Inventors:
Phillip Joe Brock - Sunnyvale CA, US
Michael William Chaw - San Jose CA, US
Dan J. Dawson - San Jose CA, US
Craig J. Hawker - Los Gatos CA, US
James L. Hedrick - Pleasanton CA, US
Wesley L. Hillman - Morgan Hill CA, US
Teddie P. Magbitang - Sunnyvale CA, US
Dennis R. McKean - Milpitas CA, US
Robert D. Miller - San Jose CA, US
Richard I. Palmisano - San Martin CA, US
Jila Tabib - San Jose CA, US
Mark C. Thurber - San Jose CA, US
Willi Volksen - San Jose CA, US
Assignee:
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V. - Amsterdam
International Classification:
B32B 37/00
G11B 5/127
US Classification:
156247, 2960307, 2960312, 360230, 3602343, 3602354, 438689
Abstract:
A process for fabricating sliders where the sliders are held in place during processing by a solid matrix material is described. A thin coating of a release-layer material is applied on the sliders before encapsulation in the matrix material. The release-layer material is polyvinyl alcohol and more preferably high molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol which is highly hydrolyzed. Use of the release-layer of the invention maintains the process resistance while providing the advantage of allowing easier removal of the matrix material after it is no longer needed. The release-layer can be applied to encapsulant materials including epoxies, acrylates, polyimides, silsesquioxanes and others. After the selected fabrication process such as the formation of air-bearing features an appropriate solvent is applied to soften the polyvinyl alcohol film and allow clean debonding of the sliders.