Abstract: To provide a substrate material having characteristics suitable to a magnetic head for attaining high recording density. A substrate material for a magnetic head comprising a matrix phase of a carbide of one or more of Ti, W and Ta and a dispersion phase of an oxide of one or more of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, CrO.sub.3, and ZrO.sub.2, in which the material comprises 60 to 95 vol % of the matrix phase of the carbide. Further, a single phase in which the ingredients of carbides as the matrix phase comprise (Ti.sub.j W.sub.m Ta.sub.n)C.sub.x is preferred. Further, oxygen and/or nitrogen may be solid-solubilized in the carbide MeC of the matrix phase wherein Me is one or more of Ti, W, and Ta.

Abstract: Substrate materials for magnetic heads consisting of 24-75 mol % of .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and the remaining 76-25 mol % of TiC.sub.x O.sub.y N.sub.z containing a small amount of additives, that has a NaCl-type structure which retain known characteristics required on such materials and have controlled sizes of crystallites of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and TiC.sub.x O.sub.y N.sub.z, uniformly dispersed TiC.sub.x O.sub.y N.sub.z crystallites and, if any, additive elements, in which internal stress is relieved. The materials are intended for eliminating problems in IBE to form steps and thus for fabricating high-precision thin-film heads for high-density recording.

Abstract: Substrate materials for magnetic heads consisting of 24-75 mol % of .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and the remaining 76-25 mol % of TiC.sub.X O.sub.Y N.sub.Z, or TiC.sub.X O.sub.Y N.sub.Z containing a small amount of additives, that has a NaCl-type structure which retain known characteristics required on such materials and have controlled sizes of crystallites of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and TiC.sub.X O.sub.Y N.sub.Z, uniformly dispersed TiC.sub.X O.sub.Y N.sub.Z crystallites and, if any, additive elements, in which internal stress is relieved. The materials are intended for eliminating problems in machining to form steps and thus for fabricating high-precision thin-film heads for high-density recording.

Abstract: A material for thin film magnetic head slider particularly suited for high recording, which is obtained by sintering a mixture consisting essentially of:5 to 45% by weight of titanium carbide component;0.2 to 10% by weight of zirconium oxide;0.05 to 2% by weight of oxide of yttrium;0.2 to 25% by weight of aluminum nitride; and the balance of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 component substituted with 0.5 to 8% by weight being at least one machinability agent selected from the group consisting of oxides of Mg, Ca, B, Ni and Cr and complex oxides thereof.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider and a material for it which comprises a sintered body obtained by sintering a raw material powder composed of 65 to 90% by weight of ZrO.sub.2 component containing therein a stabilizer and the balance of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 component, 2% by weight or below of which has been substituted with a binder. The stabilizer is Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO or CeO and the binder is Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 or MgO.

Abstract: A recording head slider comprises a slider body having a fluid bearing surface on a primary surface thereof and at least one transducer on at least one side of the slider body, the slider body being made of a sintered body produced by sintering a base composition consisting essentially of 10-40 percent by volume of silicon carbide and the balance being alumina. The base composition may comprise 0.2-10 percent by weight of sintering aids MgO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, CaO, Er.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3. This slider has high precision machinability and compatibility with recording media.