Spare a thought for the humble ice hockey puck. During a North American National Hockey League (NHL) game, it gets repeatedly bashed around the arena, reaching speeds over 160kph. Under these stresses, it can actually get warmer which is not ideal. To help officials determine when a puck should be replaced, PPG has introduced its thermochromic coatings which transition from purple to clear when a puck’s temperature is above freezing. As a result, these advanced coatings provide a visual indication that the puck needs changing, says Dan Craig, NHL Vice President of Facilities Operations.
[quote size=”large” title=””] Hockey pucks are made of vulcanized rubber and glide smoother and faster when frozen. Freezing a puck eliminates bouncing and game officials closely monitor the puck for temperature changes that affect performance while in play. A coating that changes colour when the puck is above freezing will more accurately alert the officials that it’s time for a replacement. [/quote]
Working closely with its technology partners, PPG was able to offer a clever, elegant solution to a problem that can significantly impact game play. Official game pucks featuring PPG thermochromic coatings made their debut at the NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day and will be further evaluated at events during the 2018-19 season.