A ferrite core includes a ferrite sintered body in which integrally formed are a winding core portion, extending in a lengthwise direction, and flange portions provided at both ends in the lengthwise direction of the winding core portion and projecting from the winding core portion in at least a height direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. Pores are present inside the winding core portion and the flange portions, and an abundance ratio of the pores in the winding core portion is equal to or more than about 0.05% and equal to or less than about 1.00% (i.e., from about 0.05% to about 1.00%).

A ferromagnetic-polymer composite material comprises a polymer and a plurality of ferromagnetic film platelets disposed in the polymer. Each ferromagnetic film platelet comprises first and second insulator layers and a ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and second insulator layers. The ferromagnetic layer can be magnetically anisotropic in which a hard axis of magnetization is aligned parallel to a plane that passes through and parallel to an interface between the first insulator layer and the ferromagnetic layer. The easy and/or hard axes of magnetization in the ferromagnetic film platelets can be aligned. An inductor can have a core formed of the ferromagnetic-polymer composite material.

A soft magnetic composite comprising an iron or iron alloy ferromagnetic material coated with an oxide material. An interface between the ferromagnetic material and the layer of oxide contains antiphase domain boundaries. Two processes for producing a soft magnetic composite are also provided. One process includes depositing an oxide layer onto an iron or iron alloy ferromagnetic material by molecular beam epitaxy at a partial oxygen pressure of from 1×10.sup.−5 Torr to 1×10.sup.−7 Torr to form a coated composite. The other process includes milling an iron or iron alloy ferromagnetic material powder and an oxide powder by high-energy milling to form a mixture; compacting the mixture and curing in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature from 500° C. to 1200° C. to form a soft magnetic composite.

A coil component includes a magnetic body containing metal magnetic particles; a coil embedded in the magnetic body; and an outer electrode at at least the bottom surface (for example, a first main surface) of the magnetic body and electrically connected to the coil. The outer electrode (for example, a first outer electrode) includes, in order from the side of the magnetic body, an underlayer containing Ag, and a plating layer. At an interface between the magnetic body and the underlayer, an oxide film containing a metal element contained in metal magnetic particles is between the metal magnetic particles and the underlayer. In the inside of the magnetic body, an oxide film having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the oxide film between the metal magnetic particles and the underlayer is at surfaces of metal magnetic particles adjacent to the metal magnetic particles positioned at the interface.

An electronic component, such as, for example, an inductor, includes a core defining an axis and a conductor that is at least partially wound about the core. The electronic component further includes a mounting surface defining a plane that extends substantially parallel to the axis of the core. The mounting surface is configured to engage a surface of a board. The conductor may include a first terminal and a second terminal extending along the plane such that the first and second terminals are able to be mounted to the surface of the board.

Disclosed are a transfer-molded inductor and a manufacturing method thereof. The inductor comprises a magnet formed by transfer molding with a soft magnetic colloid; and a prefabricated coil assembly comprising an air-core coil and electrode sheets connected at two ends of the air-core coil. The method comprises steps of: connecting a prefabricated air-core coil and an electrode sheet by welding to form a coil assembly, and placing the coil assembly in a cavity of a mold; performing transfer molding with a soft magnetic colloid in a gelatinous state so that the coil is entirely buried in the colloid while the electrode sheets at two ends of the air-core coil are at least partially exposed outside the colloid to serve as terminal electrodes; and performing demolding after the colloid is cured to form a magnet, and finishing the terminal electrodes to obtain the inductor.

A high saturation, low loss magnetic material suitable for high frequency electrical devices, including power converters, transformers, solenoids, motors, and other such devices.

A coated soft magnetic alloy particle includes a soft magnetic alloy particle containing an amorphous phase, and a first film containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an inorganic compound having a hexagonal, trigonal, or monoclinic crystal structure and a layered silicate mineral. The first film coats a surface of the soft magnetic alloy particle, and an outer peripheral contour of a section of the coated soft magnetic alloy particle has an average smoothness ζ_ave of 0.92 or more and 1.00 or less (i.e., from 0.92 or more and 1.00).

A method of fabricating a laminated magnetic core including: fabricating a magnetic-core mold on a surface, the magnetic-core mold including a first wall portion having a first sidewall, a second wall portion having a second sidewall, the second sidewall located opposite the first sidewall, the first and second sidewalls and a portion of the surface defining a mold cavity having a bottom width that is greater than a top width; depositing a seed material on the mold top surface and on a portion of the surface so as to form a conductive layer, wherein the seed material is directed toward the mold top surface and the portion of the surface of the substrate at an angle of incidence that substantially prevents deposition of the seed material on the first and second sidewalls; forming a magnetic layer on the conductive layer; and forming an insulating-sealing layer on the magnetic layer.

The dust core comprises a plurality of soft magnetic iron-based particles, a coating layer disposed on each of the surfaces of the soft magnetic iron-based particles, an interstitial layer disposed between the coating layers, and a nanopowder disposed between the soft magnetic iron-based particles. The coating layer is a layer of a compound comprising Fe, Si, O, B and N; and the nanopowder is a powder of a compound comprising O, N and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Si, Zr, Co, Al, Mg, Mn and Ni.