Patent ID: 8444865

Claim:
A method for encapsulating a magnetic recording head, comprising: providing a magnetic recording head, said magnetic recording head including a recording gap; recessing the recording gap of the magnetic recording head via ion-milling, plasma sputtering, reactive-ion etching, or lapping; coating at least a portion of the magnetic recording head, said portion including the recording gap and a portion of the magnetic head surrounding the recording gap, with a first layer of at least one coating material, including silicon nitride, said first layer having a thickness greater than a depth of the recording gap; coating over said first layer with a second layer of at least one coating material, including aluminum oxide; and removing at least a portion of said second layer and at least a portion of said first layer via lapping or vacuum processing to at least partially planarize the surface of said recording gap, wherein a removal rate for said second layer is greater than a removal rate for said first layer.