Thermal stability of magnetic properties in ternary and quaternary Co-based alloy thin-film media

Co-based alloy thin films for longitudinal recording media are analysed. The magnetic stability of such media is studied with measurements of magnetization decay and of coercivity variation with the applied field sweep rate. The analysed films have different composition (ternary and quaternary Co alloy) and different thickness. Consequently they show different stabilities. Besides, the magnetization switching of the various films is diversified, as indicated by the rotational hysteresis analysis. The impact of such evolution on the thermal stability of the magnetic properties of the thin-film media is underlined.