Dow Donates DOWTHERM™ SR-1 to The Midland Curling Center

Midland, MI - October 31, 2008

The Dow Chemical Company Performance Fluids Business has donated 1,800 gallons of DOWTHERM™ SR-1 to the Midland Curling Center. DOWTHERM™ SR-1 will be very important to ensuring and maintaining the frozen, competitive surfaces for curling.  The new Midland Curling Center officially opened Friday, October 31, 2008. It is located at 2009 Jefferson Avenue in Midland.  “We are very happy to be associated with the new Midland Curling Center,” said Steven Stanley, Ph.D., global business director for Dow Performance Fluids. “While most people will never see or even know about the presence of Dow chemistry at the Curling Center, it is very important in creating world class competitive surfaces at this and other similar venues.” There are four, new curling surfaces at the center all using DOWTHERM™ SR-1. Dow Performance Fluids has plenty of experience with winter sport as The Dow Chemical Company is the official supplier of heat transfer fluids for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Where Chemistry Is Used

DOWTHERM™ SR-1 fills the refrigeration tubes underneath the curling surface.  The tubes are guaranteed to stay at the desired temperature, plus or minus one degree. So a consistent, high quality surface is assured.  Dow Performance Fluids supplies heat transfer fluids to a number of competitive winter sports venues including the Midland Speed Skating Arena and the Nordic Ski Jump venue in Vancouver that will be used for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. 

Maintaining Ice Integrity For Curlers

Maintaining the integrity of the sliding surface for skis, skates, or curling stones requires very exact temperature controls.  The smoother the surfaces, the less drag there is and the better the performance for the competitors. When ice surface temperature fluctuates, warm spots will create slush and even puddles of water. The water/slush will slow the stone, skate, or ski, and interfere with the “world class” performance that Olympic type venues demand.  This is why keeping the surface uniformly cold is so important.

For venues that host national and international competitions, DOWTHERM™ SR-1 is often chosen. DOWTHERM™ SR-1 HD will remove both heat and concern for the operators of venues like the Midland Curling Center, because in addition to keeping temperatures regulated it provides corrosion protection that traditional fluids do not. Using DOWTHERM™ SR-1 will mean lower system maintenance costs for many years to come. The original fill of fluid at similar installations have lasted more than thirty years.

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For Editorial Information:

Harold Nicoll
The Dow Chemical Company
989-636-5162