The structure and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline, two-phase Sm
(2)Fe(1)7N(x)+alpha-Fe alloys prepared by mechanical alloying and heat
treatment have been studied. Remanence enhancement and single-phase m
agnetic behavior were observed in isotropic powders crystallized at lo
w temperatures (about 600 degrees C), while crystallization at high te
mperatures resulted in two-phase demagnetization curves due to increas
e of the grain size of the soft phase. With increasing Sm concentratio
n the coercivity increased and the remanent magnetization decreased.