Bearing plates are used on a stationary support element and a moving pipe support component to provide a low-coefficient of friction between the two.

Stainless Steel Slide Plates Welded on Variable Springs
Bearing plates are used on a stationary support element and a moving pipe support component to provide a low-coefficient of friction between the two.
The purpose of slide plates is to produce a low-coefficient of friction between a stationary support element and the moving pipe support component to reduce the forces generated as a result of pipe deflections during operation.
A PTFE bearing pad is a slide plate made up of PTFE, 25% glass filled, material that provides a low coefficient of friction for most combinations of temperature and load. For most applications, PTFE, 25% Glass Filled, is adequate when the temperature is less than 400 degrees F.