Disclosed is a chromium-nickel stainless steel alloy article having an adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides and a method of forming an adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides on a chromium-nickel stainless steel alloy article. The coating desirably has a thickness of from about 25.4 to about 102 microns (1 mil to about 4 mils) and is formed by exposure of the article to an oxidizing atmosphere, preferably air, preferably during heat treatment of the article. Such articles are useful, inter alia, as torque drive inserts for a friction disk for a multi-disk brake or clutch assembly. The drive inserts can be formed of an alloy such as 17-4PH stainless steel alloy having an adherent coating of lubricious oxides formed during frictional contact. It is believed that these lubricious oxides will form also if the heat treated base alloy is subject to temperatures greater than 815.6.degree. C. (1500.degree. F.) for a sufficient time in an oxidizing atmosphere.