Magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium,

• wherein the magnetic recording medium is a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising ferromagnetic powder and binder on a nonmagnetic support,
• wherein the ferromagnetic powder is ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder, and
• the ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder has a crystallite volume as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis ranges from 1,000 nm3 to 2,400 nm3, and a ratio of the crystallite size Dx(107) obtained from a diffraction peak of a (107) plane to a particle size in a direction of an easy axis of magnetization DTEM as determined by observation with a transmission electron microscope, Dx(107)/DTEM, is greater than or equal to 1.1, and
• the method comprises:
• forming a magnetic layer through preparation of a magnetic layer-forming composition and coating of the magnetic layer-forming composition that has been prepared on a nonmagnetic support, either directly, or indirectly over at least one other layer,
• wherein the preparation of the magnetic layer-forming composition comprises:
• a first stage of dispersing ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder, binder, and solvent in the presence of first dispersion beads to obtain a dispersion, and
• a second stage of dispersing the dispersion obtained in the first stage in the presence of second dispersion beads of smaller bead diameter and lower density than the first dispersion beads.