Abstract: The present invention improves the wear resistance and machining characteristic of a non-magnetic substrate. The non-magnetic substrate as a guard member of a magnetic layer constituting a magnetic core is formed by a non-magnetic material containing TiO2 as a main content. Moreover, when the non-magnetic substrate is formed by a non-magnetic material containing TiO2 and NiO as main contents, a content of TiO2 is set to 70 mol % or above.

Abstract: A magnetic head having excellent abrasion characteristics and a high playback output. The magnetic head is made up of a pair of magnetic core halves each having a single crystal ferrite at a portion thereof, said magnetic core halves being abutted and joined to each other, with a magnetic gap being formed between abutment surfaces of these magnetic core halves. The single crystal ferrite has its medium sliding surface, slidingly contacted with a magnetic recording medium, as a (411) plane, and also has the abutment surface as a (122) plane.

Abstract: A nonmagnetic substrate includes NiO, TiO.sub.2, ZnO, and CaO as major constituents, and major ilmenite and spinel structures, in which the percentage of the total area of the ilmenite and spinel crystalline domains occupied in the area of a given cross section of the nonmagnetic substrate is 20% or more. Preferably, the remainder of the area of the cross section, other than the ilmenite and spinel crystalline domain, contains a CaTiO.sub.3 phase and a TiO.sub.2 phase.

Abstract: A magnetic head is provided which realizes long service life and high reliability by improved abrasion resistance without deteriorating output characteristics of the magnetic head during recording/reproduction. In a magnetic head having a pair of magnetic cores which are joined together to form a unified magnetic core and between abutment surfaces of which is formed a magnetic gap, a pair of magnetic cores are each formed by a single-crystal ferrite having a surface perpendicular to the abutment surfaces formed by the (100) plane. One of the magnetic cores is arranged so that an angle .theta. between the <100>crystal orientation in a surface perpendicular to the abutment surfaces and the abutment surfaces is in a range of 0.degree..gtoreq..theta..gtoreq.26.degree., while the other magnetic core is arranged so that an angle .theta. between the <100> crystal orientation in a surface perpendicular to the abutment surfaces and the abutment surfaces is in a range or 154.degree..gtoreq..theta..gtoreq.

Abstract: A non-magnetic material for a magnetic head and a magnetic head produced with the use of such material. For improving the head efficiency and resistance against partial abrasion, the guard piece 11 is mainly composed of CaO, TiO.sub.2 and NiO, with the molar mixing ratio CaO/TiO.sub.2 being 30/70 to 50/50 and the NiO content being 5 to 30 mol %. The head efficiency may be improved, while the partial abrasion may be decreased and the service life of magnetic head may be improved sufficiently.