Abstract: A composite material for plain bearings comprises a backing layer, a bearing metal layer consisting of a copper alloy with a copper content of from 50 to 95 wt. % or an aluminum alloy with an aluminum content of from 60 to 95 wt. %, a diffusion barrier layer and an overlay, applied by electroplating, consisting of a lead-free, tin and copper-containing alloy. The invention provides a composite multilayer material whose overlay, applied by electroplating, does not exhibit any embrittlement even at relatively high temperatures, irrespective of the copper content. The overlay preferably comprises from 8 to 30 wt. % copper, 60 to 97 wt. % tin and 0.5-19 wt. % cobalt.