A bulk permanent magnetic material may include between about 5 volume percent and about 40 volume percent Fe16N2 phase domains, a plurality of nonmagnetic atoms or molecules forming domain wall pinning sites, and a balance soft magnetic material, wherein at least some of the soft magnetic material is magnetically coupled to the Fe16N2 phase domains via exchange spring coupling. In some examples, a bulk permanent magnetic material may be formed by implanting N+ ions in an iron workpiece using ion implantation to form an iron nitride workpiece, pre-annealing the iron nitride workpiece to attach the iron nitride workpiece to a substrate, and post-annealing the iron nitride workpiece to form Fe16N2 phase domains within the iron nitride workpiece.