Chemically homogeneous microcrystalline metal powder for coating substrates

A boron containing metal powder for deposit onto a substrate to form a boride-free continuous coating which is bonded to the substrate and free from interconnected porosity comprising a chemically homogeneous microcrystalline powder having Ni, Fe, Co or a combination thereof as a base and which contains between about 5 at % and 30 at % B;

• said powder is in platelet form having an outline formed by fracture and having a particle size distribution such that said powder will pass through an 80 mesh (Tyler) screen and less than half of said powder will pass through a +270 mesh screen.