PURPOSE: To provide a sliding member material small in pore sizes, enhanced in surface smoothness and improved in sliding characteristics so as not to give defects, abrasion, etc., to the sliding member material by specifying a CaO/Fe2O3 ratio and surface roughness in a calcium ferrite.

CONSTITUTION: The characteristic of this sliding member material comprises containing CaO and Fe2O3 as main components in a CaO/Fe2O3 molar ratio of 45/55 to 67/33 and having a surface roughness Ra of ≤300. The sliding member material has a composition represented by the composition formula of Ca2Fe2-xAlxO5 wherein 0<x≤1.2, and has a surface roughness Ra of ≤300. When the CaO/Fe2O3 molar ratio is smaller than the lower limit, the lowering of the sintering property of the sliding member material, the easy generation of pores and the deterioration of sliding characteristics are caused. When the CaO/Fe2O3 molar ratio is larger than the upper limit, the generation of a small amount of a CaO phase in the material, the enlargement of the sizes of the pores, and the remarkable deterioration of the sintering property are caused. When (x) exceeds the upper limit in the composition formula of Ca2Fe2-xAlxO5, the deterioration of the sintering property, the easy generation of the pores and the deterioration of the sliding characteristics are caused.