Low-temperature (600-800 degrees C) short-time (30-90 min) nitriding of IVa-group transition metals, Ti and Zr, in flow of NH3 gas (uncracked ammonia) was carried out under heating with concentrated solar beam in the vertical type SF5 solar furnace at PSA (Plataforma Solar de Almeria) in Tabernas, Spain. Due to low nitriding temperature and short reaction duration, full conversion of starting metallic material to nitride was not realized as a matter of course. Nevertheless, detectable extent of nitriding appeared to have progressed for both metallic Ti and Zr at the reaction temperature higher than 700 degrees C to yield mono-nitride MN possessing face centred cubic (fcc) lattice co-existed with M solid-solutioned with N possessing hexagonal closed packed (hcp) lattice. Such partially nitrided powders might be accepted as convenient starting material for combustion synthesis (CS) of near net shape component of nitride ceramics. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.