Investigation of the impact of the fluorine-content of ski wax on the friction between ice and ski base using a novel tribometer

Abstract

A novel tribometer has been designed to assess skiing waxes, as current methods require extensive field testing. It uses a full-width and full-length ski base in a closed belt design and enables higher sliding speeds than existing tribometers. Validation trials were conducted and comparative testing on waxes with low, medium, and high fluorine content was performed. Friction decreased with increasing fluorine content, consistent with long-term observations from competition. Although the surface free energy of a waxed ski was only a moderate predictor of low friction, indirect profilometric wear and roughness measurements of the ice sheet clearly indicated mixed friction with significant solid–solid interaction to be the likely reason for fluorine’s effectiveness in reducing friction. Temperature, speed, and loading variable measurements indicate mixed friction with significant solid–solid interaction.