Protective film for minimization of shield and pole tip recession in thin film shielded read heads and write heads

A magnetic head having a media bearing surface, the magnetic head comprising:

• a substrate, at least one edge of the substrate defining the media bearing surface;
• an overcoat overlaying the substrate;
• a magnetic read transducer disposed between the substrate and the overcoat, the read transducer including a shield made of a first magnetic material;
• a magnetic write transducer disposed between the substrate and the overcoat and interfacing edgewise with the media bearing surface, the write transducer having a write gap layer and a pole made of a second magnetic material different than the first magnetic material;
• and
• a protective layer for improving recession resistance characteristics of the magnetic head, the protective layer having a thickness greater than approximately 0.2 micrometers and a hardness greater than approximately 850 Knoop, the protective layer comprising metal and being sandwiched between the shield and the pole such that the protective layer acts as a barrier that prevents the first and second magnetic materials from inter-diffusing during fabrication of the magnetic head, the protective layer further interfacing edgewise with the media bearing surface, wherein the protective layer is separate from the write gap layer.