Magnetic head having a chromium nitride protective film for use in a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A magnetic head is provided with a protective film of chromium nitride on its sliding surface. The film thickness is set to have no adverse effect upon the electromagnetic conversion characteristics of the head, and the film has sufficient wear resistance not only against a magnetic tape having its sliding surface formed of iron oxide or other metallic magnetic substances, but also against a magnetic tape having its sliding surface formed of chrome oxide, the chrome oxide substance having a strong abrasion effect upon the magnetic head. The protective film has a compressive internal stress in a range of 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.11 dynes/cm.sup.2, a Knoop hardness of not less than 1500 kgf/mm.sup.2, a nitrogen composition ratio in a range of 20 to 60 atom %, and a film thickness in a range of 50 to 1000.ANG..

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.