Various apparatuses, systems, methods, and media are disclosed to provide a magnetic recording medium with a tungsten (W) pre-seed layer. The W pre-seed layer has a higher conductance than a CrTi pre-seed layer with a similar thickness. In one embodiment, the W pre-seed layer is made of about 95 atomic percent or more of W. The W pre-seed layer has lower electrical resistivity than the CrTi pre-seed layer. As a result, the thickness of the W pre-seed layer can be reduced as compared to the thickness of a CrTi pre-seed layer if a similar conductance is to be achieved. The magnetic recording materials deposited on top of the W pre-seed layer with the reduced thickness provide comparable crystallographic orientation and recording performance to those deposited on top of a thicker CrTi pre-seed layer with a similar conductance.

A magnetic recording medium includes a flexible and elongated substrate, a soft magnetic layer having an average thickness of 10 nm or more to 50 nm or less, and a recording layer. The soft magnetic layer is disposed between the substrate and the recording layer, and a difference in Young's modulus between the magnetic recording medium and the substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate is 2.4 GPa or more.

A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above an underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A protective layer is formed above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to another embodiment includes forming a first nonmagnetic layer above a base film. The first nonmagnetic layer has first nonmagnetic particles. A second nonmagnetic layer is formed above the first nonmagnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic layer having second nonmagnetic particles. A magnetic layer is formed above the second nonmagnetic layer, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material.

A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes an underlayer and a magnetic layer above the underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A protective layer is positioned above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. A magnetic recording medium according to another embodiment includes a base film and a first nonmagnetic layer above the base film. The first nonmagnetic layer has first nonmagnetic particles. A second nonmagnetic layer is positioned above the first nonmagnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic layer having second nonmagnetic particles. A magnetic layer is positioned above the second nonmagnetic layer, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material.

A stack including a crystallographic orientation interlayer, a magnetic zero layer disposed on the interlayer, and a magnetic recording layer disposed on the magnetic zero layer is disclosed. The magnetic zero layer is non-magnetic or has a saturation magnetic flux density (B.sub.s) less than about 100 emu/cc. The magnetic zero layer and the magnetic layer include grains surrounded by a non-magnetic segregant. The magnetic zero layer provides a coherent interface between the interlayer and the magnetic layer with a lattice mismatch less than about 4%.

Disclosed is a thermally assisted magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, a plurality of underlayers formed on the substrate, and a magnetic layer which is formed on the underlayers and predominantly comprised of an alloy having a L1.sub.0 structure, characterized in that at least one of the underlayers is predominantly comprised of MgO and comprises at least one oxide selected from SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, Cr.sub.2O.sub.3, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, ZrO.sub.2, Y.sub.2O.sub.3, CeO.sub.2, MnO, TiO and ZnO. The thermally assisted magnetic recording medium has a magnetic layer comprised of fine magnetic crystal grains, exhibiting a sufficiently weak exchange coupling between magnetic grains, and having a minimized coercive force dispersion.

A method and system provide a magnetic recording media usable in a magnetic storage device. The magnetic recording media includes a substrate, at least one intermediate layer and a magnetic recording stack for storing magnetic data. The intermediate layer(s) include a majority phase having a first diffusion constant and a secondary phase having a second diffusion constant greater than the first diffusion constant. The magnetic recording stack residing on the intermediate layer such that the at least one intermediate layer is between the substrate and the magnetic recording stack.

Magnetic recording media including an interlayer configured to reduce lattice mismatch with adjacent layers of the media, such as an adjacent seed layer or an adjacent underlayer. In one example, an interlayer alloy is provided that includes tungsten (W) along with Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), and Ruthenium (Ru). The atomic percentages of W and Ru within the interlayer are selected so that the amount lattice mismatch between the interlayer and its adjacent layers is below a preselected amount, such as below 3% as quantified by d-spacing. In some examples, the atomic percentage of Ru is greater than 25% and the atomic percentage of W is 2-10%. Methods of fabricating the magnetic recording media are also provided.

A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes an underlayer and a magnetic layer above the underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A solid protective layer is positioned above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. At least some of the particulates of the magnetic layer protrude completely through the protective layer. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above a substrate, the magnetic layer including a first magnetic material and particulates, and forming a solid protective layer above the magnetic layer to a thickness whereby some of the particulates protrude through the protective layer and are exposed along an upper surface of the protective layer.

Various apparatuses, systems, methods, and media are disclosed to provide a magnetic recording medium with a tungsten (W) pre-seed layer. The W pre-seed layer has a higher conductance than a CrTi pre-seed layer with a similar thickness. In one embodiment, the W pre-seed layer is made of about 95 atomic percent or more of W. The W pre-seed layer has lower electrical resistivity than the CrTi pre-seed layer. As a result, the thickness of the W pre-seed layer can be reduced as compared to the thickness of a CrTi pre-seed layer if a similar conductance is to be achieved. The magnetic recording materials deposited on top of the W pre-seed layer with the reduced thickness provide comparable crystallographic orientation and recording performance to those deposited on top of a thicker CrTi pre-seed layer with a similar conductance.