This collection of 185 papers results from contributions made at Electroceramics VI which forms part of the joint triple meeting held in Montreaux, Switzerland in August 1998. The joint meeting covered recent advances in the broad and rapidly progressing field of electroceramics, ferroelectrics and polar dielectrics. More than 550 papers were presented at the triple meeting (250 of them at Electorceramics VI '98) including a series of plenary lectures highlighting research areas of strong current and emerging interests. The meeting demonstrated the wide variety of new applications being developed, based in particular on ferroelectrics, polar dielectrics, ionic conductors and any other functional ceramics.

In comparison with previous meetings, the present one showed the growing importance of surfaces, interfaces and other boundaries, e.g. domain walls. Size effects and questions related to nanotechnology were comprehensively discussed both on the academic level and for device realizations. Microdevices and their integration problems (and solutions) were at the heart of many reports. The papers reflected the extensive activities in this interdisciplinary area, while the balance between presentations from academic laboratories and from industrial R&D laboratories was a testimony to its vitality. The volume contains 185 papers selected after refereeing of the 220 papers submitted for publication.

This collection of 185 papers results from contributions made at Electroceramics VI which forms part of the joint triple meeting held in Montreaux, Switzerland in August 1998. The joint meeting covered recent advances in the broad and rapidly progressing field of electroceramics, ferroelectrics and polar dielectrics. More than 550 papers were presented at the triple meeting (250 of them at Electorceramics VI '98) including a series of plenary lectures highlighting research areas of strong current and emerging interests. The meeting demonstrated the wide variety of new applications being developed, based in particular on ferroelectrics, polar dielectrics, ionic conductors and any other functional ceramics.

In comparison with previous meetings, the present one showed the growing importance of surfaces, interfaces and other boundaries, e.g. domain walls. Size effects and questions related to nanotechnology were comprehensively discussed both on the academic level and for device realizations. Microdevices and their integration problems (and solutions) were at the heart of many reports. The papers reflected the extensive activities in this interdisciplinary area, while the balance between presentations from academic laboratories and from industrial R&D laboratories was a testimony to its vitality. The volume contains 185 papers selected after refereeing of the 220 papers submitted for publication.