Based on the sintering conference held at the Pennsylvania State University, USA, this text presents advances in the application of sintering to the most important industrial materials. It offers results on both solid-state and microphase sintering as well as microstructure evolution, and introduces new applications, processes, materials and solutions to technical problems.

The proceedings of the Twenty-First University Conference on Ceramic Science held at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA on July 17, 18 and 19, 1985 are compiled in this volume "Tailoring Multiphase and Composite Ceramics." This Conference emphasized the' discussion and analysis of the properties of multiphase ceramic materials in which the microstructure is deliberately tailored for specific applications or properties. Inter nationally recognized authorities presented keynote and invited lectures on topics dealing with processing and fabrication of multiphase and com posite electroceramics, fiber reinforced composites and high temperature multiphase ceramics. Results of recent research were presented in oral and poster sessions by leading researchers from several countries. This collection of papers represents the state of the art in our understand ing of the processing-structure-property interrelationships for these materials which possess unique and useful electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical and thermal properties as a result of their multiphase nature. We are grateful for the financial support of the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Office of Scien tific Research, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for this conference. We gratefully acknowledge Prof. Robert Davis' leader ship role in steering and expanding this university conference series on ceramic science. We thank Ron Avillion and Linda Rose for their expert assistance in planning and coordinating the meeting. Thanks are due to Ms. Marian Reed, Ms. Judy Bell and Ms."