The synthetic ice of today is made from a special plastic-based polymer that is made out of polyethylene. Although there are a lot of products that are available on the market, not all synthetic ice is created equally. As more and more skaters are turning to synthetic ice so that they can skate at home during the pandemic, it is a good idea to understand the basic fundamentals of artificial ice and how it works.

In the Beginning

Back in the 1950s, a certain big named company known as DuPont came up with a new type of plastic that was supposed to be stronger and longer-lasting than the other plastics that were available on the market at that time. It wasn’t until the 1960s when developers actually created the first synthetic ice and put it to use. One of the biggest problems with polyoxymethylene plastic is that it needed to be lubricated at all times in order to substantially allow skaters to glide across the surface. Even with the lubricant, however, there was much drag and resistance for the skaters.

High-Density Plastic

As the years passed, synthetic ice evolved from the cumbersome ways of a solid slab of polyoxymethylene plastic to smaller panels of high-density polyethylene plastic. In the 1980s companies began to expand on the idea of creating ice panels out of high-density plastic that could easily be installed in places that had a flat, hard surface. The biggest drawback of this type of synthetic ice flooring is that it had to be meticulously maintained and kept clean in order to work properly. It also needed to be sprayed with a type of gliding fluid in order to keep the tiles ice-like and slick. Although the synthetic ice of this time was sufficient, it was not near as good as the flooring that is available on the market today.

Modern-Day Synthetic Ice

The synthetic ice of today is much closer to real ice than it ever has been. However, it all depends on the quality of the ice, and where it was manufactured. Not all synthetic ice flooring is created equally.

This is Where it Counts the Most.

In order to have great synthetic ice flooring, you need to be sure that when you purchase it that it has these characteristics:

• Self-lubricating
• UV protection
• Durable
• Long-lasting
• Great reputation

If you install synthetic ice tiles or panels you want to get the most out of your investment so whether you playing an actual game, or practicing with a hockey shooting tarp, your flooring delivers the quality that you need in order to keep your game strong.

High-Quality Synthetic Ice

The better the quality of your product, the more you will get out of it. High-quality synthetic ice comes from high-quality manufacturers such as Sniper’s Edge Hockey Products. This particular kind of synthetic ice is made from a special polymer that possesses a unique sliding agent that is able to self-lubricate the panels and ensure an ice-like, slick surface for years to come. The great thing about having this kind of flooring is that once you install it, it can be there for a long time and remain slick. After it gets old and starts to not be as good, the tiles are double-sided so that you don’t have to go out and buy new ones, all you have to do is flip the tiles over and you can continue to skate and practice on the other side.

Conclusion

As with most of the other products that are mass-produced in the United States these days, synthetic ice flooring is created in a factory. The highest-grade synthetic ice is made in the USA using the technology and science that knows how to make the best, and longest-lasting hockey products that are available today.