Thermodynamics of melting-dictated contributions to mechanical performance of crystalline materials

A simple thermodynamic analysis of deformation-dictated melting of crystalline materials that serves to determine an upper bound for work of deformation in reversible deformation, or recoverable work in dissipative deformation, is presented here. It should apply to all crystalline materials, except chemically crosslinked polymers. Depending on the nature of the failure process in a given material, the phenomenon of concern here can serve to enhance or limit the mechanical performance of crystalline materials.