On Pr9Fe85B6, Pr11.76Fe82.36B5.88 and Pr18Fe76B6 the temperature dependence
of the coercive held H-c above T-c of the hard magnetic phase was measured
. A maximum of H-c(T) has been observed. This effect is comparable to the m
agnetic hardening of nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys. It gives evidenc
e for magnetic exchange coupling between the nanocrystalline soft magnetic
grains in these compounds. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv
ed.