A ceramic composition contains Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, and Cr. When Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn are converted to Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO, respectively, and a total amount of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO is 100 parts by mole, the ceramic composition contains from 48.20 to 49.85 parts by mole Fe in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, from 2.00 parts to 8.00 parts by mole Cu in terms of CuO, from 11.90 to 18.70 parts by mole Ni in terms of NiO, and from 27.00 to 33.50 parts by mole Zn in terms of ZnO. When Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn are converted to Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO, respectively, and a total amount of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO is 100 parts by weight, the ceramic composition contains from 5 to 100 ppm Co in terms of CoO and from 10 to 400 ppm in terms of Cr.sub.2O.sub.3.

A ceramic composition contains Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, and Cr. When Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn are converted to Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO, respectively, and a total amount of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO is 100 parts by mole, the ceramic composition contains from 48.20 to 49.85 parts by mole Fe in terms of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, from 2.00 parts to 8.00 parts by mole Cu in terms of CuO, from 11.90 to 18.70 parts by mole Ni in terms of NiO, and from 27.00 to 33.50 parts by mole Zn in terms of ZnO. When Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn are converted to Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO, respectively, and a total amount of Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, CuO, NiO, and ZnO is 100 parts by weight, the ceramic composition contains from 5 to 100 ppm Co in terms of CoO and from 10 to 400 ppm in terms of Cr.sub.2O.sub.3.

A method for making an iron-based oxide magnetic powder includes adding raw material solution containing trivalent iron ions, or trivalent iron ions and ions of a metal element that partially substitutes Fe sites, and an alkaline aqueous solution for neutralizing the raw material solution to a reaction system to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower. Hydroxycarboxylic acid is added to the obtained reaction solution and thereafter the pH of the reaction system is neutralized to 7.0 or higher and 10.0 or lower. The obtained precipitate of a substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide is coated with silicon oxide and then heated, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder is obtained with a reduced content of fine and coarse particles, a particle shape close to a perfect sphere, and particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements.

A method for making an iron-based oxide magnetic powder includes adding raw material solution containing trivalent iron ions, or trivalent iron ions and ions of a metal element that partially substitutes Fe sites, and an alkaline aqueous solution for neutralizing the raw material solution to a reaction system to adjust the pH of the reaction system to 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower. Hydroxycarboxylic acid is added to the obtained reaction solution and thereafter the pH of the reaction system is neutralized to 7.0 or higher and 10.0 or lower. The obtained precipitate of a substituent metal element-containing iron oxyhydroxide is coated with silicon oxide and then heated, whereby an iron-based oxide magnetic powder is obtained with a reduced content of fine and coarse particles, a particle shape close to a perfect sphere, and particles of ε-iron oxide in which Fe sites are partially substituted by other metal elements.

An inductor component includes a multilayer body including a magnetic layer and a spiral wiring line disposed in the multilayer body. The magnetic layer includes a base resin, a metal magnetic powder, and a non-magnetic powder. The base resin has voids, and the metal magnetic powder and the non-magnetic powder are contained in the base resin. There is a particle of the metal magnetic powder that is in contact with at least one of the voids and with the non-magnetic powder.

An inductor component includes a multilayer body including a magnetic layer and a spiral wiring line disposed in the multilayer body. The magnetic layer includes a base resin, a metal magnetic powder, and a non-magnetic powder. The base resin has voids, and the metal magnetic powder and the non-magnetic powder are contained in the base resin. There is a particle of the metal magnetic powder that is in contact with at least one of the voids and with the non-magnetic powder.

Disclosed is a magnetic core having improved reliability. The magnetic core includes 37 to 44 mol % of manganese (Mn), 9 to 16 mol % of zinc (Zn), 42 to 52 mol % of iron (Fe), a magnetic additive, and a non-magnetic additive, wherein the magnetic core has a permeability of 2,900 or more and a core loss of 500 mW/cm.sup.3 or less.

Mn—Zn ferrite particles according to the present invention contain 44-60% by mass of Fe, 10-16% by mass of Mn and 1-11% by mass of Zn. The ferrite particles are single crystal bodies having an average particle diameter of 1-2,000 nm, and have polyhedral particle shapes, while having an average sphericity of 0.85 or more but less than 0.95.

To provide a spinel ferrite magnetic powder having excellent characteristics. A method for manufacturing a magnetic powder includes: melting and then quenching a glass-forming component and a spinel ferrite magnetic powder-forming component to manufacture an amorphous body; and heat-treating the amorphous body to precipitate a spinel ferrite magnetic powder. An oxygen partial pressure during the heat treatment is 1.0 kPa or less.

To provide a spinel ferrite magnetic powder having excellent characteristics. A method for manufacturing a magnetic powder includes: melting and then quenching a glass-forming component and a spinel ferrite magnetic powder-forming component to manufacture an amorphous body; and heat-treating the amorphous body to precipitate a spinel ferrite magnetic powder. An oxygen partial pressure during the heat treatment is 1.0 kPa or less.