a b s t r a c tInterstitial hardening via low-temperature carburization and nitridation has been studied in 17-7 precipitation-hardening stainless steel. During such interstitial hardening, nanometer-scale NiAl precipitates form in delta ferrite in the bulk, but not in the hardened surface layer. In the carburized ferrite grains, regions of NiAl stoichiometry could be identified, but cannot be identified as regions with a different crystal structure. In the nitrided grains, NiAl particles could neither be detected by corresponding changes in local composition nor by their crystal structure.Precipitation-hardening (PH) stainless steels are a family of stainless steels that combine high strength, ductility, and good corrosion resistance. They are widely used as structural materials in various industrial applications. Depending on the thermal history, alloys can contain variable amounts of austenite, ferrite, and martensite. Precipitation hardening in these steels is achieved by homogeneously dispersed fine precipitates formed during aging.PH stainless steels containing Ni and Al (like 17-7 and 13-8 Mo) can be age-hardened by the formation of NiAl particles (space group Pm 3m). The lattice parameter of stoichiometric NiAl at room temperature is 0.2887 nm, which is very close to the lattice parameter of the ferrite matrix (0.2881 nm in this study). The aging temperature of 17-7 PH stainless steel is above 773 K [1].Age hardening by NiAl was studied previously in several stainless steels. In the initial stage of NiAl precipitation, there are significant fractions of Cr, Mo, and Fe present in the precipitates [2-6]. As aging proceeds, the fractions of Ni and Al increases and the Ni-to-Al ratio approaches unity [2,3]. The NiAl precipitates are nanometer-sized, spherical, and coherent with the ferrite-or martensite matrix [6].Low-temperature carburization or nitridation are effective ways to improve surface properties and corrosion resistance of stainless steels [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. For PH 13-8 Mo stainless steel, a significant increase of surface hardness and corrosion resistance was achieved after low-temperature carburization [13]. Interestingly, a thin carbidic layer formed on the carburized surface. However, there was no report of NiAl formation.Low-temperature carburization and nitridation have also been successfully applied to 17-7 PH stainless steel [14,15]. The ferrite phase in the alloy responds to such interstitial hardening in a very unique and unusual manner, leading to a weak-contrast appearance in conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. Nanometer-scale NiAl precipitates were observed in the ferrite grains in the bulk but absent in the weak-contrast grains [14].In the present work, we investigate the effect of lowtemperature carburization and nitridation on the formation of NiAl precipitates in the ferrite phase of 17-7 PH stainless steel. 17-7 PH stainless steel in condition A [1] was provided by AK steel in the form of 3 mm thick plates. The nominal composition is 17-19 at.% Cr, ...