  Well into the deleptonization phase of a core collapse supernova, a
first-order phase transition to matter with macroscopic strangeness content is
assumed to occur and lead to a structured lattice defined by negatively charged
strange droplets. The lattice is shown to crystallize for expected droplet
charges and separations at temperatures typically obtained during the
protoneutronstar evolution. The melting curve of the lattice for small
spherical droplets is presented. The one-component plasma model proves to be an
adequate description for the lattice in its solid phase with deformation modes
freezing out around the melting temperature. The mechanical stability against
shear stresses is such that velocities predicted for convective phenomena and
differential rotation during the Kelvin-Helmholtz cooling phase might prevent
the crystallization of the phase transition lattice. A solid lattice might be
fractured by transient convection, which could result in anisotropic neutrino
transport. The melting curve of the lattice is relevant for the mechanical
evolution of the protoneutronstar and therefore should be included in future
hydrodynamics simulations.
