  The optical properties of small spherical iron grains are derived using a
Kramers-Kronig-consistent model of the dielectric function including its
dependence on temperature and size. Especially discussed is the effect of the
size dependence, which results from the limitation of the free path of the free
electrons in the metal by the size of the grain, on the absorption behaviour of
small iron spheres and spheroids. The estimated absorption properties are
applied to study the temperature behaviour of spherical and spheroidal grains
which are heated by the interstellar radiation field.
