Elastic properties of neodymium at enhanced temperatures

The temperature dependence of the bulk compression modulus of polycrystalli ne paramagnetic neodymium is analyzed in terms of the Debye-Gruneisen model in a temperature range of 300-800 K. The phonon contribution K-ph(T) to th e change in the elastic modulus of neodymium at enhanced temperatures was f ound to be negligible;the temperature dependence of K is determined almost completely by the electron contribution K-e(T). The unusually large magnitu de of the electron contribution to the high-temperature elastic modulus of metallic neodymium appears to be established for the first time. The K-e(T) contribution may also be substantial for other transition metals at enhanc ed temperatures.