US 5,636,092 A · Magnetic head having chromium nitride protective film for use in magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus and 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 %. The magnetic head core portion (23, 60) or non-magnetosensitive portion (25; 26, 61) has a plurality of minute projections (62) formed on the top surface thereof. The height of each projection is approximately equal to the size of each crystalline particle in diameter of the core portion or the non-magnetosensitive portion, where the maximum surface roughness is made greater than 150 .ANG..

Claims8

Dependent claims

A magnetic head, comprising:

a non-magnetosensitive portion including a substrate and a cover member, said non-magnetosensitive portion having a top surface;
a magnetosensitive portion including a core body between said substrate and said cover member, said magnetosensitive portion having a top surface;
and
a protective thin film covering said top surface of at least one of said non-magnetosensitive portion and said magnetosensitive portion;
wherein said magnetosensitive portion comprises a plurality of minute projections forming surface irregularities on said top surface thereof, said plurality of minute projections having a maximum surface roughness, defined as a maximum value of the heights of said plurality of minute projections on said top surface, that is in a range from 150 angstroms to 314 angstroms;
wherein said core body of said magnetosensitive portion comprises said top surface of said magnetosensitive portion and has said plurality of minute projections that having a size approximately corresponding to a crystalline particle size of said core body.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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

Life of this patent

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

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8