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The guest editors introduce the papers published within this Special Issue on the Applications of Ferroelectrics in the IEEE Transactions of Ultrasonics, Ferroelectric, and Frequency Control (TUFFC).

A modification of a technique for the measurement of the thermal diffusivity of thin solid materials is presented. The technique is called Thermal Diffusivity by Laser Intensity Modulation Method (LIMM-TD). It is based on the measurement of the phase retardation of a thermal wave passing through the test material by means of a lead-zirconate-titanate ceramic (PZT) pyroelectric detector. It is not necessary to know either the pyroelectric coefficient of the detector or the intensity of the laser beam. The method was tested on quartz samples to verify its accuracy. It was then applied to the study of several sets of ceramic samples with porosities of 20, 25, and 30%. One sample set was poled and the pores were partially filled with the fluid used during poling. A second set was not poled. The poled porous samples had thermal conductivities intermediate between that of a commercial dense sample and those of unpoled materials. Thermal diffusivities and conductivities were also measured on micron-thickness porous silica samples. The experimental results were compared with calculations using several composite mixing theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including an overview of the fundamental materials science required to advance the discipline, as well as papers on the applications of ferroelectric materials and another on the applications of ferroelectrics.

The Laser Intensity Modulation Method (LIMM) is widely used for the determination of the spatial distribution of polarization in ceramics, single crystals and polymers. A brief history of the origin and development of LIMM during the past 20 years is presented. The experimental technique and the derivation of the LIMM equation are described. The data analysis requires the numerical solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the 1st kind. This is an ill-posed problem that has multiple and very different solutions. In this paper, a new technique is proposed that gives the polarization distribution in the form of a special 8th-degree polynomial. Both simulated and experimental data are analyzed with the new technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined some measurements and speculations on the biological significance of piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity and ferroelectricity in biomaterials. Experimental procedures; Results; Conclusions.

Focuses on pyroelectric polymer electrets. Photonics polymers; Fluoropolymers; Polyamides; Crystalline polymers; Polyureas and polythioureas; Spectroscopy and thermal analysis; Data interpretation; Physical properties and figure of merit.