Abstract: Machine parts are disclosed which are subjected to rolling or sliding conditions, wherein the friction partners are protected by layers with low static and dynamic coefficients of friction which are selected with regard to their tribological properties and whereby the layers are constituted by carbides and/or nitrides and/or carbonitrides and/or borides and/or silicides and/or oxides of an element or elements selected from Groups III to VIII of the Periodic Table in the form of mixtures or mixed crystals which are deposited in a suitable manner and, according to their physiochemical properties, are combined for the particular application. Preferably one of the friction partners comprises TiC or MoSi.sub.2 and the other comproses TiN or SiC or Si.sub.3 N.sub.4.