Primary surface measurement reported
Contact angle was measured as part of the study’s extensive laboratory characterization of ski wax material properties.
Client Citation Analysis
A Study of the Material Properties of Ski Wax and Friction at the Ski-Snow Interface
This thesis presents quantitative, standardized test methods for ski wax and includes contact-angle measurements among the laboratory characterizations used to relate wax material properties to friction at the ski–snow interface.
At-a-Glance Summary
Dropometer attribution in the paper
Contact angle is listed among the laboratory characterization techniques used in the study.
How the surface-tension / contact-angle data were used in the study
Laboratory characterization (including contact angle) is used alongside field characterization to relate wax material properties to chemical composition and coefficients of friction at the ski–snow interface. In the abstract’s synthesis of results, the ski’s overall performance seems to be most dependent on wax hydrophobicity and chemical composition.
Paper Details
Title
A STUDY OF THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF SKI WAX AND FRICTION AT THE SKI-SNOW INTERFACE
Authors
Lorenz Marie Cushman
Pages / Article
Master of Science thesis
License
All Rights Reserved
What Was Measured
Primary surface / interfacial measurement
Contact angle measurements are reported as part of the laboratory characterization toolkit applied to ski wax material properties.
Supporting measurements
The study reports laboratory characterization using FTIR, EDS, DSC, Shore D hardness, SEM, and rotational tribology, and adds on-snow field characterization using a linear ski tribometer and a clip-on sensing array to measure coefficients of friction in skiing-relevant conditions.
Chemical composition
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
Chemical composition
Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)
Thermal properties
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
Surface wetting
Contact angle
Hardness
Shore D hardness
Microstructure / imaging
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Tribology
Rotational tribology
On-snow friction characterization
Linear ski tribometer
On-snow friction characterization
Clip-on sensing array
Role of the Dropometer
Contact angle measurements are included in the laboratory characterization suite used to measure ski wax material properties and relate those properties to chemical composition and coefficients of friction at the ski–snow interface.
The thesis presents contact-angle results as comparative datasets across wax categories (including fluorinated, non-fluorinated, and bio-based) and across wax types and suggested temperature use, supporting the study’s broader interpretation of performance-relevant wax properties.
Bring This Measurement Into Your Lab
If you need to compare contact angles across ski waxes or other hydrophobic coatings, we can show you the measurement on your own samples.
Key Findings
Quantitative, standardized testing approach
The thesis presents quantitative, standardized test methods to measure ski wax material properties and relates those properties to wax chemical composition and coefficients of friction.
Contact angle included in the lab characterization suite
Extensive laboratory characterization is reported to include contact angle along with FTIR, EDS, DSC, Shore D hardness, SEM, and rotational tribology.
Field tools target skiing-relevant friction measurement
On-snow field characterization is reported using a linear ski tribometer (using real snow with representative speeds and loads) and a clip-on sensing array designed to measure friction coefficient on a real ski while skiing.
Lab and field measurements serve different roles
Laboratory characterization is described as controlling numerous variables present in the field to measure inherent material properties, while field characterization is described as measuring the effects of variable speeds, loads, snow types, and environmental conditions.
Performance dependence emphasized in the abstract
Based on laboratory and field results, the abstract states that overall performance seems most dependent on wax hydrophobicity and chemical composition and least on hardness and surface roughness.
Figures & Visuals
What it shows
Plots contact angle measurements of all waxes to visualize differences between fluorinated, non-fluorinated, and bio-based waxes.
What it shows
Shows contact angle measurements of all waxes differentiated by physical type and suggested temperature use.
Why It Matters
The thesis frames ski wax development as historically lacking a quantitative, scientific understanding of wax material properties and friction mechanisms at the ski–snow interface, limiting progress toward alternative high-performance materials following the ban on fluorinated ski wax.
Within that measurement framework, contact angle is included among the laboratory methods used to characterize wax material properties, and the abstract’s integrated interpretation states that overall performance seems to be most dependent on hydrophobicity and chemical composition when laboratory and field characterization results are analyzed together.
Expert Perspective
Practical Takeaways
Contact angle is part of the reported characterization toolkit
The thesis explicitly includes contact angle in its laboratory characterization suite for measuring ski wax material properties.
Use contact-angle datasets for wax family comparisons
The thesis presents contact-angle plots designed to compare fluorinated, non-fluorinated, and bio-based waxes, and to differentiate waxes by physical type and suggested temperature use.
Interpret surface wetting alongside chemistry and friction
The study’s stated goal is to relate measured material properties (including contact angle) to wax chemical composition and coefficients of friction at the ski–snow interface.
Combine lab measurements with skiing-relevant friction testing
The methodology pairs laboratory characterization with tribometry on real snow and field friction measurement using a clip-on sensing array to capture performance under variable conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does contact angle play in this thesis?
Contact angle is one of seven laboratory techniques the thesis uses to characterize ski wax, alongside FTIR, EDS, DSC, Shore D hardness, SEM and rotational tribology. The laboratory results are analyzed together with on-snow friction measurements from a linear ski tribometer and a clip-on sensing array.
Which contact angle results does the thesis present?
The thesis lists two contact angle figures, one comparing fluorinated, non-fluorinated and bio-based waxes (Figure 8) and one separating waxes by physical type and suggested temperature use (Figure 9). Average values and standard deviations for all waxes tested in contact angle are given in Table 9.
What does the thesis conclude about hydrophobicity and glide?
Based on the laboratory and field results together, the author reports that overall ski performance seems most dependent on the wax's hydrophobicity and chemical composition, and least on its hardness and surface roughness. The thesis places this in the context of the move away from fluorinated waxes, which were used for their hydrophobic and temperature stabilizing properties.