Energetic materials constitute critical components in defense systems, where their micro/mesostructures fundamentally govern both basic properties and dynamic responses. Phase transitions—ubiquitous microstructural changes occurring in most energetic crystals prior to reaction—significantly alter material properties and kinetic behaviors, thereby impacting detonation performance and safety.

Despite decades of international research, phase transitions remain a challenging frontier due to complex experimental methodologies and incompletely resolved transition mechanisms. Current limitations in understanding phase evolution hinder accurate physical modeling and engineering predictions, and often lead to unanticipated phenomena in applications. Thus, deciphering phase transitions carries profound scientific and engineering significance.

In recent years, through the support of the Scientific Challenges Initiative, collaborative efforts with domestic research teams have advanced studies on phase transition mechanisms in explosive materials. This work has enabled the development of an experimental framework integrating multi-path loading techniques and multi-parameter diagnostics. New insights into phase transition behaviors and material properties have been gained for crystalline explosives including RDX, HMX, and TATB.

To acknowledge the critical support from the Scientific Challenges Initiative and our national colleagues, this Special Topic presents five representative papers showcasing recent advances in phase transition methodologies and mechanistic understanding. Expert comments and insights from the research community are most welcome.

We acknowledge the Special Scientific Challenge Project and national colleagues for their support.

Xianxu ZHENG

Institute of Fluid Physics, China Academy of Engineering Physics