The team from the State Key Laboratory of Tribology at Tsinghua University in China, succeeded with getting better ice for the 24th Winter Olympic Games

date: 17.02.2022

On February 4, 2022, the 24th Winter Olympic Games opened at the National Stadium in Beijing providing a visual feast for the global audience.

Liran Ma and her co-workers, from the State Key Laboratory of Tribology at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, contributed to the Winter Olympic Games using tribological technologies. Inspired by the concept of superlubricity from hydration effect, the composition of water used to make ice in rinks, was well designed and regulated. They have succeeded with reducing the friction coefficient of ice by 30%, and getting more uniform and stable ice. Friction measurements were carried out in both laboratory and field tests. Field tests showed that the rinks in which ice was made by regulated water had better uniformity and lower friction. Athletes have broken Olympic records on many rinks, proving the rinks are fast venues.