized in that the surface treatment is performed.   The method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the plasma is glow discharge plasma.   3. The magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein after forming the protective film layer, the surface of the protective film layer is surface-treated using the activated gas, and then a lubricant layer is formed. Manufacturing method.   4. The method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the gas includes at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. 5.   5. The magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the plasma generated under pressure near atmospheric pressure is plasma generated by applying an electric field between opposing electrodes. 6. Manufacturing method.   6. The opposed electrode is disposed at an angle of 1 to 45 degrees with respect to a substrate to be processed on which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate. Manufacturing method of magnetic recording medium.   6. The method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the opposing electrodes are arranged perpendicular to a substrate to be processed in which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate. .   6. The surface treatment of the protective film layer is performed by disposing a substrate to be processed in which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate between the opposing electrodes. Manufacturing method of magnetic recording medium.   9. The surface treatment using the activated gas is simultaneously performed on both surfaces of a substrate to be processed in which at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer are formed on the nonmagnetic substrate. 2. A method for producing a magnetic recording medium according to item 1.   10. The method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the nonmagnetic substrate is any one selected from a glass substrate and a silicon substrate.   The nonmagnetic substrate is obtained by forming a film made of NiP or NiP alloy on the surface of a substrate made of any one selected from Al, Al alloy, glass, and silicon. The method for producing a magnetic recording medium according to any one of the above.   A magnetic recording medium manufactured by the method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1.   A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head for recording / reproducing information on the magnetic recording medium, wherein the magnetic recording medium is the magnetic recording medium according to claim 12. Magnetic recording / reproducing device.   By applying an electric field between opposing electrodes under a pressure near atmospheric pressure, plasma is generated to form an activated gas, and the activated gas is formed on at least a magnetic layer and a protective film layer on a nonmagnetic substrate. The surface treatment apparatus which has the function to irradiate the surface of the to-be-processed substrate in which this was formed.

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