A sliding component including a sliding layer, and an intermediate component including at least one undercut portion, the intermediate component coupled to the sliding layer, wherein the intermediate component has a thickness, T, and wherein an exposed thickness, T.sub.E, of the intermediate component is less than T. A method of forming a sliding component including providing an intermediate component including at least one undercut portion, the intermediate component having a thickness, T, and coupling a sliding layer to the intermediate component, wherein the intermediate component is partially embedded into the sliding layer, and wherein an exposed thickness, T.sub.E, of the intermediate component is less than T.

A tilting segment (3, 3) for a tilting segment sliding bearing (1, 1) has a segment body (13, 13) for receiving bearing forces. The segment body (13, 13) is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. The composite material includes a polyether ketone and carbon fibers that function as reinforcement fibers. The carbon fibers make up 25 wt. % to 70 wt. % of the fiber-reinforced composite material. Additionally, the carbon fibers form a fabric. The fabric has a contour that has an orientation that is parallel to a sliding surface (8, 18) of the segment body (13, 13).

A tilting segment (3, 3) for a tilting segment sliding bearing (1, 1) has a segment body (13, 13) for receiving bearing forces. The segment body (13, 13) is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. The composite material includes a polyether ketone and carbon fibers that function as reinforcement fibers. The carbon fibers make up 25 wt. % to 70 wt. % of the fiber-reinforced composite material. Additionally, the carbon fibers form a fabric. The fabric has a contour that has an orientation that is parallel to a sliding surface (8, 18) of the segment body (13, 13).

A method of forming an engineered material, for example a material for use in a bearing, is provided. The method includes forming a template polymer microlattice by disposing a perforated mask over a reservoir of ultra-violet (UV) curable resin in liquid form, conveying beams of light through the perforated mask and into the reservoir along paths, and transforming the liquid UV curable resin along the paths into a plurality of interconnected solid polymer fibers. The method further includes applying a metal material to the template polymer microlattice to form a microlattice of the metal material, and removing the template polymer microlattice from the metal microlattice. The method next includes disposing a low friction material in interstices of the metal microlattice, and sintering the low friction material disposed in the interstices of the metal microlattice.

A method of forming an engineered material, for example a material for use in a bearing, is provided. The method includes forming a template polymer microlattice by disposing a perforated mask over a reservoir of ultra-violet (UV) curable resin in liquid form, conveying beams of light through the perforated mask and into the reservoir along paths, and transforming the liquid UV curable resin along the paths into a plurality of interconnected solid polymer fibers. The method further includes applying a metal material to the template polymer microlattice to form a microlattice of the metal material, and removing the template polymer microlattice from the metal microlattice. The method next includes disposing a low friction material in interstices of the metal microlattice, and sintering the low friction material disposed in the interstices of the metal microlattice.

A bearing component including a substrate; a sliding layer overlying the substrate; and a metal mesh comprising filaments embedded in the sliding layer, the metal mesh having a woven structure such that the filaments overlap each other at intersections, where a plurality of intersections include a first filament overlying a second filament, the first filament being mechanically so as to interlock with the second filament.

A bearing component including a substrate; a sliding layer overlying the substrate; and a metal mesh comprising filaments embedded in the sliding layer, the metal mesh having a woven structure such that the filaments overlap each other at intersections, where a plurality of intersections include a first filament overlying a second filament, the first filament being mechanically so as to interlock with the second filament.

A laminate includes a metal substrate and a sliding layer overlying the metal substrate. The sliding layer can include a polymer fabric. The polymer fabric can include first polymer P1. The sliding layer can further included a melt-processable matrix polymer. The melt-processable matrix polymer can include a second polymer P2. In embodiments, either P1 or P2 is a fluoropolymer. The sliding layer can further include a filler. In embodiments, the total amount of fluoropolymer and filler in the sliding layer is at least 30 vol %.

A system for elastically compensating for wear, thermal expansion and misalignment comprises a ring located between a housing and a pin in the bore of the housing. The ring has a backing layer, an expanded grid structure having a plurality of openings, a low friction layer penetrated into the openings of the expanded grid structure, and adhesive for bonding the backing layer, expanded grid structure and low friction layer together to provide elastic deformation of the ring between the housing and pin.

A system for elastically compensating for wear, thermal expansion and misalignment comprises a ring located between a housing and a pin in the bore of the housing. The ring has a backing layer, an expanded grid structure having a plurality of openings, a low friction layer penetrated into the openings of the expanded grid structure, and adhesive for bonding the backing layer, expanded grid structure and low friction layer together to provide elastic deformation of the ring between the housing and pin.