A method for forming an inductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a first metal layer over a substrate and forming an oxide layer over the first metal layer. The method also includes forming a magnetic material in and over the oxide layer, and the magnetic material includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is directly over the oxide layer, and the second portion is in the oxide layer. The method further includes removing the first portion and a portion of the second portion of the magnetic material to form a magnetic layer, such that a recession is between the magnetic layer and the oxide layer. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer over the magnetic layer, wherein the recession is filled with the dielectric layer.

There is provided a method for producing a magnetic refrigeration module. The method comprises: a step (1) of preparing a mixture powder A containing an La(Fe,Si).sub.13-based alloy powder, an M powder, and optionally an organic binder, the La(Fe,Si).sub.13-based alloy powder having a main phase with an NaZn.sub.13-type crystal structure, and the M powder containing a metal and/or an alloy and having a melting point of 1090 C. or lower; a step (2) of subjecting the mixture powder A to a heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature close to the melting point of the M powder to obtain a sintered body B; and a step (3) of subjecting the sintered body B to a hydrogenation treatment in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere.

An electronic component includes a main body composed of an insulator, a coating film covering the main body, a circuit element located inside the main body, and outer electrodes. The insulator contains a metal magnetic powder. The coating film is composed of a resin and a cationic element contained in the insulator.

A method of stabilizing soft particles to create dried nanocomposite magnets includes coating a plurality of soft particles with a layer of SiO.sub.2, the soft particles being nanoparticles, creating a composite by mixing the soft particles with hard phase via a solution phase based assembly, annealing the composite, washing the composite with an alkaline solution to remove SiO.sub.2, and compacting the composite to create dried nanocomposite magnets.

A method for producing a nanoheterostructured permanent magnet includes a first step of preparing a raw material solution by dissolving, in a solvent, (1) a block copolymer comprising polymer block components that are immiscible but linked to each other, (2) a first inorganic precursor which is one of a hard magnetic material precursor and a soft magnetic material precursor, and (3) a second inorganic precursor which is the other of the hard magnetic material precursor and the soft magnetic material precursor, and a second step including a phase-separation treatment for forming a nanophase-separated, a conversion treatment for converting the hard magnetic material precursor and the soft magnetic material precursor to a hard magnetic material and a soft magnetic material, respectively, and a removal treatment for removing the block copolymer from the nanophase-separated structure.

There is provided a one-pack type room-temperature-curable 2-cyanoacrylate based composition having magnetism. The 2-cyanoacrylate based composition having magnetism is characterized by containing (a) a 2-cyanoacrylic acid ester and (b) a magnetic powder dispersible in the 2-cyanoacrylic acid ester, wherein the content of the magnetic powder (b) is 5 to 500 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the 2-cyanoacrylic acid ester (a). The magnetic powder (b) is preferably a stainless steel.

The present invention provides a magnetic multilayer pigment flake and a magnetic coating composition that are relatively safe for human health and the environment. The pigment flake includes one or more magnetic layers of a magnetic alloy and one or more dielectric layers of a dielectric material. The magnetic alloy is an iron-chromium alloy or an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, having a substantially nickel-free composition. The coating composition includes a plurality of the pigment flakes disposed in a binder medium.

A method of manufacturing a magnetically graded material, including depositing a steel filler material to a substrate, and applying a directed energy source to first and second regions of the filler material to thereby join the filler material to form a joined material. The energy source is directed to the first region while the first region is provided with an inert shield gas such that the material of the first regions includes a magnetic phase, and the energy source is directed to the second region while the second region is provided with a nitrogen containing shield gas to thereby impart an non-magnetic phase to the joined material.

An electronic component includes a main body composed of an insulator, a coating film covering the main body, a circuit element located inside the main body, and outer electrodes. The insulator contains a metal magnetic powder. The coating film is composed of a resin and a cationic element contained in the insulator.

Items such as electronic devices, fabric-based items, and other items may include strands of magnetic material. The magnetic material may be formed from particles of a rare-earth alloy or other magnetic materials in a binder. Strands of magnetic material may have magnetic cores surrounded by one or more additional layers such as non-magnetic layers or may have non-magnetic cores surrounded by one or more additional layers including a magnetic layer. The strands of material may be uniform along their lengths or may be segmented into non-magnetic and magnetic portions. Items may include fabric formed from intertwined strands of magnetic material. Magnetic material may interact with permanent magnets and electromagnets. Magnetic sensors may monitor for the presence of magnetic portions of a fabric or other structure.