Abstract: A layered composite construction material, especially for sliding and friction elements, with a substrate, for example a steel layer, on which is a copper-containing or a tin-containing intermediate layer and then a tin-containing or copper-containing functional layer, together with an interposed diffusion barrier layer. Diffusion of tin between the functional and intermediate layers is minimized by forming the diffusion barrier layer by cathode sputtering of a metallic material which has essentially a cubic face-centered crystal lattice that is built up under a recrystallization process. Vacancy sites in the crystal lattice structure are avoided or removed, and a space filling of from 60% to the optimum 68% is achieved. Preferably the diffusion barrier layer is a nickel-tin alloy having a tin content of at least 10% by weight.