Thermodynamic theory of size dependence of melting temperature in metals

The way that small particles melt is a crucial clement in the construction of a thermodynamic treatment of the relation between particle size and melting temperature. There are indications that melting is initiated at the surface and that the solid-liquid interface sweeps rapidly through the solid at the melting temperature. The formal and physical elements of the indicated nucleation and growth criterion for melting are discussed and the existence of upper and lower limits on the melting temperature is outlined. Theoretical predictions show satisfactory agreement with experimental observations.