The invention describes a sliding element, in particular a sliding
bearing, with a support element and a sliding layer, between which a
bearing metal layer is arranged, wherein the sliding layer is made from
bismuth or a bismuth alloy, and wherein the crystallites of the bismuth
or the bismuth alloy in the sliding layer adopt a preferred direction
with respect to their orientation, expressed by the Miller index of the
lattice plane (012), wherein the X-ray diffraction intensity of the
lattice plane (012) is the greatest compared to the X-ray diffraction
intensities of other lattice planes. The X-ray diffraction intensity of
the lattice plane with the second-largest X-ray diffraction intensity is
a maximum of 10% of the X-ray diffraction intensity of the lattice plane
(012).