Primary surface measurement reported
Hydrophobicity was evaluated from the contact angle of a water drop resting on the waxed surface.
Client Citation Analysis
Temperature-Dependent Performance Analysis of Marketed Low-Fluorinated Nordic Ski Glide Waxe
This study compares four marketed low-fluorinated Nordic ski glide waxes across hydrophobicity, hardness, and friction, using Dropometer contact-angle measurements to evaluate hydrophobicity against each wax’s marketed temperature range.
At-a-Glance Summary
Dropometer attribution in the paper
The hydrophobicity measurements were taken with a “Dropometer Surface Analysis System,” and the contact angle measurements were found using the included software.
How the contact-angle data were used in the study
The contact-angle results in Figure 6 were used to compare hydrophobicity across four waxes at two test temperatures and to assess whether hydrophobicity followed the marketed optimal performance temperature ranges. These results were discussed alongside hardness and friction data in the paper’s interpretation of wax performance.
Replication / reliability statement
For each test method, at least 3 samples of each wax and temperature were tested, and averages were used for analysis.
Paper Details
Title
Temperature-Dependent Performance Analysis of Marketed Low-Fluorinated Nordic Ski Glide Waxe
Authors
Clara Kramer
Journal
RANGE: Journal of Undergraduate Research
Year
2024
Volume
25
Issue
1
Pages / Article
Article 21
Publisher page
License
CC BY 4.0, © University of Utah
Scopus metrics (Elsevier / Scopus rating 2024)
CiteScore 2024
Scopus metrics (Elsevier / Scopus rating 2024)
CiteScore subject ranks (CiteScore 2024)
Scopus metrics (Elsevier / Scopus rating 2024)
SNIP 2024
Scopus metrics (Elsevier / Scopus rating 2024)
SJR 2024
Journal Impact Factor (Clarivate JCR)
Journal Impact Factor (JCR 2024)
Journal Impact Factor (Clarivate JCR)
5-Year Impact Factor
Journal Impact Factor (Clarivate JCR)
JCR category rank
What Was Measured
Primary surface / interfacial measurement
Hydrophobicity was evaluated from the contact angle of a drop of water resting on the waxed surface. Contact angle measurements were obtained with the included software.
Supporting measurements
The study also measured Shore-A hardness on waxed samples and directly on the wax block, and coefficient of friction using Stribeck testing and a temperature-dependent steady-speed tribometer test. These measurements were interpreted together with contact angle in the results and conclusion.
Hydrophobicity / contact angle
Dropometer Surface Analysis System
Hardness
Shore-A durometer
Coefficient of friction
Anton-Paar Tribometer
Role of the Dropometer
The study evaluates hydrophobicity from the contact angle of a drop of water when resting on the waxed surface. This was measured using a Dropometer Surface Analysis System, and the contact angle measurements were found using the included software. The measurements were performed on waxed circular sintered UHMWPE base samples, with water applied at room temperature.
In this study, the Dropometer contact-angle results were used to compare hydrophobicity across the four waxes at cold and room-temperature conditions and to judge whether hydrophobicity followed the marketed temperature ranges.
Bring This Measurement Into Your Lab
If you compare the hydrophobicity of waxed or coated surfaces, we can show you the same water contact angle workflow on your own samples.
Key Findings
Contact angle as hydrophobicity readout
The hydrophobicity discussion is based on contact angle, with the paper stating that a higher contact angle corresponds to higher hydrophobicity.
Universal wax similarity across test temperatures
The Universal wax is described as having similar contact angle at both temperatures tested. The paper interprets this as aligning with the expectation that Universal would perform similarly across temperatures.
Temperature-specific waxes ran against the proposed mechanism
The paper states that hydrophobicity should be maximized at the optimal usage temperature if hydrophobicity is an influential performance mechanism. In the discussion, the temperature-specific waxes are reported to show the opposite pattern.
Contact-angle data fed into the overall conclusion
Together with hardness and friction testing, the Dropometer-derived contact-angle results contributed to the paper’s conclusion that the measured properties did not correlate with the marketed performance temperatures of the waxes tested.
Figures & Visuals
What it shows
Referenced in the hydrophobicity methods as the included software used to obtain the contact angle measurements.
What it shows
Shows the average contact angle readings taken with the Dropometer contact angle measurement system for the four waxes under two test temperatures.
Why It Matters
The paper addresses an applied question in ski-surface science: whether marketed low-fluorinated waxes show temperature-dependent behavior consistent with proposed performance mechanisms. Within that framework, the Dropometer contact-angle measurements provide the study’s hydrophobicity readout.
Those contact-angle results were interpreted alongside hardness and friction testing to compare the four waxes against their marketed temperature ranges. In the authors’ conclusion, the measured properties did not track the advertised performance temperatures, and future hydrophobicity testing closer to use temperatures was identified as a useful next step.
Expert Perspective
Practical Takeaways
Water-drop contact angle workflow
The study uses the Dropometer Surface Analysis System to measure the contact angle of a water drop resting on waxed UHMWPE samples, with values obtained in the included software.
Four-wax comparison
Figure 6 compares averaged contact-angle readings for LF6X, LF7X, LF8X, and Universal under cold and room-temperature conditions.
Universal reference behavior
Universal is discussed as showing similar contact angle at both tested temperatures.
Temperature-range comparison outcome
The temperature-specific waxes are discussed as not showing higher hydrophobicity closer to their marketed optimal performance temperatures.
Replicated dataset
At least 3 samples of each wax and temperature were tested, and averages were used in the analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Dropometer measure in this study?
The study used a Dropometer Surface Analysis System to measure the contact angle of a water drop resting on UHMWPE ski base samples waxed with four Swix low fluorinated glide waxes (LF6X, LF7X, LF8X and Universal). Samples were tested at two temperatures (the methods give room temperature, about 18.5 °C, and 2 °C) using room temperature water, and at least three samples of each wax and temperature were averaged.
What did the contact angle results show?
The paper reports that the Universal wax had a similar contact angle at both test temperatures, which it reads as consistent with a wax intended for all conditions. For the temperature specific waxes, the paper reports lower hydrophobicity at the test temperature closer to their marketed usage range, the opposite of what the proposed performance mechanism would predict. The average values are presented in Figure 6 rather than listed in the text.
What does the study conclude, and what was outside its scope?
Together with hardness and friction testing, the contact angle results led the paper to conclude that the measured properties were not directly related to the waxes' marketed optimum temperatures. Both test temperatures were above the waxes' marketed usage ranges, and the paper suggests future testing closer to usage temperatures and on real snow.