Thousands of fans at the Fifa World Cup 2014 matches enjoyed a wonderful new experience – courtesy of Sabic’s high-performance Lexan sheet and systems.

These lightweight, high-impact and UV-resistant polycarbonate materials were chosen to create roofing and façades for the four Brazil stadia, which included two of the World Cup venues. These stadia are Arena Da Baixada in Curitiba, Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá, Coritiba Football Club Stadium in Curitiba and Arena Gremio in Porto Alegre, said a statement.

These awe-inspiring arenas in Brazil benefit from the many features of Sabic Lexan polycarbonate sheet, which, compared to glass, 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.

The fire-resistant material offers excellent resistance against degradation from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Allowing more daylight, these sheets also provide superb thermal insulation, minimise the effects of heat and reduce the need for cooling systems leading to energy savings. Sabic’s materials greatly facilitate easy installation while providing excellent aesthetics, the statement said.

Sabic’s Lexan polycarbonate sheet materials has been the top choice of architects to create more than 50 stadia over the world, including the Fifa World Cup stadia in South Africa 2010, Olympic Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Barcelona, Spain and Chongqing, China, and UEFA European Football Championship Euro 2004, Euro 2008, Euro 2012 stadia in Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland and Ukraine

Sabic's  wide global expertise, as well as its innovative and specialized products used in creating the best stadiums the world, will help the company to continue meeting its obligations and supporting the national economy, the statement said.

This qualifies Sabic to be fully ready to contribute to the building and the construction of the 11 sports cities in Saudi Arabia, which his Majesty King Abdullah ordered to establish in various regions of the kingdom. This involves the steel for building infrastructure, polycarbonate for roofing, and plastic for seating, it said. – TradeArabia News Service