Advances in nanotechnology offer great new promise in new multifunctional systems that experts predict to be a major economic force within the next decade. Ceramic materials enable new developments in such areas as electronics and displays, portable power systems and personnel protection. This issue will present the results of current basic and applied research and potential commercial applications. This book is comprised of papers from the Proceedings of the 30th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, January 22-27, 2006, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Organized and sponsored by The American Ceramic Society and The American Ceramic Society's Engineering Ceramics Division in conjunction with the Nuclear and Environmental