Thin film disks with transient metal underlayers

A novel technique for fabricating thin-film disk media with controlled surface roughness and bulk magnetic properties is described. This technique uses a low-melting point metal as an underlayer which is deposited onto a nonwetting substrate to form isolated spherical features. The magnetic layer deposited onto this underlayer is associated with a fine and controllable surface roughness which is desirable for tribological performance. The magnetic and mechanical performances of thin-film disks fabricated with this technique are presented