Magnetic recording medium and method for producing the same

A method for producing a magnetic recording medium comprising the steps of:

• applying a lower non-magnetic layer, an intermediate non-magnetic layer and an upper magnetic layer onto a non-magnetic support, said intermediate layer being applied between said lower and upper layers after applying said lower layer and before applying said upper layer, said upper magnetic layer including ferromagnetic particles which are elongate along a major axis thereof, each of said layers being partially wet, wherein said intermediate layer has a viscosity which is greater than a viscosity of said upper layer absent said ferromagnetic particles;
• generating a magnetic field which extends across said support at an angle selected from a range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to a surface of said support onto which said lower non-magnetic layer is applied so that each of said ferromagnetic particles is oriented with said major axis extending at said selected angle and each of said ferromagnetic particles is attracted into said intermediate non-magnetic layer, so that said ferromagnetic particles have lower end portions embedded in said intermediate non-magnetic layer, wherein the viscosity of said intermediate layer is not less than 20 poise during said generating;
• and
• drying each of said layers.