The use of polymer composites as facing materials in hydrodynamic thrust bearings gives performance benefits in terms of temperature distribution and friction losses. A study was carried out to investigate the break-away friction encountered during the transition phase (acceleration) under initial start-up from stationary state to full operational speed. This was examined for a series of commercially available PTFE-based composites. The lubricant used was a mineral oil. Best performance in terms of relative friction and wear was found for a carbon filled PTFE composite material. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 16th International Colloquium Tribology Lubricants Materials and Lubrication Engineering (Stuttgart/Ostfildern, Germany 1/15-17/2008).