Abstract The paper presents results of the studies into influence of individual particles of lubricating phase on microstructure and tribological properties of copper based composite materials for slide bearings. The studied material was composed of copper alloys with lubricating phase particles, e.g. in a form of graphite and glassy carbon. The metallic matrix of composite materials consisted of Cu-Sn type alloys. Production of the examined materials included processes with complete or partial participation of liquid phase and was conducted in two ways. In production of composites both classical powder metallurgy technology was applied and a method of melting with simultaneous mechanical stirring in liquid state (stir casting). Particles of lubricating phases were heated up to the temperature of 200°C and introduced into a liquid metal and then stirring process at constant rate of 1500 rpm rotational speed was applied. To improve wettability of graphite and glassy carbon particles titanium was introduced into the metallic matrix. In production of the composites by powder metallurgy methods the process consisted of mixing of bronze powders and particles of non-metallic phases and then their consolidation. Both quantitative and qualitative structure analysis of the produced composites was performed. Also through evaluation of tribological properties (friction coefficient, wear) with CSM Instruments high temperature tribometer THT was conducted.