Gliding element

A sliding element of an internal combustion engine with a DLC coating of the ta-C type applied to a base material and which has changing residual stresses over its thickness, including at least one inner residual stress gradient region adjacent the base material which is negative as viewed from the outside to the inside at least one outer residual stress gradient region lying to the outside of the element which is positive and a middle residual stress gradient region of the coating lying between the inner and outer regions which is alternating positive and negative.