The velocity of sound in metals at high temperatures

A pulse method of measuring the velocity of sound in thin rods over a wide temperature range, in some cases to the melting point, has been developed. The results of measurements on aluminium, brass, nickel, iron, lead, solder and thallium show that, in the strain free condition, the method is a sensitive indication of physical and structural changes. The changes associated with the onset of a liquid phase, the Curie point, order-disorder and other structural changes are described.