Head comprising a crystalline alumina layer

A magnetic head for at least one of reading and writing data on to a magnetic data storage media, the magnetic head comprising:

• a substrate comprising a crystalline and/or polycrystalline material;
• an at least partially crystalline alumina layer formed directly on the substrate;
• at least one of a write transducer and a read transducer formed on the substrate;
• and
• an at least partially crystalline alumina layer formed on a surface of the head that is adapted for facing the magnetic data storage media, the at least partially crystalline alumina layer having a bearing surface for engaging the magnetic data storage media.

A magnetic head for at least one of reading and writing data on to a magnetic data storage media, the magnetic head comprising:

• a substrate;
• at least one of a write transducer and a read transducer formed on the substrate;
• a surface for facing the data storage media;
• and
• an at least partially crystalline alumina film formed over at least a portion of the surface,
• the surface having physical characteristics of having been ion milled at an angle ranging from about 50° to about 70° relative to normal to the surface.

A magnetic head for at least one of reading and writing data on to a magnetic data storage media, the magnetic head comprising:

• a substrate;
• at least one of a write transducer and a read transducer formed on the substrate;
• a surface for facing the data storage media;
• and
• an at least partially crystalline alumina film formed over at least a portion of the surface,
• wherein the at least partially crystalline alumina film has a thickness ranging from about 10 nm to about 70 nm.