MTO Underlayer Additive Mitigates Titanium Diffusion in HAMR
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) systems, the diffusion of titanium from the magnesium-titanium oxide (MTO) layer into the magnetic recording layer leads to degradation and reduced areal density, with existing solutions like the MgO-N2 layer causing defects and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additive material such as FeO, Fe, or Al2O3 in the MTO underlayer to chemically bond with titanium, reducing its diffusion into the magnetic recording layer, and optionally using an additional MgO-N2 layer with the additive material to further mitigate titanium diffusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an MTO layer is used beneath the magnetic recording layer in HAMR systems, then the magnetic recording layer can be protected and structured support is provided, but titanium diffuses into the magnetic recording layer causing degradation and reduced areal density
Solution Approach 1:
An MgO layer is introduced as an intermediary barrier between the MTO underlayer and the magnetic recording layer. This MgO layer prevents titanium atoms from diffusing into the magnetic recording layer while maintaining the structural support function of the MTO layer, thus resolving the contradiction between structural protection and preventing harmful diffusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining MTO and MgO layers. The MTO layer provides structural support and protection, while the MgO layer within the composite prevents titanium diffusion. This composite material approach allows both functions to coexist without interference.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If an MgO-N2 layer is used to prevent titanium diffusion, then titanium diffusion is reduced, but defects and corrosion occur in the magnetic recording layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the composition parameters of the underlayer by controlling the ratio of MgO to TiO2 and adding specific elements. By adjusting these compositional parameters, the layer achieves effective titanium diffusion prevention without causing defects or corrosion, unlike the standard MgO-N2 layer.
3Quantity of substance
If the areal density is increased by using smaller magnetic grain sizes in HAMR, then higher data storage capacity is achieved, but the magnetic recording layer becomes more susceptible to titanium diffusion damage
Solution Approach 1:
The MgO layer serves as a protective intermediary that shields the magnetic recording layer from titanium diffusion. This protection is particularly important for high-density storage with smaller grains, as it prevents the degradation that would otherwise occur more readily in high-density configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The additive material effectively reduces titanium diffusion to no more than two nanometers, improving the magnetic recording layer's integrity and achieving higher areal densities without increasing defects or corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
an additive material configured to chemically bond with titanium
Implementation Method 2
an MgO-N2 layer between the MTO underlayer and the magnetic recording layer
Data Source
AI summary
Various apparatuses, systems, methods, and media are disclosed to provide a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium that has a magnetic recording layer on a magnesium oxide-titanium oxide (MTO) underlayer, where the MTO underlayer includes an additive material that chemically bonds with titanium. In some examples, the additive material includes iron-oxide, iron, carbon, or various aluminum oxides. By providing the additive material to the MTO that chemically bonds with the titanium of the MTO, diffusion of titanium from the MTO underlayer into the magnetic recording layer is mitigated to provide an improved recording layer that achieves improved areal densities. In some embodiments, an additional magnesium oxide-nitrogen underlayer is also provided, which may include more of the additive material.