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<p>This study examines whether commonly measured material properties of ski waxes—hydrophobicity and surface morphology—can be linked to frictional response exhibiting consistent relationships that could support frictional response exhibiting consistent relationships that could support simplified performance assumptions. A total of 91 ski waxes spanning fluorinated, non‑fluorinated hydrocarbon, and bio‑based formulations in solid, liquid, and powder forms were characterized using contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laboratory tribology. Contact angles ranged predominantly from 85° to 110° across −&#xa0;29 to −&#xa0;7&#xa0;°C, with powders showing an average increase of 17.65°, liquids 10.18°, and solids 7.58° over this temperature interval. SEM‑derived surface roughness values for waxed UHMWPE bases fell in the range <i>R</i><sub><i>a</i></sub>≈19–29&#xa0;μm and <i>R</i><sub><i>q</i></sub>≈35–50&#xa0;μm, with liquid and fluorinated waxes exhibiting the highest roughness and unwaxed bases showing the roughest surfaces overall. Stribeck curve analysis revealed a pronounced transition near a sliding velocity of 0.1&#xa0;m&#xa0;s<sup>−1</sup>, where the coefficient of friction increased sharply across all waxes and relative performance rankings changed between boundary/mixed and higher velocity regimes. No single measured material property (contact angle, surface roughness, or chemical classification) independently predicted frictional performance across all regimes; instead, frictional behavior was strongly regime‑dependent. Because the pin‑on‑disk geometry and water‑lubricated UHMWPE contact do not reproduce snow microstructure or meltwater film development, the present results should be interpreted as intrinsic laboratory trends rather than direct predictors of on‑snow glide. These findings indicate that simplified selection rules based on individual material properties are insufficient and that performance‑relevant ski wax frameworks must account for operating regime, velocity, and environmental constraints.</p>

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Laboratory tribological and surface characterization of ski waxes under simplified water‑lubricated UHMWPE contact

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月3日

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  • Lorenz Cushman,
  • Justin Zsiros,
  • Ashwin Velraj,
  • Grace Mead,
  • Gus Kaeding,
  • Jeffrey Bates

摘要

This study examines whether commonly measured material properties of ski waxes—hydrophobicity and surface morphology—can be linked to frictional response exhibiting consistent relationships that could support frictional response exhibiting consistent relationships that could support simplified performance assumptions. A total of 91 ski waxes spanning fluorinated, non‑fluorinated hydrocarbon, and bio‑based formulations in solid, liquid, and powder forms were characterized using contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laboratory tribology. Contact angles ranged predominantly from 85° to 110° across − 29 to − 7 °C, with powders showing an average increase of 17.65°, liquids 10.18°, and solids 7.58° over this temperature interval. SEM‑derived surface roughness values for waxed UHMWPE bases fell in the range Ra≈19–29 μm and Rq≈35–50 μm, with liquid and fluorinated waxes exhibiting the highest roughness and unwaxed bases showing the roughest surfaces overall. Stribeck curve analysis revealed a pronounced transition near a sliding velocity of 0.1 m s−1, where the coefficient of friction increased sharply across all waxes and relative performance rankings changed between boundary/mixed and higher velocity regimes. No single measured material property (contact angle, surface roughness, or chemical classification) independently predicted frictional performance across all regimes; instead, frictional behavior was strongly regime‑dependent. Because the pin‑on‑disk geometry and water‑lubricated UHMWPE contact do not reproduce snow microstructure or meltwater film development, the present results should be interpreted as intrinsic laboratory trends rather than direct predictors of on‑snow glide. These findings indicate that simplified selection rules based on individual material properties are insufficient and that performance‑relevant ski wax frameworks must account for operating regime, velocity, and environmental constraints.