COST is a European programme promoting co-operation in science and technology. Today there are over 200 active COST networks (or so-called Actions) operating in 32 countries. Of these Actions, 13 are in the materials sector. This book contains the proceedings of COST 525: 'Advanced Electroceramics - Grain Boundary Engineering', the main objective of which is to understand the role played by grain boundaries in controlling the manufacture, microstructure and properties of electronic ceramics. The increase in knowledge should lead to the development of materials with enhanced properties, improved stability, reduced component costs, and the possibility of new opportunities for existing and developing ceramics.

One of the key technologies needed to understand and develop the mechanical and electrical properties of ceramics is the field of grain boundary engineering. This book covers new developments in this important field and addresses topics from grain boundary phenomena to grain boundary quantum structures, including the development of new techniques such as multifunctional electronmicroscopes, various kinds of spectroscopic analysis, and first principles calculations. Proceedings of the Japan Fine Ceramics Center Workshop, March 15-17, 2000, in Nagoya, Japan; Ceramic Transactions, Volume 118.

Sintering of Ceramics provides the only comprehensive treatment of the theories and principles of sintering and their application to the production of advanced ceramics with the required target microstructure. Stemming from the author's bestselling text, Ceramic Processing and Sintering, this book includes additional material selected

This volume, titled Proceedings of the International Materials Symposium on Ce ramic Microstructures: Control at the Atomic Level summarizes the progress that has been achieved during the past decade in understanding and controlling microstructures in ceram ics. A particular emphasis of the symposium, and therefore of this volume, is advances in the characterization, understanding, and control of micro structures at the atomic or near-atomic level. This symposium is the fourth in a series of meetings, held every ten years, devoted to ceramic microstructures. The inaugural meeting took place in 1966, and focussed on the analysis, significance, and production of microstructure; the symposium emphasized the need for, and importance of characterization in achieving a more complete understanding of the physical and chemical characteristics of ceramics. A consensus emerged at that meeting on the critical importance of characterization in achieving a more complete understanding of ceramic properties. That point of view became widely accepted in the ensuing decade. The second meeting took place in 1976 at a time of world-wide energy shortages and thus emphasized energy-related applications of ceramics, and more specifically, microstructure-property relationships of those materials. The third meeting, held in 1986, was devoted to the role that interfaces played both during processing, and in influencing the ultimate properties of single and polyphase ceramics, and ceramic-metal systems.

Microstructure and Texture in Steels and Other Materials comprises a collection of articles pertaining to experimental and theoretical aspects of the evolution of crystallographic texture and microstructure during processing of steels and some other materials. Among the topics covered is the processing-microstructure-texture-property relationship in various kinds of steels, including the latest grade. Special emphasis has been given to introduce recent advances in the characterization of texture and microstructure, as well as modeling. The papers included are written by well-known experts from academia and industrial R and D, which will provide the reader with state-of-the-art, in-depth knowledge of the subject. With these attributes, Microstructure and Texture in Steels and Other Materials is expected to serve the cause of creating awareness of current developments in microstructural science and materials engineering among academic and R and D personnel working in the field.

Selected papers presented at the International Workshop on Fine Ceramics 92, Materials Processing and Design through Better Control of Grain Boundaries: Emphasizing Fine Ceramics, held in Nagoya, Japan, 12-13 March 1992.

High-temperature ceramic fibers are the key components of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). Ceramic fiber properties (strength, temperature and creep resistance, for example)-along with the debonding characteristics of their coatings-determine the properties of CMCs. This report outlines the state of the art in high-temperature ceramic fibers and coatings, assesses fibers and coatings in terms of future needs, and recommends promising avenues of research. CMCs are also discussed in this report to provide a context for discussing high-temperature ceramic fibers and coatings.