Synthesis of Co(2)Z type hexagonal ferrites and a low-temperature sintering were studied. Co(2)Z phase was formed at 1350 degrees C by a conventional process with some residual Co2Y phase. Co(2)Z phase was first formed at 1300 degrees C by a sol-gel process and the single phase was formed at 1350 degrees C without any other phases. Bulk densities of sintered Co(2)Z bodies increased with increasing Bi2O3 and CuO contents. Specimens prepared with the sol-gel process showed significantly higher initial permeabilities than with the conventional process. The average grain size and density of specimens sintered at the low temperature (900 degrees C increased gradually with increasing Bi2O3 and CuO contents. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.