Over the past several years, it has become increasingly evident that materials for proposed advanced energy systems will be required to operate at high temperatures and in aggressive environments. These constraints make structural ceramics attractive materials for these systems. However it is well known that the condition of the specimen surface of ceramic materials is often critical in controlling properties such as fracture toughness, oxidation resistance, and wear resistance. Ion implantation techniques offer the potential of overcoming some of the surface related limitations.While the effects of implantation on surface sensitive properties may be measured indpendently, it is important to understand the microstructural evolution leading to these changes. Analytical electron microscopy provides a useful tool for characterizing the microstructures produced in terms of solute concentration profiles, second phase formation, lattice damage, crystallinity of the implanted layer, and annealing behavior. Such analyses allow correlations to be made with theoretical models, property measurements, and results of complimentary techniques.
