Magnetic head sliders, materials therefor, and the process for the production thereof

• US 4,859,638 A
• Filed: 02/16/1988
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Tungsten Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Tungsten Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company Limited
• Inventors: Wada, Toshiaki, Miyahara, Michito, Furukawa, Mitsuhiko, Shiroyama, Masaharu, Misumi, Kiyohito, Kitahira, Takashi, Katsuyama, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): BELL, MARK LEE
• Application Number:
  US07/155,851
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 501/87, 501/88, 501/92, 501/90, 501/89, 501/91, 360/103
• US Class Current: 501/88
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/111 Fine ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/575 obtained by pressure sintering
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/10 Structure or manufacture of housings or shields for heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3106 where the integrated or assembled structure comprises means for conditioning against physical detrimental influence, e.g. wear, contamination G11B5/3133 takes precedence

Abstract

A sintered material for recording/reading (particularly magnetic) head slider is produced by:

preparing a powdery mixture which comprises 0.5 to 6.0% by weight of at least one component selected from the component group A consisting of the following elements and compounds thereof, a garnet type compound consisting essentially of erbium oxide and aluminum oxide in amounts of 2 to 12% by weight and 0 (exclusive) to 2 (inclusive) % by weight based on the total composition, respectively, and expressed by the formula Er₃ (Al,Er)₂ (AlO₄)₃ through (Er,Al)₃ Al₂ (AlO₄)₃, and the balance being silicon carbide powder:

the elements for the component group A being Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Mg, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ba, La, Ce, Gd, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and Cs; and

sintering the resultant mass under the application of a high pressure.

Further sintering aids of Be, BeO, B and B₄ C may be present. For the garnet type compound, erbium oxide may be used, preferably in combination with alumina.

Claims

1. A sintered material for recording/reading head slider consisting essentially of:

0.5 to 6.0% by weight of at least one component selected from the component group A consisting of the following elements and compounds thereof,

5 to 15% by weight of erbium oxide, and

the balance being silicon carbide;

the elements for the component group A being Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Mg, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ba, La, Ce, Gd, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and Cs.

5. A sintered material as defined in any of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said compounds for the component group A are oxide, carbide, boride, nitride and a complex compound thereof.

6. A sintered material as defined in claim 5, wherein said component of the components group A is at least one selected from the group consisting of TiC, TiO₂, TiN, VB₂, VN, V₂ O₅, Cr₃ C₂, CrB, Cr₂ O₃, MnO, Mn, Mg, MgO, Y, Y₂ O₃, ZrC, ZrB₂, ZrO₂, NbC, NbB, NbN, Nb₂ O₃, Mo₂ C, MoB, Mo, Ba, BaO, La₂ O₃, La, CeB₆, Ce₂ O, Gd₂ O₃, HfC, HfB₂, HfN, HfO₂, TaC, TaB, TaN, Ta₂ O₅, WC, WB, W, ThC, ThB₄, ThN, and Cs.

8. A sintered material as defined in claim 1 or 2, which includes substantially no pore having a diameter exceeding 2 microns.

11. A recording/reading head slider comprising a slider substrate member formed of the sintered material as defined in any of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4.

2. A sintered material for recording/reading head slider consisting essentially of:

0.5 to 6.0% by weight of at least one component selected from the component group A consisting of the following elements and compounds thereof,

5 to 15% by weight of erbium oxide,

a further sintering aid consisting of at least one of Be, BeO, B, B₄ C, Al, AlN and Al₂ O₃ in an amount of 0 (exclusive) to 2 (inclusive) % by weight based on the total composition, and

the balance being silicon carbide;

the elements for the component group A being Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Mg, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ba, La, Ce, Gd, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and Cs.

3. A sintered material for recording/reading head slider consisting essentially of:

0.5 to 6.0% by weight of at least one component selected from the component group A consisting of the following elements and compounds thereof,

2 to 12% by weight of erbium oxide,

0 (exclusive) to 2 (inclusive) % by weight of aluminum oxide, and

the balance being silicon carbide,

wherein said erbium oxide and aluminum oxide are present as a compound of garnet crystal structure expressed by the formula Er₃ (Al,Er)₂ (AlO₄)₃ through (Er,Al)₃ Al₂ (AlO₄)₃ ;

the elements for the component group A being Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Mg, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ba, La, Ce, Gd, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and Cs.

7. A sintered material as defined in claim 3 or 4, wherein the compound of garnet crystal structure amounts to 4-10% by weight.

9. A sintered material as defined in claim 3 or 4, which includes substantially no pore having a diameter exceeding one micron.

10. A sintered material as defined in claim 9, which includes substantially no pore having a diameter exceeding 0.5 micron.

12. A recording/reading head slider compising a slider substrate member produced by the process as defined in any of claim 3, 4, 7 or 8.

4. A sintered material for recording/reading head slider consisting essentially of:

0.5 to 6.0% by weight of at least one component selected from the component group A consisting of the following elements and compounds thereof,

2 to 12% by weight of erbium oxide,

0 (exclusive) to 2 (inclusive) % by weight of aluminum oxide,

a further sintering aid consisting of at least one of Be, BeO, B and B₄ C in an amount of 0 (exclusive) to 2 (inclusive) % by weight, and

the balance being silicon carbide,

wherein erbium oxide and aluminum oxide are present as a compound of garnet crystal structure expressed by the formula Er₃ (Al,Er)₂ (AlO₄)₃ through (Er,Al)₃ Al₂ (AlO₄)₃ ;

the elements for the component group A being Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Mg, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ba, La, Ce, Gd, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and Cs.