The Chemistry of Bowling

Bowling balls can be made of plastics, urethane, and epoxy or a combination of both.

The coverstock can be made of plastic, urethane, reactive resins and particle resins. Each coverstock has its own intended friction and purpose when rolled down the lanes.

Cores are made of heavy substances such as bismuth graphite or barium.

Composition of Bowling Lanes

There are two different types of bowling lanes, most are made of wood, some are synthetic. Wooden ones, are made two different types of wood; the first 12 feet of the lanes are maple planks, the maple is really tough wood designed to take the impact of the bowling balls. The remaining 46ft of lane are made of a softer wood, pine. Synthetic lanes are usually made up of a compressed paper, with a layer of strong Plexiglas on top.

What goes on the lanes ?

What some people don’t know is that there is a thin layer of oil on top of the lanes, which changes the way the ball reacts with the lanes. This oil or “conditioner” is a urethane, water based epoxy formulation.

Background Research

Each bowling ball is made in their own special way. If it does not have the perfect weight then it will make the ball act in a way it's not supposed to. The core is asymmetrical allowing the ball to curve toward the pins. When it is all combined it looks like hot chocolate. A catalyst causes a chemical reaction that heats it up. Then it starts to cure and solidify. Then the core is put into a mold of a sphere. Then they fill the mold with the required substance for the coverstock. A chemical in it allows the coverstock to solidify.

Resources

http://heartontheleft.wordpress.com/2008/07/26/the-chemistry-of-bowling-a-short-history-of-bowling-balls-lanes-coatings-and-conditioners/

http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn.net/usbcongress/bowl/equipandspecs/pdfs/articles/USBCbowlingballmotionstudyconcludes.doc.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_ball

http://science.discovery.com/videos/how-its-made-bowling-ball.html

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