Method for Producing Giant Magnetoresistance Materials

IB-1087

Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:

• Read sensors for data storage applications

ADVANTAGES:

• Inexpensive, quick process for making GMR materials
• Minimal hyteresis
• Sensors using GMR have high resolution
• Exhibits GMR at room temperature
• Exhibits GMR with lower magentic field than previous GMR materials

ABSTRACT: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers have invented a cost-effective method of producing materials that exhibit giant magnetoresistance (GMR) upon application of an external magnetic field at room temperature. These materials have great potential in use as high resolution, fast sensors to read magnetic media. GMR sensors, with their high resolution, allow for high data densities. This invention makes the economics favorable for the commercial production of GMR materials to take advantage of their higher resolution and data densities in magnetic media applications. The material contains grains of microlamellae structured to give rise to GMR properties, with minimal hysteresis. These unique materials can be made in commercial quantities by melt spinning, rather than by slower methods such as sputtering, expensive MBE or laser ablation methods. Grams of material can be fabricated quickly, for reasonable cost. No annealing is necessary for high quality performance.

STATUS: U.S. Patent #5,882,436. Available for licensing

REFERENCE NUMBER: IB-1087A