Pseudo-hcp nonmagnetic intermediate layer for granular media with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Materials with the hexagonal close-packed structure (hcp) and the face-centred-cubic structure with stacking faults (pseudo-hcp) are examined for the nonmagnetic intermediate layer (NMIL) in order to suppress variant growth of magnetic grains for granular-type perpendicular recording media. Judging from the analysis of the epitaxial growth of Co-based magnetic grains, it has been found that a lattice misfit between NMIL and magnetic grain of less than 6% and a spreading coefficient of wettability of magnetic grain on NMIL of greater than 0.3 J m^-3 are required for the recording layer to have high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy.