Ferroelectric Ceramics: Tailoring Properties for Specific Applications

Ferroelectric oxide ceramics are used in a very broad range of functional ceramics and form the materials base for the majority of electronic applications. These electronic applications account for more than 60% of the total high technology ceramics market worldwide (High Technology Ceramic News, 1990). It is the purpose of this tutorial paper to examine the range of physical properties which make the ferroelectrics attractive for electronic applications and the techniques which can be used to modify, control and optimize these families of properties.