Surface treatment of magnetic recording heads for improving the robustness thereof

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes forming a structure having a first region including a ceramic material, a second region including a plurality of particles disposed in a ceramic matrix material, and a magnetic head assembly disposed in the first region. The method also includes directing a first ion beam at a side of the first and second regions of the structure, the first ion beam including an oxidizing species to oxidize one or more portions of the particles located near the side of the second region, where the one or more oxidized portions of the particles protrude from the side of the ceramic matrix material of the second region. The method further includes directing a second ion beam at the side of the first and second regions of the structure, the second ion beam including an inert species to recess the first and second regions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic apparatus comprising:
 a slider comprising:
 a first region; 
 a second region extending from the first region; 
 a center rail spanning at least a portion of the first region and a portion of the second region; and 
 a rear rail in the second region, 
   wherein at least a portion of the second region is composed of a material having a surface roughness between and including 0.5 nanometers and 0.7 nanometers.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rear rail further comprises a first side rail and a second side rail connected to the first side rail. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the center rail and the rear rail protrude in a direction normal to a surface of a media facing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a negative pressure surface formed between the center rail and the rear rail. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a landing pad on the center rail and the rear rail. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first region comprises Al 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the second region comprises Al 2 O 3 —TiC. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the center rail in the second region comprises Al 2 O 3 —TiC and a portion of the center rail in the first region comprises Al 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rear rail comprises Al 2 O 3 —TiC. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a media facing overcoat deposited on at least a portion of a media facing side of the center rail and on at least a portion of the media facing side of the rear rail. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the second region comprises an oxide ceramic matrix material and a plurality of non-oxide particles disposed within the oxide ceramic matrix material. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic head assembly in the first region. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a magnetic recording medium;   a drive mechanism configured to pass the magnetic recording medium over the slider; and   a controller electrically coupled to the slider and configured to control operation of the slider.   
     
     
         14 . A slider for a magnetic apparatus, the slider comprising:
 a first region; and   a second region extending from the first region;   wherein the second region comprises a ceramic matrix material and a plurality of particles disposed within the ceramic matrix material;   wherein the ceramic matrix material comprises an oxide; and   wherein the plurality of particles comprises a metallic material.   
     
     
         15 . The slider of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of particles comprise between and including 30 weight % to 50 weight % of the second region. 
     
     
         16 . The slider of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of particles comprise TiC. 
     
     
         17 . The slider of  claim 14 , wherein the ceramic matrix material comprises Al 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         18 . The slider of  claim 14 , wherein the first region comprises Al 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         19 . A magnetic apparatus comprising:
 a slider comprising:
 a first region; 
 a second region extending from the first region; 
 a center rail spanning at least a portion of the first region and a portion of the second region; and 
 a rear rail in the second region, 
   wherein the second region comprises a ceramic matrix material and a plurality of particles disposed within the ceramic matrix material; and   wherein one or more portions of the plurality of particles protrude from a side of the ceramic matrix material of the second region.   
     
     
         20 . The magnetic apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the second region has a surface roughness between and including 0.5 nanometers and 0.7 nanometers.