Surfactant　assist　ball　milling,　chemical　coating,　and　hot　compaction　techniques　have　been　applied　to　prepare　bulk　anisotropic　SmCo5/alpha-Fe　nanocomposite　permanent　magnets.　The　effects　of　alpha-Fe　content　on　the　structure　and　magnetic　properties　of　the　magnets　were　studied.　As　the　alpha-Fe　content　increases,　the　remanence　of　the　magnets　increases　first,　peaking　at　5　wt.%　of　alpha-Fe　content,　then　falls　as　the　alpha-Fe　content　increases,　while　the　coercive　force　of　the　magnets　drops　simultaneously.　Crystal　structure　analysis　shows　that　all　the　magnets　exhibit　noticeable　c-axis　crystal　texture　of　SmCo5　phase.　The　SmCo5/alpha-Fe　magnet　with　5　wt.%　alpha-Fe　possesses　M-2.3T　of　78.68　emu/g,　Mr　of　70.03　emu/g,　and　Hci　of　8.02　kOe.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.