In sealing elements (3, 3, 3") for automatic compressor valves, composed of synthetic material (12) having embedded fiber reinforcement (11), the fiber reinforcement (11) and/or the surrounding synthetic material (12) in the finished sealing element (3, 3, 3") has an inhomogeneous distribution and/or locally different material characteristics under consideration of different local requirements. Near-surface regions (14) may be designed to be free of fiber to avoid fiber breaks and the danger of cracks extending from there, and said near-surface regions (14) may preferably consist of different materials compared to the one in the remaining sealing element (3, 3, 3")