Magnetic head having a wear-resistant layer, and method of manufacturing such a magnetic head

Abstract

Magnetic head having a head face ( 5 ) and comprising a head structure composed of thin layers and provided with a transducing element (E 11 ), in which different materials occurring in different areas are present in the head face. The head face is provided with a first layer ( 31 ) of a material which is more sensitive to corrosion than said materials in the head face, and the first layer is provided with a second layer ( 33 ) of a wear-resistant material which is more insensitive to corrosion than the material of the first layer. The second layer constitutes a contact face ( 35 ) for cooperation with a magnetic tape ( 7 ).

1 . A magnetic head having a head face and comprising a head structure composed of thin layers and provided with a transducing element, in which different materials in different areas are present in the head face, characterized in that the head face is provided with a first layer of a material which is more sensitive to corrosion than said materials in the head face, and the first layer is provided with a second layer of a wear-resistant material which is more insensitive to corrosion than the material of the first layer.  
     
     
         2 . A magnetic head as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the first layer has a thickness of between 1 nm and 20 nm and the second layer has a thickness of between 10 nm and 100 nm.  
     
     
         3 . A magnetic head as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the material of the first layer mainly comprises a metal from the group of —Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Al, Zn—.  
     
     
         4 . A magnetic head as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , characterized in that the material of the second layer is one of the materials from the group of—chromium oxide, chromium nitride, hafnium nitride, titanium nitride, chromium carbide, titanium carbide, tungsten carbide, diamond—.  
     
     
         5 . A magnetic head as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that the chromium oxide is mainly Cr 2 O 3 , the material of the first layer being Cr.  
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing a magnetic head as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that a first layer mainly comprising Cr is formed on the head face, at least on the head structure by means of sputtering deposition, and a second layer mainly comprising Cr 2 O 3  is formed on the first layer by means of sputtering deposition.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that sputtering is performed with a chromium target without oxygen addition until the first layer is formed, whereafter oxygen is supplied for forming the second layer.