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The Curie temperature (Tc), or Curie point, is a term in physics and materials science, named after Pierre Curie (1859-1906), and refers to a characteristic property of a ferromagnetic or piezoelectric material.
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Curie temperature in ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic materials
The Curie temperature of a ferromagnetic or a ferrimagnetic material is the temperature above which it becomes paramagnetic (it is for instance 768°C or 1414 °F for iron). Below the Curie temperature the magnetic moments are aligned parallel within
The destruction of magnetization at the Curie temperature is a second-order phase transition and a critical point where the magnetic susceptibility is theoretically infinite.
A heat-induced ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition is used in magneto-optical storage media, where it is used for erasing and writing of new data. Famous examples include the Sony Minidisc format, as well as the defunct CD-MO format.
Other uses include temperature control in soldering irons such as those made by Metcal and the Weller WTCPT and, in general, where a temperature-controlled magnetization is desirable.
Curie temperature in piezoelectric materials
In analogy to ferromagnetic materials, the Curie temperature is also used in piezoelectric materials to describe the temperature above which the material loses its spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric characteristics. In lead zirconate titanate (PZT), the material is tetragonal below Tc and the unit cell contains a displaced central cation and hence a net dipole moment. Above Tc, the material is cubic and the central cation is no longer displaced from the centre of the unit cell. Hence, there is no net dipole moment and no spontaneous polarization.
Curie-Weiss law k = C / (T − Weiss constant)
See also
- See ferromagnetism for a list of ferromagnetic materials and their Curie temperatures.
- Ferroelectric effect
- Néel temperature
- Pierre Curie
External links
- Ferromagnetic Curie Point. Video by Walter Lewin, M.I.T.
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