Adhesion Layer Oxides for Near Field Transducer Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) devices face material diffusion and deformation issues due to high temperatures, leading to peg recession and transducer failure, as the adhesion between the peg and surrounding materials is inadequate.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating adhesion layers made of oxides such as yttrium, scandium, lanthanoids, actinoids, or zinc on the surfaces of near field transducers (NFTs) to enhance the adhesion between the peg and surrounding structures, thereby reducing deformation and improving the stability of the NFT during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperatures are used in HAMR devices, then recording performance is improved, but material diffusion and deformation occur leading to peg recession and transducer failure
Solution Approach 1:
An adhesion layer comprising oxides of yttrium, scandium, lanthanoids, actinoids, or zinc is positioned between the peg and surrounding materials to serve as a thermal and mechanical buffer. This intermediary layer prevents direct thermal damage and material diffusion while maintaining structural integrity at high operating temperatures, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving high recording performance through elevated temperatures and preventing thermal degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining the peg material with an adhesion layer of specific oxide materials. This composite approach allows the system to benefit from the high-temperature performance needed for HAMR while the oxide layer provides resistance to thermal diffusion and deformation, thus enabling reliable operation at elevated temperatures without peg recession.
2Strength
If adhesion layers are added to the NFT surfaces, then adhesion strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesion layer is applied locally only to specific surfaces of the peg and disc where adhesion is critical, rather than uniformly across the entire transducer. This localized application provides the necessary adhesion strength enhancement while minimizing the overall complexity increase, as the layer is positioned only where it is functionally required to prevent detachment at high temperatures.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having at least one external surface; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least a portion of the at least one external surface, the adhesion layer including oxides of yttrium, oxides of scandium, oxides of lanthanoids, oxides of actionoids, oxides of zinc, or combinations thereof.