Curie point

In physics, the Curie point is the temperature above which a ferromagnet loses its ferromagnetic ability to possess a net (spontaneous) magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field.

The Curie temperature is a second-order phase transition and a critical point where the magnetic susceptibility is theoretically infinite.

There are four magnetic elements: iron, nickel, cobalt, and gadolinium.

The first three elements have Curie points above 500 C. The extremely rare element gadolinium has a Curie Point of 16 C.

The Curie point is named after Pierre Curie (1859-1906).

See also: Ferroelectric effect