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ON THE BALL
SABIC’s Lexan sheet scores big at FIFA World Cup stadiums
Thousands of fans gathering for the FIFA World Cup 2010 are in for a brilliant new experience – courtesy of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ high-performance Lexan polycarbonate (PC) sheet.
Lexan Exell D, a lightweight, high-impact and UV-resistant monolithic sheet, was chosen to create the roofing, façades and stairway glazing for the stunning new Soccer City Stadium in Soweto, where this year’s opening and closing matches will be played.
Lexan Exell D sheet was also selected for the building joints of the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, and Lexan Thermoclear multiwall sheet was chosen for roof glazing at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
These tough, environmentally progressive and transparent PC materials offer spectators an excellent viewing experience along with superior comfort, safety and aesthetics compared to traditional materials like glass.
The design of the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg was inspired by a calabash, a hollowed out gourd used as a traditional African cooking pot. The Lexan Exell D sheet roofing represents the boiling water flowing over the top of “the pot” and continues as droplets on the skin. Sabic’s durable Lexan Exell D sheet glazing was also used to admit natural light into the stadium’s stairway. The stadium can accommodate 95 000 spectators, all protected from the changing weather conditions by the Lexan Exell D sheet roof and façades.
“Lexan PC sheet delivers the clarity of glass without the drawbacks of weight and fragility, enabling unique designs and a safe, satisfying experience for attendees. Our materials are playing a critical role in the construction of public buildings because they combine outstanding performance, environmental responsibility and aesthetics,” says Lennard Markestein, global marketing director, Specialty Film & Sheet, Sabic Innovative Plastics.
Elegant solutions for complex projects
Lexan Exell D monolithic sheet is a transparent PC sheet with proprietary UV protection on both sides, offering excellent weathering properties. It offers flame retardance that complies with the European fire standard for safety, and complies with glazing security impact resistance regulation.
Lexan Exell D sheet can be easily cold-formed into gentle curves, which makes it a good choice for skylights, covered walkways and barrel vaults. It is thermoformable into the desired geometry while retaining its UV-resistant coating. This material is backed by a 10-year limited written warranty against yellowing, loss of light transmission and breakage.
Lexan Thermoclear multiwall sheet products are a versatile thermoplastic glazing material that has been used in arena roofing and other glazing for more than 30 years and delivers a unique combination of advantages in roofing for large, complex structures. Compared to glass, Lexan Thermoclear sheet is significantly lighter in weight while offering high stiffness and more than 250 times the impact resistance to reduce the risk of breakage from wind, hail, and other extreme weather, as well as vandalism.
Lexan sheet glazing materials can help to deliver measurable return on investment through ease of installation; lower insurance costs due to weather damage; and less need for replacement due to UV degradation, weathering, and breakage.
For additional information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Lexan sheet products, please go to www.sabic-ip.com.
- SABIC Innovative Plastics is represented locally by Ultra Polymers, phone 011 361 1950.
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