Thermal expansion of magnetite (4.2-300 K)

Abstract

The thermal expansion of a synthetic single-crystal sample of magnetite (Fe3O4) in the [111] direction has been investigated for the temperature range of 4.2-300 K using three-terminal capacitance dilatometry. The strain results and corresponding thermal expansion curve show the Verwey transition to be first-order with Tv = 120 2 K. At T = 4.2-70 K, the sample shows Invar-like behaviour.