SABIC Innovative Plastics Scores Big at Stadia Design & Technology Expo with Launch of New Ultra-Stiff Lexan* Thermoclear* Sheet Solutions

Pittsfield, MA, April 23, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Thermoclear* sheet builds on the company’s impressive three decades of success in delivering state-of-the-art materials to help stadium architects and designers improve safety, durability and enable design freedom. With the ability to withstand high winds and heavy snow loads, Ultra-Stiff Lexan Thermoclear sheet was chosen for the free-hanging roof of the UEFA Euro 2012™ Football Championship Stadium in Śląski Chorzów, Poland. This new lightweight, high-performance material is the newest addition to SABIC Innovative Plastics’ growing portfolio of sheet products that have proven their value to customers in over 50 stadiums worldwide.

“Sports stadiums are often the focal point of a community and present an opportunity to make a daring architectural statement,” said Carina Viola, segment leader, Building & Construction, Specialty Film & Sheet, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “Our tough, lightweight and versatile Lexan sheet products make it possible to create large and dramatic roofing and glazing elements that perform beautifully in a wide range of climates and conditions. With the global spotlight on sustainability, these materials are also an ideal choice for improving energy conservation. Our longstanding leadership and global visibility in the stadium sector is significant.”

Lexan Thermoclear sheet helps contribute to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by providing natural light and possible recycled content. Solar Control infrared (IR) grades reduce build-up of interior heat in arenas while increasing natural light transmission. Another important benefit of Lexan Thermoclear sheet is its light weight, which makes it cost effective to transport and easier to handle and install compared to heavy glass panes. Also, the material can be used with a lighter supporting steel framework than glass requires, which can reduce material and shipping costs.

Showcasing a Broad Portfolio of Sheet Solutions

Being showcased at the show is SABIC Innovative Plastics’ three-wall, X-structure, Ultra-Stiff Lexan Thermoclear sheet. This sheet delivers exceptional performance with the capability to withstand wind and snow loading pressures of up to 2,200 N/m2 equivalent to wind speeds up to 125mph (200km/h). It also offers up to 250 times the impact resistance of glass to reduce the risk of breakage from wind, hail and other extreme weather, as well as vandalism. The multiwall configuration of the product provides excellent thermal insulation.

Another highlight of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ exhibit is Lexan Thermoclick* sheet systems in 40 and 50mm (1.57 and 1.97 inches) thicknesses. These products are an excellent candidate for applications such as cladding and façades of stadiums. A unique, 9-wall structure with 39.4 inch-width (1000mm), the Lexan Thermoclick PC 50-mm sheet system not only offers twice the width of competitive products, but also provides a superb U-value of 0.176 Btu/h t2 Fahrenheit (1.0W/m2 K) for thermal insulation, leading to energy savings by reducing power consumption by up to 17 percent vs. traditional high-return, double-pane glass glazing. This new material greatly facilitates easy installation while providing excellent aesthetics.

The Lexan Thermoclick 40mm sheet system and Lexan Thermoclear sheet products comply with CC1 (ASTM D635) and Class A (ASTM E-84) smoke and fire ratings. Both sides of Lexan Thermoclear sheet are treated with proprietary ultraviolet (UV) protection against outdoor weathering. Accelerated 4,000-hour weathering tests (DIN53387 / ASTM G26) performed by SABIC Innovative Plastics, prove Lexan sheets superior ability to maintain color, light transmission and impact strength in 10 years of outdoor exposure in moderate climate conditions. Lexan Thermoclear sheet in XP grades offer a 15-year limited written warranty against discoloration, loss of light transmission and loss of impact strength due to weathering. Available in clear, opal white, solar control blue, bronze, gray, two green shades as well as a broad range of other colors, Lexan Thermoclear sheet also provides a variety of specialty coatings. For example, the Easy Clean grade has a proprietary technology that allows Lexan sheet to be easily cleaned with rainwater, resulting in significant cost savings.

In addition, select monolithic grades of Lexan sheet offer anti-graffiti properties or compliance with building codes established by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO).

With exclusive abrasion-resistant coated surface on both sides, Lexan Margard* MR10 sheet offers a 10-year limited written warranty against breakage, yellowing, loss of light transmission and coating delamination for potential use in dugouts, storefronts and windows, low-level physical attack areas, entrance doors and railings. This virtually unbreakable, transparent PC sheet provides remarkable clarity – even after many years of intense sunlight and weather extremes.

Stadiums Around the Globe Feature Lexan Sheet

Building on three decades of proven performance, Lexan sheet is the material of choice of architects and designers for roofing, walls, stairway enclosures and many more applications in well-known arenas and stadiums around the world.

In 2010, the company won its second European Polycarbonate Sheet Extruders (EPSE) Award for the Best Project and Innovation for the new 50,000-seat Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The stadium’s transparent, curvilinear walls are constructed from Lexan monolithic sheet, which contributes elegance, high performance and environmental benefits. UV-resistant Lexan sheet was also chosen for the roofing, façades and stairway glazing of the Soccer City Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, where the opening and closing 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches were played.

For the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, SABIC Innovative Plastics’ engineering and design team is currently working closely with the Brazilian Soccer Committee for potential projects.

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