Magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic metal powder, binder, fatty acid ester, and a specified branched chain fatty acid

A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic support having thereon a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder, a branched chain fatty acid, a branched chain fatty acid ester and a binder,

• said ferromagnetic powder being a ferromagnetic metal powder, and the branched chain fatty acid contained in the magnetic layer consists essentially of compounds represented by formula (I):
• R.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.m COOH (I)
• wherein R represents CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.n, n represents an integer of 8 or more, and m represents 0 or 1 in an amount of from 0.5 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said ferromagnetic metal powder,
• said branched chain fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of a branched chain fatty acid represented by formula (I) wherein m is 1 and n is 8 or 10, and a branched chain fatty acid represented by formula (I) wherein m is 0 and n is 9, 11 or 14.