Ski Wax Adhesion vs. Glide Performance: The UHMWPE Dilemma – Part V

◆

MATERIAL SCIENCE · RESEARCH SERIES

UHMWPE Ski Base Weaknesses

PART V OF V

Fifth issue of the existing UHMWPE ski base types is their very low ability to bind gliding ski waxes and other gliding agents chemically.

How it works?

Chemical bonds between UHMWPE and wax-based gliding agents are very weak, chemical bonds between carbon black as main structural and reinforcement additiv in modern ski base types are extremelly weak. In other words: if applied on a ski base, wax-based gliding agents cannot rely on chemical bonds, they urgently need mechanical retention.

UHMWPE Ski Bases: Limited Wax Absorption and Retention – Part IV

◆

MATERIAL SCIENCE · RESEARCH SERIES

UHMWPE Ski Base Weaknesses

PART IV OF V

Forth issue of the existing UHMWPE ski base types is their low and uneven capacity to take and hold other substances as gliding ski waxes and agents.

How it works?

Only sintered ski base types have sufficiently long chains to create free space to take wax molecules on the very top surface and inside the bulk material.

Why UHMWPE Ski Base Surfaces Change So Quickly – Carbon Black and Wear – Part III

◆

MATERIAL SCIENCE · RESEARCH SERIES

UHMWPE Ski Base Weaknesses

PART III OF V

Third issue of existing UHMWPE ski base types are the fast changes of the ski base surface.

How it works?

We know that the main component of UHMWPE ski base types is PE with extremely long linear molecular chains (normaly 7 to 12 mil. g/mol) which is enriched with different additives where the most important is soot or carbon black.