A hot stage in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) was used for in situ infiltration experiments. Pressureless infiltration of a porous Ti-activated Al(2)O(3) preform has been investigated at temperatures up to 1530 degrees C under two atmospheres (He and H(2)O((g))). A brief description of the operating and the experimental set-up is given. Silver and Inconel (Ni superalloy) infiltration experiments demonstrate the in situ potential of the ESEM at temperatures up to 1500 degrees C.