Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
A criterion for anomalous melting in systems with isotropic interactions
Gianpietro Malescio1, Franz Saija
1Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy. malescio@unime.it
Anomalous melting in one-component systems is linked to repulsive intermolecular forces. A new criterion predicts temperature maxima in melting lines, validated by simulations of isotropic interaction models.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Thermodynamics
- Materials science
Background:
- Anomalous melting, or re-entrant melting, describes unusual phase transitions where melting occurs with increasing pressure.
- Understanding the factors driving anomalous melting is crucial for predicting material behavior under extreme conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the connection between anomalous melting and the repulsive forces in intermolecular potentials.
- To develop a theoretical criterion for predicting the occurrence of temperature maxima in melting lines.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the Lennard-Jones-Devonshire cell model for one-component systems.
- Deriving a single-phase criterion based on the repulsive part of the intermolecular potential.
- Testing the derived criterion against numerical simulation data.
Main Results:
- A direct relationship was established between repulsive intermolecular potential features and anomalous melting.
- A novel single-phase criterion was successfully derived to predict temperature maxima in melting lines.
- The criterion demonstrated good agreement with simulation results for various isotropic interaction models.
Conclusions:
- The repulsive part of the intermolecular potential plays a significant role in anomalous melting phenomena.
- The derived criterion offers a valuable tool for predicting complex melting behaviors in materials.
- This work provides fundamental insights into the thermodynamics of melting in simplified systems.
Related Concept Videos
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility
Temporary attractive forces like dispersion are present in all molecules, whether they are polar or nonpolar. They...
Molecular and Ionic Solids
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
Solid–Solid Solutions
Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties
Magnetostatic Boundary Conditions

