Describes a property of materials whereby an electric dipole moment remains even after a strong electric field is removed. The electric dipole moment (polarity) results from electronic polarization of individual atoms or ions, and/or a reorientation of polarizable molecules in the crystal. Dipole moments in ionic crystals can also form from initial cation positional disorder within a site from unit cell to unit cell; domains (and a dipole) develop when an applied electric field causes a favored positioning of cations within the site cavities. Examples of ferroelectric materials include KDP (potassium dihydrogen phosphate), colemanite, and barium titanate. Dipoles are randomized at the “Curie temperature”.