Far-reaching geometrical artefacts due to thermal decomposition of polymeric coatings around focused ion beam milled pigment particles.Focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) instruments are extensively used to characterize nanoscale composition of composite materials, however, their application to analysis of organic corrosion barrier coatings has been limited.  The primary concern that arises with use of FIB to mill organic materials is the possibility of severe thermal damage that occurs in close proximity to the ion beam impact. 
THERM