Magnetic recording medium and method for producing same

A method for producing a magnetic recording medium comprising at least a nonmagnetic undercoat layer, a nonmagnetic metallic intermediate layer, a magnetic layer, a protective film, and a liquid lubricant layer laminated sequentially on a nonmagnetic substrate, comprising the steps of:

• laminating the nonmagnetic undercoat layer on the nonmagnetic substrate;
• laminating the nonmagnetic metallic intermediate layer on the nonmagnetic undercoat layer, the nonmagnetic metallic intermediate layer having a crystal structure being a hexagonal close-packed structure;
• laminating the magnetic layer on the nonmagnetic metallic intermediate layer, the magnetic layer comprising crystal grains having ferromagnetism and nonmagnetic grain boundaries surrounding the crystal grains;
• laminating the protective film on the magnetic layer;
• and
• laminating the liquid lubricant layer on the protective film, and wherein
• the respective steps are performed without prior heating of the nonmagnetic substrate.