Agglomerated anti-friction granules for plasma deposition

A collection of agglomerated anti-friction grains for plasma deposition, the grains each consisting essentially of (a) H2O atomized stainless steel particles, (b) solid lubricant particles consisting of at least one of boron nitride or a eutectic of calcium fluoride and lithium fluoride, and (c) a binder holding said steel and solid lubricant particles together for plasma spraying, said binder being present in an amount of 0.5-4.0% by weight and is vaporizable at the temperature of plasma spraying and does not interfere with the deposited process. A method of making agglomerated grains of powder suitable for plasma deposition, by (a) H2O atomization of a molten stream of martensitic stainless steel to produce a collection of first particles, (b) uniformly blending such first particles with solid lubricant second particles and a binder agent in a slurry, the binder agent being present in a small amount and being constituted to vaporize at the temperature of plasma spraying, and (c) mist spraying the slurry into a heated chamber to form a collection of porous rounded granules.