Change of Magnetic Susceptibility of Transition Metals and Alloys at their Melting Points

Abstract

The magnetic susceptibility of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and their alloys has been measured through their melting points up to 1600°C. In general, the susceptibility of transition metals shows a decrease or an increase on melting, depending on whether the interatomic interactions favour parallel alignment of atomic magnetic moments or not, indicating that the interactions are always weaker in liquid than in solid. Although some Fe alloys of face-centred cubic lattice form exceptions to the above simple rule, they are also explained on the basis of the Bethe-Slater exchange interaction curve together with the volume increase on melting.
It is to be noted that a remarkable supercooling of liquid, often exceeding one hundred degrees, has been observed during the course of these susceptibility measurements.