Insulation layer design for soft magnetic composites by synthetically comparing their magnetic properties and coating process parameters

•Ferrite coating layer can enhance SMCs’ permeability, but lead to a relatively low DC-bias property.•C-SMCs exhibit lower Pe of 20.2% of Pcv as compared to that of 61.9% for R-SMCs coated alone with resin.•FeSi@SiO2&ferrite SMCs with fine magnetic properties faced shortcomings of long preparation time and high synthesis temperature.•SMC coated with inorganic material can be widely used in industry due to its friendly preparation conditions.