Agglomerated iron-based powders

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a free flowing agglomerated iron-based powder comprising mixing dry ingredients of: a) 63-95% by weight of a fine base powder consisting essentially of iron and having a particle size essentially less than 75 mu m; b) 5-20% by weight of a lubricating phase having a particle size essentially less than 120 mu m, preferably less than 60 mu m; c) 0-15% by weight of a hard phase material having a particle size essentially less than 10 mu m; and d) 0-7% of additives in a mixing chamber; evacuating the mixing chamber; filling the mixing chamber with an insert gas, mixing the ingredients with at most 1% by weight of a binding agent, and adding a solvent and drying the obtained powder.