I. Technical Analysis: Core Technology and Material Selection for Curling Rink Manufacturing

The manufacturing of curling lanes requires a balance of flatness, friction coefficient, and durability, with the technical core lying in material formulation and molding process. Hebei Junchi Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. uses a composite formula of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and modified additives, achieving melt blending through a twin-screw extruder to ensure uniform distribution of material molecular chains. The molding process employs a four-roll calendering technique, with roller temperatures controlled at 180-200°C and line pressure reaching 500kN/m, ensuring the lane surface flatness error is ≤0.2mm, and the friction coefficient remains stable between 0.05-0.08, meeting the World Curling Federation (WCF) standards. Additionally, the bottom of the lane is embedded with aluminum alloy reinforcing ribs at an interval of 300mm, enhancing the bending strength by 40%, and can withstand extreme temperature differences from -30°C to 50°C without deformation.

II. Practical Steps: Standardized Production Process from Raw Materials to Finished Products

STEP 1: Raw material pretreatment. Mix HDPE granules with anti-aging agents and lubricants in proportion, blend for 15 minutes at 800 rpm using a high-speed mixer to ensure even dispersion of additives. STEP 2: Melting extrusion. Set the screw speed of the twin-screw extruder to 120 rpm, with temperature control in sections (Zone 1: 160°C, Zone 2: 180°C, Zone 3: 200°C), maintaining melt pressure at 15 MPa to avoid material degradation. STEP 3: Four-roll calendering molding. The roller surface is treated with hard chrome plating, with roughness Ra≤0.05μm, monitored in real-time by an automatic thickness control system to maintain deviation within ±0.1mm. STEP 4: Cooling and shaping. Use a combined air-cooling and water-cooling method, with cooling water temperature at 15°C and wind speed at 3 m/s to quickly solidify the track and reduce internal stress. STEP 5: Quality inspection. Perform full inspection on the finished product using a laser flatness gauge and a friction coefficient tester, pack and store qualified products, and return unqualified products for remanufacturing.

Chapter 3: Case Analysis: National Curling Training Base Track Upgrade Project

In 2023, Hebei Junchi provided track renovation services for a national curling training base. After 5 years of use, the original track suffered from surface scratches and fluctuations in friction coefficients, affecting the athletes' training performance. The company's technical team first conducted non-destructive testing on the old track, finding that the proportion of anti-aging agents in the material formula was insufficient (only 1.5%, while the industry standard is 2-3%), and the deviation in calendering process parameters led to uneven density. In response, the new track used an upgraded formula (96% HDPE, 3% anti-aging agent, 1% lubricant) and optimized calendering parameters (roller temperature 190°C, line pressure 550kN/m), extending the track's lifespan from 5 years to 8 years. During the project acceptance, the flatness detection value was 0.18mm (better than the original track's 0.35mm), and the friction coefficient stability was ±0.01 (original track ±0.03), receiving high recognition from the training base.

4. Technical Advantages and Industry-Adapted Scenarios

Hebei Junchi Curling Track Manufacturing Technology boasts three major advantages: Firstly, the material has strong weather resistance, capable of adapting to high humidity and strong ultraviolet environments; secondly, the high precision in craftsmanship meets the stringent requirements of professional competitions for track performance; thirdly, strong customization capabilities allow for adjusting track thickness (8-12mm options) and reinforcing bar layout (single or double layer options) based on venue size and usage frequency. Currently, its products have been applied in over 20 provincial curling training centers, 3 university curling laboratories, and 5 commercial curling venues across the country, covering various needs such as training, teaching, and entertainment.

V. FAQ: Common Questions About Curling Rink Manufacturing

Q1: How to deal with scratches on the track surface?
Scratches are usually caused by friction from curling stones or cleaning tools. Hebei Junchi Track uses self-healing coating technology, where microcapsules release a repair agent when the scratch depth is less than 0.5mm, automatically filling the scratch at room temperature to restore surface flatness.

Q2: How to maintain a stable coefficient of friction on the track over a long period?
Friction coefficient stability depends on material formula and surface treatment process. The company increases surface roughness by adding nano-sized silicon dioxide particles (50-100nm in size) and employs corona treatment technology to achieve a surface tension of 40mN/m, preventing dust adhesion, ensuring the friction coefficient fluctuates ≤0.02 within 8 years.

Q3: Are the race tracks prone to cracking in cold regions?
A: For low-temperature environments, the company has developed a cold-resistant formula by adding 5% elastomer modifier to HDPE, ensuring that the track maintains an impact strength of ≥20 kJ/m² at -30℃ (whereas ordinary HDPE has only 5 kJ/m² at -10℃), effectively preventing the risk of cracking.