Method for manufacturing powder magnetic core

A method for manufacturing a powder magnetic core, comprising:

• a step of compacting a raw material powder to form a compact;
• a step of performing a first heat treatment on the compact to obtain a first heat-treated body, wherein prior to performing the first heat treatment the compact has a relative density of 85% or more and 95% or less;
• and
• a step of performing a second heat treatment on the first heat-treated body to obtain a second heat-treated body,
• wherein the raw material powder contains a soft magnetic powder and a lubricant that has a melting point Tm of 80° C. to 230° C. inclusive,
• the soft magnetic powder has a mean particle diameter D50 of 220 μm or less,
• the first heat treatment is performed in a temperature range from Tm to Tm+50° C. inclusive for a time of 15 minutes or longer,
• the second heat treatment is performed in a temperature range from 400° C. to 900° C. inclusive for a time of 3 minutes to 90 minutes inclusive, the temperature range of the second heat treatment being higher than the temperature range of the first heat treatment.