To improve sliding properties on the surface of a bearing part via the application of a thermal spray layer, and to provide an improved bearing apparatus which is simple from the viewpoint of construction and in particular evades problems associated with zinc abrasion known from technical standards.

The invention relates to a zinc-free spray powder for thermally coating a substrate, in particular for thermally coating the bearing part of a bearing apparatus. The spray powder has the following composition except for unavoidable contaminants: tin=5 to 30 weight percent; aluminum=0.1 to 5 weight percent, iron=at most 1 weight percent, and copper=difference to 100 weight percent. The invention further relates to layer system applied via thermal spraying, a workpiece, particularly a connecting rod, as well as a spray method for producing a spray layer.