Softening of nickel in the vicinity of its Curie point

The dynamic yield strength of commercially pure nickel (99.5% Ni), as determined by planar impact experiments, shows a fivefold decrease in the close (+/- 50 degrees C) vicinity of its Curie point. The effect is attributed to the enhanced adsorption of impurity atoms by stacking fault ribbons (Suzuki atmosphere) that takes place in a narrow temperature interval. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.