Synthetic ice
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Synthetic ice is a solid polymer material designed for skating using normal metal-bladed ice skates. Rinks are constructed by interlocking panels. Synthetic ice is sometimes called artificial ice but that term is ambiguous, as it is also used to mean the mechanically-frozen skating surface created by freezing water with refrigeration equipment.
History
The first known application of plastics as a substitute for ice for the purpose of ice skating was in the 1960s using materials such as polyoxymethylene plastic which was developed by DuPont in the early 1950s. The polymers used at the time had some significant shortcomings. The most obvious being that skaters could not glide on these surfaces as they can on real ice without the regular application of a silicone compound. The compound would build up on the surface, collecting dirt and grime.
In 1982, High Density Plastics launched the first full-size synthetic skating floor under the trade name of Hi-Den-Ice. The surface was made of interlocking panels of high density polyethylene which became an ice rink when sprayed with a gliding fluid. The surface needed to be cleaned off and resprayed once a month. In a dry form, the panels were also usable for other indoor sports.[1]
Research and development in the field of synthetic ice has improved its skating characteristics. Special polymer materials have been specifically engineered for skating and unique lubricants designed to work with the polymer and be absorbed by it so that the surface is less sticky and does not attract contaminants while providing an ice-like glide. Smoothness between panels at seams has been improved by improvements in production and assembly methods. It is estimated that synthetic ice has 90% of the glide factor of natural ice.[2]
Comparison with true ice
Skating on natural ice, the skate blade increases the temperature of the microscopic top layers of the ice reducing drag and causing the blade to glide on top of the ice.[3] On synthetic ice rinks, liquid surface enhancements are common among synthetic ice products to further reduce drag on the skate blade over the artificial surface. Although some synthetic ice products allow skating without liquid, liquid is still used to optimize gliding.
- With most synthetic ice products, more effort is required to skate. Although this side effect can be positive for resistance training, skaters report to miss out on the fun of effortless skating.
- Synthetic ice surface wears out skates much faster.[4] Most synthetic ice products still wear-down the skate blades very fast, with 30 min - 120 min the industry average.
- Many synthetic rinks produce a large amount of shavings and abrasions. Although this disadvantage is less on a practical level than on an aesthetic level, surfaces have to be cleaned more regularly and the attractiveness of the rink can be reduced significantly.
- Temporary markings for hockey or other sports wear off. Only permanently embedded markings do not scratch off.
Materials
Materials used for synthetic ice include many grades of polyethylene, including high density polyethylene (HDPE)[5] and polypropylene. Of these materials, HDPE and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW) are the only ones that offer reasonable skating characteristics, with UHMW offering the most ice-like skating, but also being the most expensive.
A typical synthetic ice rink will consist of many panels (usually in typical building material sheet sizes) of thin surface material assembled on top of a sturdy, level and smooth sub-floor (anything from concrete to wood or even dirt or grass) to create a large skating area.
Usage
Synthetic ice rinks are sometimes used where frozen ice surfaces are impractical due to temperatures making natural ice impossible. Synthetic ice rinks are also used as an alternative to artificial ice rinks due to cost, not requiring any refrigeration equipment.[6] For pleasure skating, rinks have been installed indoors at resorts and entertainment venues while newer installations are being made outdoors. For purposes of ice hockey, synthetic ice rinks are typically smaller, at about 50 feet (15 m) by 50 feet (15 m), and are used for specialized training, such as shooting or goalie training.[6]
Examples
- The 'Polar Rink' at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.[7]
- The 'Winter Garden' arena in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The arena has a conventional ice rink which is closed in the summer, while a 2,600-square-foot (240 m2) synthetic ice rink is used year-round for youth hockey training and public skating.[8]
- The indoor skating rink in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This 600-square metre indoor rink is created from very high Molecular Weight Polyethylene and is open to the public [9]
See also
References
- ^ Chandas & Roy 2007, p. 7-46.
- ^ Akovali 2007, p. 178.
- ^ Evans; Nye; Cheeseman (1976), Proceedings-of-the-Royal-Society-of-London,-Series-A-(Mathematical-and- Physical-Sciences), 347 (1651): 493–512
{{citation}}:|contribution=ignored (help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ John, Geraint; Campbell, Kit (1996). Swimming Pools and Ice Rinks. Architectural Press. p. 242.
- ^ Greitz Miller, Roxanne, Science Scope (December 2006): 16–21
{{citation}}:|contribution=ignored (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ a b Commercial Property News, August 7, 2008
{{citation}}:|contribution=ignored (help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Petkewich, Rachel (February 16, 2009), Chemical & Engineering News (87.7): 64
{{citation}}:|contribution=ignored (help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Public Works (131.12): 44, 2000
{{citation}}:|contribution=ignored (help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Marina Bay Sands Skating Rink". Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- Bibliography