Bauer Hockey, a leading manufacturer of ice hockey equipment and producer of ice hockey sticks, is using Evonik's ROHACELL® polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam as a structural core in the blade of its hockey sticks. The blade is the lower part of the stick used for hitting and directing the puck.
“The high-tech material from Evonik is extremely rigid and good at withstanding extreme temperatures, which is very important when producing our sticks,” says Adam Gans, head of Product Development at Bauer.
To produce the Bauer ice hockey sticks, carbon fibre impregnated with epoxy resin is wrapped around the pre-formed rigid foam core. High temperatures are applied during the subsequent curing of the resin, yet ROHACELL remains stable and provides counter pressure. The small, uniform pores in the foam structure ensure that very little resin escapes into the foam cells of the core surface.
“This means we can achieve excellent laminate quality and low weight at the same time,” explains Gans.
Stable and durable
Ice hockey sticks are put under a lot of pressure during a game. ROHACELL is extremely stable, ensuring that the blade does not break and the player has unmatched puck control. The high durability and lack of material fatigue associated with the foam are additional benefits.
However, ice hockey players expect even more.
“They want sticks with a blade structure that does not change, even after many hits and that feels the same each time they touch the puck,” emphasises Bauer's Gans.
In addition, the puck should remain under control after it has been shot and not bounce off the blade. ROHACELL absorbs the impact energy, allowing players to quickly control the stick and increase the pace of the game.
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