Nanoparticles of carbon black, silica and ferrous oxide were added to FC-0208 powder metallurgy blends prepared using ethylene bis stearamide as lubricant to investigate their influence on improving flowability of this formulation that tends to be cohesive. This study consisted in preparing multiple premixes having different quantities of nanoparticles of different types and evaluating their impact on flowability and apparent density according to MPIF standards. The important variables for the distribution of nanoparticles on the surface of the host particles were the sequence of addition of all of the constituents, the quantity of nanoparticles and the mixing time. It was possible to identify a condition presenting good flowability with a flow time of 34.9 s/50 g and an apparent density of 2.78 g/cm(3). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.