Abstract: There are described a glass composition and a magnetic head containing the same, wherein the glass composition comprises an oxide of an alkali metal or alkaline earth, and at least one non-alkali metal oxide in an amount sufficient to provide a coefficient of thermal expansion of 80-170.times.10.sup.-7 .degree. C..sup.-1, the composition featuring from 5-15 mole % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and an amount of a compatible glass former sufficient to insure the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is soluble in the composition.

Abstract: Aluminum-silicon-iron alloys exhibiting an excellent combination of properties are disclosed. The process for preparing these alloys is also disclosed. In this process an aluminum-silicon-iron alloy powder is formed, sintered and hot-pressed simultaneously with or after sintering. The alloy powder can contain 4-9%, by weight, aluminum, 8-11%, by weight, silicon and the remainder iron. Pressures for hot-pressing of at least 1000 psi. and sintering temperatures of at least 1205.degree. C are disclosed. The process can also include the additional step of nitriding the alloy powder prior to sintering. Such nitriding prevents or retards grain growth during sintering and provides increased electrical resistivity and hardness in the end product.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly wherein the material of the pole tips or of the pole pieces comprises a hot-pressed sintered iron-silicon-aluminum alloy, the particles of such alloy preferably being provided with a nitride layer or coating prior to sintering for preventing or retarding grain growth during sintering and to provide increased electrical resistivity and hardness in the end product. The preferred hot-pressed sintered material is characterized by a substantially uniform grain size most preferably of between about 40 microns and 60 microns, a porosity of substantially less than one percent, a Vickers hardness greater than 600, and a resistivity of at least about 100 micro-Ohm-cm.

Abstract: A process for preparing ferrite materials exhibiting an excellent combination of physical and magnetic properties is disclosed. In this process a ferrite powder is formed and subsequently sintered while exerting a mechanical pressure of about 5 to about 500 kg. per square centimeter on the ferrite. The oxygen content of the ferrite is maintained substantially stoichiometric throughout the process by controlling the oxygen content of the ambient atmosphere. Temperatures in the range of about 1100.degree. to about 1400.degree. C during sintering are disclosed. New ferromagnetic ferrite compacts which can be prepared by this process are characterized by an oxygen content which is substantially stoichiometric and a porosity no greater than about 0.4%.

Abstract: A process for preparing ferromagnetic ferrite powder is disclosed. According to this process, solid ferrite forming metal compounds are calcined and subsequently sintered while the oxygen content of the ambient atmosphere is controlled to maintain the oxygen content of the ferrite substantially stoichiometric throughout the process. As disclosed herein, metal oxides can be used as the ferrite forming metal compounds and the oxygen in the ambient atmosphere can be controlled during calcining and sintering by using a flowing stream of nitrogen gas containing 0 to about 1%, by volume, of oxygen. Ferromagnetic ferrite powders obtained by this process exhibit substantially uniform mircostructures and oxygen contents which are substantially stoichiometric. Examples of ferrite powders which are prepared by the process include manganese zinc ferrite and nickel zinc ferrite.