Abstract: The final microstructure and property of metallic materials are determined by hot-working, in terms of phase transformations. With rapid development of the non-equilibrium technology, the processing of hot-working becomes extreme and versatile, so that the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformation is changed from the inter-independence corresponding to brief near-equilibrium process to the highly correlation corresponding to complicated extremely non-equilibrium process. Accordingly, the classical theory, basing on the independent treatment of thermodynamics and kinetics, is unsuitable to describe the mechanism,
predict the microstructure and control the process. In addition, as the research system expansion of catalysts, the traditional design strategy based on independent reaction kinetics or adsorption thermodynamics is incapable of meeting the high-performance demands of catalysts and their efficient screening. As a result, extended from the logical relationship between passion and difficulty in the humanities, the correlation between the thermodynamic driving force and kinetic energy barrier is raised in this review. Focusing on non-equilibrium solidification, thermal stability of grain boundary migration and grain growth, martensitic transition in Fe via Bain path, the correlation between thermodynamics and kinetics is quantitatively summarized, and the microstructure prediction model is set up. The new concept of thermo-kinetic synergy is raised, based which the design and preparation of DD3 alloy, nanostructured Febased alloy, A356 aluminum alloy and strained electrocatalysts are reviewed.