Ice Skatine in Summer Without Ice 



ICE can be made artificially for summer 

 skating. It has the disadvantage of 

 melting. For that reason, chemists 

 have devised glassy surfaces which will 

 stand heat and which will be as accept- 

 able as ice in winter. 



Some years ago a German patented a 

 process, in which thick pasteboard 

 plates are immersed in very hot linseed 

 oil and varnish, mixed with glue. After 

 becoming thoroughly permeated with 

 this mixture, they are subjected to a 

 powerful pressure, which squeezes out 

 the excess of oil and gives them great 

 strength. When dry, the plates are 

 immersed in hot paraffin and again put 

 under pressure. To one side of each 

 plate a layer of parchment is applied; 

 the other side is coated with gypsum 

 and tar. The plates, with the parchment 

 sides up, are then fitted together on the 



floor and united by cement. The finished 

 surface of the rink is coated with a 

 material consisting of one part of 

 glycerin, two parts of wax, and three 

 parts of oil. An unusually smooth 

 floor is thus formed ; but ordinary skates 

 cannot be used, since their sharp edges 

 would soon cut up the surface beyond 

 repair. 



Another compound contains soluble 

 glass, fluor-calcium, asbestos, ground 

 glass or flint, paraffin and soapstone. 

 These substances, when thoroughly 

 mixed, are applied to the floor. A thin 

 coating of soluble glass and a layer of 

 paraffin are then added. Absolute 

 smoothness is obtained by passing a 

 heated roller over the surface. If the 

 surface becomes scratched, more heat is 

 applied, or fresh coats of glass and 

 paraffin are added. 



^sss^^^s^ 



Diagrams showing treat-nent of floors. The hot salts are poured into frames on the floor. 

 After solidifying, the frame is removed and used for the next section. The frame with the 

 galvanized-iron wire nets is used in re-surfacing the floor, a rubber bag filled with steam 

 being laid on it. The heat is thus applied without bringing the bag into direct contact 



with the salts 



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