The melting of elemental solids was modelled as being a dislocation-mediated transition on a lattice. The statistical mechanics of linear defects were used to obtain a new relationship between melting point, crystal structure, atomic volume and shear modulus. This was accurate, to within 17%, for at least half of the periodic table.

Analysis of Dislocation Mechanism for Melting of Elements. L.Burakovsky, D.L.Preston: Solid State Communications, 2000, 115[7], 341-5