High purity nanocrystalline Ni has been prepared by means of the inert
gas condensation technique with oxygen contents of less than 0.5 at%
compared to 6 at% after exposure to air. In-situ magnetic measurements
with the specimens sealed in vials under vacuum indicate that the sat
uration magnetization, of high purity nanocrystalline Ni is unchanged
compared to the bulk value but reduced to similar to 80% of the bulk v
alve in specimens which were exposed to air. The magnetization process
in nanocrystalline Ni changes from a homogeneous rotation in powder s
pecimens to domain wall movement in specimens after compaction where m
agnetic domains are observed by means of magneto-optic Kerr techniques
.