A sliding member includes a metallic substrate, a porous layer formed on a surface of the metallic substrate, and a sliding layer that covers the porous layer. The porous layer is made of a metal itself or an alloy composition. The sliding layer is made of a lead-free resin composition. The resin composition consists of a pitch-based carbon fiber and a fluororesin, and assuming weight of the resin composition as 100, more than 10 weight % and 35 weight % or less of the pitch-based carbon fiber is contained.

Provided is a separator having excellent chemical resistance, impact resistance, and productivity. A bearing retainer (1) is a separator that is interposed between two spheres adjacent to and moving in conjunction with each other for retaining the spheres configured to be movable in conjunction with and apart from each other and is formed from a resin composition containing a fluororesin which is a polymer of a monomer containing vinylidene fluoride as a main component. The bending modulus of elasticity of the resin composition is 1600 MPa or less, and the Charpy impact strength of the resin composition is 26 kJ/m.sup.2 or more.

A sliding member includes a metallic substrate, a porous layer formed on a surface of the metallic substrate and a sliding layer that covers the porous layer. The porous layer is made of a metal itself or an alloy composition. The sliding layer is made of a lead-free resin composition. The resin composition consists of a pitch-based carbon fiber and a fluororesin, and assuming weight of the resin composition as 100, more than 10 weight % and 35 weight % or less of the pitch-based carbon fiber is contained.

Provided is a separator having excellent chemical resistance, impact resistance, and productivity. A bearing retainer (1) is a separator that is interposed between two spheres adjacent to and moving in conjunction with each other for retaining the spheres configured to be movable in conjunction with and apart from each other and is formed from a resin composition containing a fluororesin which is a polymer of a monomer containing vinylidene fluoride as a main component. The bending modulus of elasticity of the resin composition is 1600 MPa or less, and the Charpy impact strength of the resin composition is 26 kJ/m.sup.2 or more.

A self-lubricating fabric contains warp yarns or weft yarns that are composite yarns formed from fluorinated resin yarns and other yarns. The surface area of the other yarns on one surface of the fabric takes up 0 to 30% of the total surface area of the composite yarns, and the ratio of the section diameter of the other yarns to the section diameter of the fluorinated resin yarns in the composite yarns is 0.12 to 0.80. A method for producing the self-lubricating fabric and use of the self-lubricating fabric are also disclosed.

The present invention discloses a self-lubricating fabric, a method for producing the self-lubricating fabric, and use of the self-lubricating fabric. Warp yarns or weft yarns of the fabric are composite yarns formed from fluorinated resin yarns and other yarns. The surface area of the other yarns on one surface of the fabric takes up 0 to 30% of the total surface area of the composite yarns, and the ratio of the section diameter of the other yarns to the section diameter of the fluorinated resin yarns in the composite yarns is 0.12 to 0.80. The self-lubricating fabric is characterized by low friction coefficient, excellent wear resistance property and high laminating strength, as well as simple production process, low cost and zero pollution to the environment. The fabric with low friction coefficient can be applied to mechanical moving parts, and is especially suitable for use in environment of low speed, high load and high or low temperature.

A sliding material for gliding elements includes a thermoplastic matrix material and a PTFE additive. The PTFE additive includes at least two different types of PTFE having different molecular weights.

A method for determining at least one preloading force (K) acting between a carrying body (7) and a rolling-element bearing (2) of a bearing assembly (1), which rolling-element bearing is mounted on the carrying body, and the bearing assembly includes the rolling-element bearing and the at least one sensor device (3). The sensor device is arranged in or on the rolling-element bearing in an installation position (E1) and is coupled to an evaluating device (10) in a signaling manner. The sensor device senses the preloading force, produces at least one signal (S) in accordance with the preloading force, and transmits the signal to the evaluating device, and the evaluating device evaluates the signal in order to measure the preloading force and the sensor device is permanently decoupled from the evaluating device after the evaluation of the signal.