Magnetic Recording Medium

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium which has excellent high frequency characteristics.

A magnetic recording medium having superior high frequency characteristics has been required for an audio cassette tape. It has been required to use a magnetic powder having high coercive force for this purpose. The maximum coercive force obtained by using the conventional ferromagnetic iron oxide is about 400 Oe. A magnetic tape prepared by using chromium dioxide or a cobalt doped magnetic powder having high coercive force has superior characteristics in high frequency band. Therefore, a refreshable equalizer can be used at 70 .mu.sec. Moreover, the magnetic tape having a broad dynamic range and is advantageous in view of S/N. The casette tape prepared by using chromium dioxide or a cobalt doped magnetic powder has a narrow dynamic range in comparison with an open type magnetic tape. Therefore tone quality in a recording and reproducing has not been satisfactory. The conventional two layer coated tape has excellent characteristics in low frequency band resulted by using a magnetic powder having a low coercive force in the first layer and also has excellent characteristics in high frequency band resulted by using a magnetic powder having high coercive force in the second layer. Therefore, the dynamic range is broad. However, a distortion is caused in a middle frequency band, because a difference between the coercive force in the first layer and the coercive force in the second layer is too large. That is, a middle slump phenomenon is disadvantageously caused. The main components of music are usually in this middle frequency band and a reproduction of an original musical sound is not faithfully given, but a distorted sound is resulted.

When the second layer is coated on the first layer, the thickness of the second layer is usually thinner, the unevenness of the first layer affects to the unevenness of the second layer whereby a fluctuation of an output is disadvantageously increased. In order to obtain minimum characteristics, it is necessary to use a special bias-equalizer. In some decks, such bias-equalizer is equipped, but an optimum bias-equalizer is equipped in only quite small number of the decks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording medium which has a high recording sensitivity, a high dynamic range, a less output fluctuation and especially has superior sensitivity in low frequency band superior maximum output level (MOL) without any deterioration of transfer characteristics.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention have been attained by providing a magnetic recording medium which comprises a first magnetic layer containing magnetite or a cobalt doped magnetite formed on a non-magnetic substrate and a second magnetic layer containing a cobalt doped .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 as a magnetic powder formed on said first magnetic layer.

The second magnetic layer preferably has a coercive force of 590 to 800 Oe, a residual magnetic flux density of higher than 1200 gauss and a thickness of 1.5 to 3.0.mu..

FIGS. 1 to 4 show characteristics of a magnetic recording medium of the prior invention proposed by the inventor;

FIG. 5 shows characteristics of the magnetic recording medium of the prior invention and the conventional magnetic recording medium;

FIG. 6 shows electromagnetic characteristics of one embodiment of the magnetic recording medium of the present invention and the reference; and

FIG. 7 shows characteristics of the magnetic recording medium of the present invention.

The inventors have proposed a two layer magnetic recording medium which has higher recording sensitivity and superior dynamic range and has less output fluctuation in comparison with the conventional chromium tape or the conventional cobalt doped tape, and which can be used by a normal reproducing equalizer having 70 .mu.sec. without using a special bias-equalizer and can be used by a chromium bias having superior S/N than that of the normal bias.

The proposed magnetic recording medium has the first layer containing .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, cobalt doped Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and .gamma.-Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 which has high coercive force being 100 to 200 Oe higher than the coercive force of the conventional two layer tape, and the second layer containing a cobalt doped magnetic powder, and has the specific coercive force, the specific residual magnetic flux density and the specific coated layers to have excellent frequency characteristics so as to be used on the conventional chromium position deck and has a less distortion in the middle frequency band and has a less output fluctuation.

The proposed magnetic medium will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows output fluctuations at a frequency of 8 KHz in cases having the first layer having a thickness of 5.0.mu. and the second layer having different thickness. The components and the ratios of the magnetic powder and the binder etc. used for the preparation are substantially the same as those of Example 1 described below. As it is found in FIG. 1, when a thickness of the second layer is more than 1.5.mu., an output fluctuation is less than 0.5 dB to be no trouble in a practical use. When a thickness of the second layer is too thin, an uneven surface is formed on the second layer because of an uneven surface of the first layer caused by swelling the first layer whereby the output fluctuation is too large. Therefore, the affection of the uneven surface of the first layer is reduced by increasing the thickness of the second layer to be thicker than certain thickness whereby the output fluctuation can be smaller.

It has been difficult to increase the thickness of the second layer in the conventional two layer magnetic recording tape, because the coercive force of the second layer is remarkably higher than that of the first layer. When a thickness of the second layer is thick, a distortion is caused in the middle frequency band.

In accordance with the present invention, coercive force of the first layer and the second layer are controlled to increase the residual magnetic flux density (B.gamma.) of the first layer so that a thickness of the second layer can be increased.

FIG. 2 shows characteristics of response (dB)-frequency (Hz) of samples having the second layer having a coercive force of 710 Oe and the first layer having different coercive force: (Curve 1: a coercive force of 320 Oe; Curve 2: a coercive force of 360 Oe and Curve 3: a coercive force of 400 Oe) which were measured by using a deck of Nakamichi 1000#.

As it is found in FIG. 2, when a coercive force of the first layer is lower, the low frequency sensitivity is higher, but a distortion is caused in the middle frequency band (middle slump) whereas when a coercive force of the first layer is higher, the low frequency characteristic is inferior to be unbalanced one.

The inventors have further studied so as to overcome these disadvantages and have found that the coercive force of the first layer is preferably in a range of 400 to 560 Oe.

It has been found that the distribution of the coercive force becomes broad by mixing magnetic powders having different cercive forces so that a distortion in the middle frequency band can be relatively decreased. It has been found that a distortion in the middle frequency band can be decreased by decreasing the difference between the coercive force of the first layer and the coercive force of the second layer.

The coercive force of the second layer should be higher than 590 Oe so as to give satisfactory characteristics in high frequency band, however it is preferably less than 800 Oe because a trouble is caused in an erasing operation at high coercive force.

The residual magnetic flux density B.gamma. should be higher than 1200 gauss. When it is lower, the characteristics in high frequency band are inferior even though the coercive force is enough high. The coercive force of the first layer should be higher than certain limit because a distortion in the middle frequency band is prevented. Thus, in order to give high characteristics in the low frequency band with high coercive force, it is necessary to give high residual magnetic flux density B.gamma. and accordingly, it is necessary to increase a packed density of the magnetic powder.

FIG. 3 shows required saturated residual magnetic flux density B.gamma. (gauss) to the coercive force (Oe) of the first layer. The saturated residual magnetic flux density B.gamma. is higher than the equation: y=1.60X+556 (gauss) wherein X represents a coercive force of the first layer.

When the residual magnetic flux density (B.gamma. ) is less than the limit, the characteristics are inferior because of the sensitivity and the distortion in the middle frequency band.

It is understood from FIG. 3, that B.gamma. can be 1200 gauss when the coercive force is 400 Oe; and B.gamma. should be higher than 1350 gauss when the coercive force is 500 Oe. When the packed density is increased to give B.gamma. of higher than 1800 gauss, the coated layer is too hard. In order to vary B.gamma. in a constant coercive force, it is controlled by selecting an amount of a dispersing agent.

FIG. 4 shows responses as reproducing output at the frequency of 333 Hz in the case of the first layer having various thickness (.mu.) and the second layer having a thickness of 2.mu..

It is understood, from FIG. 4, that when the thickness of the first layer is lower than 3.0.mu., the characteristics are remarkably inferior. However, when the thickness of the first layer is more than 6.0.mu., a distortion in the middle frequency band is caused. Therefore, the thickness of the first layer should be in a range of 3.0 to 6.0.mu.. On the other hand, the thickness of the second layer should be more than 1.5.mu. in view of the output fluctuation. However, when it is too thick, a distortion in the middle frequency band is caused. Therefore, the thickness of the second layer should be less than 3.0.mu. and preferably, in a range of 1.5 to 2.5.mu..

In accordance with the magnetic recording medium of the present invention, coercives, residual magnetic flux densities. B.gamma. and thickness of the coated layers of the first and second layers are defined to special ranges, whereby the magnetic recording medium can be used by a conventional cassette deck equipped with a chromium position and has superior characteristics in comparison with the conventional chromium tape, the conventional cobalt doped tape or the conventional two layer tape.

The present invention will be further illustrated by certain examples and references which are provided for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting the present invention.

A mixture of these components was kneaded in a ball mill for 36 hours and 3 wt. parts of a curing agent of isocyanate (Colonate L: manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane K.K.) was admixed to prepare a magnetic composition for the first layer. This was carried on a polyester film to form a layer having a thickness of 4.0.mu.. The magnetic powder was orientated and the surface was dried and processed and heated at 60.degree. C. for 48 hours to crosslink the polyurethane resin. This is the first layer.

A mixture of these components was kneaded in a ball mill for 48 hours and 3 wt. parts of a curing agent of isocyanate (Colonate L: manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane K.K.) was admixed. The mixture was coated on the first layer to form a layer having a thickness of 2.mu.. The magnetic powder was orientated and the surface was dried and processed and heated at 60.degree. C. for 48 hours to crosslink the polyurethane resin. A magnetic recording tape having two layers was obtained. The resulting tape had a coercive force of 570 Oe, B.gamma. of 1280 gauss and a total thickness of 5.5.mu.. The first layer had a coercive force of 430 Oe and B.gamma. of 1300 gauss.

In accordance with the process of Example 1 except that a mixture of these components was used as the mixture for the first layer, the first and second layers were coated and heat-treated to obtain a magnetic recording tape having two layers. The resulting tape had a coercive force of 610 Oe and B.gamma. of 1400 gauss. The first layer had a coercive force of 530 Oe and B.gamma. of 1500 gauss.

FIG. 5 shows frequency characteristics of the magnetic recording tape (Curve 5) and the conventional cobalt doped single layer tape (Curve 4).

As it is clearly understood, the magnetic recording tape of the present invention had superior characteristics in all frequency bands and had broad dynamic range.

In accordance with the process of Example 1 except using 50 wt. parts of .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 50 wt. parts of cobalt doped .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 as the magnetic powder of the first layer, a magnetic recording tape having two layers was prepared. The magnetic recording tape had a coercive force of 580 Oe and B.gamma. of 1350 gauss. The first layer had a coercive force of 490 Oe and B.gamma. of 1400 gauss.

In a conventional preparation of a magnetic recording tape having two layers. .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 has been usually used as the magnetic powder of the first layer. Magnetite can be considered as the magnetic powder. However, magnetite has not been usually used because of disadvantages of inferior transfer characteristics though it had high coercive force and accordingly, had superior sensitivity in low frequency band and superior maximum output level (MOL).

The inventors have studied these magnetic recording media and have found that the transfer effect is mainly depending upon the characteristics of the second layer in the magnetic recording tape having two layers and is not substantially affected by the first layer.

In usual, a magnetization is resulted in deeper part of a coated layer by lower frequency so that the transfer characteristic is deteriorated by lower frequency. When the transfer characteristic is measured by a signal having about 1 KHz, the signal for transfer is recorded through the base surface to the next coated layer and accordingly, it is remarkably weaker than the input signal. Therefore, in the magnetic recording tape having two layers, only the second layer (about 2.0.mu.) is affected by the signal having low frequency whereby it is enough to use a magnetic powder having excellent transfer characteristics only in the second layer.

In the magnetic recording medium having two layers of the present invention, magnetite which has inferior transfer characteristic and has not been substantially used, is used in the first layer (which is not affected) whereby a magnetic recording medium having high magnetization. .sigma.s and excellent sensitivity in low frequency band and excellent maximum output level without a deterioration of the transfer characteristic.

A mixture of these components was kneaded in a ball mill for 48 hours and 3 wt. parts of a curing agent of isocyanate (Colonate L manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane K.K.) was admixed. The mixture was coated on a polyester film to form a layer having a thickness of 40.mu.. The magnetic powder was orientated and the surface was dried and processed and heated for 48 hours to crosslink the urethane resin.

A mixture of these components was kneaded in a ball mill for 48 hours. The mixture was coated on the first layer to form a layer having a thickness of 2.5.mu.. The magnetic powder was orientated and the surface was dried and processed.

In accordance with the process of Reference except that a mixture of these components was used as the mixture for the first layer, the first and second layers were formed.

In accordance with the process of Reference except that a mixture of these components was used as the mixture for the first layer, the first and second layers were formed.

Electromagnetic characteristics and transfer characteristics of Reference and Example 4 are shown in Table 1.

As it is clearly understood, the magnetic recording tape of the present invention had superior electromagnetic characteristics without deteriorating the transfer characteristics.

FIG. 6 shows a graph of the electromagnetic characteristics shown in Table 1.

FIG. 7 shows transfer characteristics of samples using magnetite as the magnetic powder in which a thickness of the first layer was constant and a thickness of the second layer was varied.

In the condition of the measurement, each signal having 1 KHz was recorded by an input of +10 dB and each sample was kept 30.degree. C. for 24 hours and the measurement was carried out.