In this study, the effect of a nitrogen compression plasma flow on the microstructural and mechanical
properties, as well as on the elemental and phase compositions of a Zr/chromiumenickel steel system
has been investigated. The Zr/steel system was exposed to a single pulse of the compression plasma flow
or to a series of pulses. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron
spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray analyses, and subjected to a Vickers
microhardness test. The findings showed the formation of a surface modified layer alloyed by Zr with the
thickness of up to ~12 mm. The modified layer contains a- and g-iron-based solid solutions, the Fe23Zr6
intermetallic compound, and ZrN and Cr2N nitrides due to nitrogen diffusion. The microhardness of the
modified layer increased by a factor of ~2.