Thermal safety of energetic materials is a critical concern in the design, storage, transportation, and application of high-energy compounds such as propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. Energetic materials are highly reactive and can undergo violent decomposition under thermal stimulation, which poses a significant hazard in accidental fire scenarios. When exposed to external heat flux, these materials may experience complex processes including melting, pyrolysis, gas generation, ignition, and combustion. The onset of self-sustaining reactions or thermal runaway is often linked to the generation and accumulation of heat exceeding the material’s heat dissipation capacity. During thermal decomposition, energetic materials can release substantial quantities of heat and gas, contributing to pressure buildup and secondary hazards. Therefore, the study of their thermal decomposition mechanisms, safety thresholds, and combustion behavior is essential for assessing the risks and preventing catastrophic incidents. Understanding the thermal safety characteristics of energetic materials is fundamental for the safe lifecycle management and regulation of these hazardous substances. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: decomposition kinetics and reaction pathways of energetic materials, fire and explosion risk evaluation, thermal stability enhancement strategies, and advanced modeling of thermally induced events.

We are pleased to introduce the special issue entitled „Novel aspects and trends in thermal analysis and calorimetry in Central and Eastern Europe“, regarding the 8th Central and Eastern European Conference on Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (CEEC-TAC8), that was held between 16th and 19th of September 2025 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The CEEC-TAC8 conference gathered 147 registered participants from 26 countries, presenting a total number of 155 scientific works. Of those, 2 are Award Plenary Lectures (APL), 5 are Plenary Lectures (PL), 12 are Invited Lectures (IL), 2 Parallel Sessions of Oral Presentations – 40 contributions (OP) & 3 Sessions of Poster Presentation – 96 contributions (PS). Each session of oral presentations comprised of 20 works, while each poster presentations included 32 works. The topics of the conference were divided into two groups: a) Theory, Kinetics, Energetics, Materials Science and Engineering; b) Calorimetry, Thermodynamics, Structural changes, Polymers, Nanomaterials and Organic Functional Systems.

At this edition, Awards were offered to exceptional scientists: i) Prof. Dimitris Achilias from Greece (Distinguished TA&C Researcher in Central & Eastern Europe) and ii) Dr. Tadas Dambrauskas from Lithuania (Outstanding Young TA&C Researcher in Central & Eastern Europe). It was organized by the Central and Eastern European Committee for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (CEEC-TAC), in collaboration with the National Associations for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry from Central and Eastern European countries, the University of Mostar, Faculty of Science and Education (University of Mostar), Faculty of Humanistics and Social Sciences (University of Mostar), University of Split, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology (University of Split), Babeş-Bolyai University, Institute of Physical Chemistry-Ilie Murgulescu, and Committee for Thermal Science and Calorimetry of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The special issue „Novel aspects and trends in thermal analysis and calorimetry in Central and Eastern Europe“ is intended to hosted by the Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (JTAC); participants to the CEEC-TAC8 conference are allowed to send maximum two articles to JTAC for this special issue.