Local premelting about impurities

Abstract
X-ray-absorption fine-structure measurements were made on pure Pb and dilute solid solutions of Hg in Pb. These measurements are consistent with a model of local premelting of bonds around the Hg impurities beginning around 400 K, which is 180 °C below the bulk melting temperature of the alloy. The results imply that initiation of bulk three-dimensional melting may occur around point defects, even for pure materials.