The metastable compound Nd6Fe77B17 has been obtained by the crystalliz
ation from the amorphous phase in the Nd-Fe-B system. Its crystal stru
cture is similar to that of the compound Nd2Fe23B3. At high temperatur
e this metastable compound decomposes into alpha-Fe and Nd1.1Fe4B4 pha
ses. The room temperature magnetization and coercivity are 154 A m2/kg
and 12 kA/m, respectively.