Diab says that its Divinycell structural foam core has been used in the manufacture of indoor ice hockey sticks.
According to DIAB, weight, strength, flexibility, endurance, impact, and weight distribution are important factors when designing a hockey stick. Because the shape is complex, a machined foam core is often required to achieve uniform wall thickness and compaction. The composite structure can also face large deformations in the shaft and blade during shooting, so the shear strength of the core is critical.
‘This is an area where the Diab’s Divinycell foams are particularly advantageous,’ said Dan Rich, manager of the ice hockey product development with Sherwood Hockey, one of the hockey brands using Diab core materials.
The speed of the game dictates that the player must be able to receive a high-speed pass while skating at full stride without losing control of the puck, DIAB notes. ‘This requires a structure that can quickly de-accelerate the puck,’ added Rich.
This story uses material from Diab, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
