SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, invites visitors of the company’s booth D42 in Hall 6 during K 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany (October 19–26) to experience a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance polymer solutions for the building & construction (B&C) industry. An increased global population and growing urbanization has created a dramatically rising demand for more sustainable, resource and energy efficient material solutions.
To meet these megatrends, SABIC has developed a number of specialized thermoplastic resin and sheet products that will be featured at the show with a focus on four B&C market segments – energy solutions, pipe solutions, structural glazing and solid sheet. Highlights in this exhibition area, include all of the B&C sheet products offered by the company’s Functional Forms business, which can be ‘walked through’ by means of a large-screen Explorer providing a virtual building environment that showcases various different applications in greater detail. For pipe solutions, SABIC’s new BiAx pipe technology will be on display. This technology offers substantial improvements over incumbent polyolefin pipes across the entire range of performance criteria.
The vast array of lightweight, robust and energy-efficient material and application samples on display includes:
Energy solutions
Renewable energy sources are vital for the world’s transition towards a carbon-free landscape, and solar energy can yield high results to make the change real. To further drive down energy consumption within buildings, solar roof panels are an effective solution but often hindered by the fact that many industrial roofs are not strong enough to carry glass photovoltaic panels. SABIC’s material solutions can make a difference in this field:
- Floating photovoltaic panels: SABIC® PP Compounds used in floaters for solar panels combine good UV resistance and recyclability for modular, stackable injection-molded floaters that are lightweight and easy to transport. Potentially they can be made by using post-consumer recycled PP and certified circular and renewable grades from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio. Another solution is SABIC® HDPE material, designed for blow molded floating modules offer long-term outdoor performance. Read more.
- Lightweight photovoltaic panels: Solar panels made by Solarge using SABIC® PP compounds show more than 50% weight reduction over incumbent glass-based competitors and can achieve a carbon footprint reduction of more than 25%. They can be used for both new and retrofitting installations on roofs that cannot sustain the weight of PV glass panels over larger areas, they are fully recyclable and free of toxic components such as potentially hazardous per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Read more.
- Photovoltaic encapsulant film: SABIC FORTIFY™ (POE) elastomers used for encapsulant films in bi-facial high-power glass-glass PV panels combine outstanding stability at elevated temperatures and UV exposure with improved potential induced degradation (PID) performance compared to commonly used EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) based encapsulants. PID performance of SABIC’s elastomers for encapsulants in PV panels help the power of the module over time, maintaining low leakage current, thus extended service life. Read more.
Pipe solutions
Growing population and urbanization is increasing the demand for safe and secure potable water, sanitation, fluid and other critical piping above ground or below. SABIC offers material solutions that are more sustainable by increasing the performance and lifetime of pipes used in infrastructure, industrial, domestic and agricultural market areas. Read more.
- Domestic: SABIC polyolefins have a proven fit in domestic piping. Newly developed grades support the growing need for more reliable, safe and cost-effective pipe systems in clean water supply, waste water discharge, heating and cooling installations.
- Industrial: Pipes at industrial sites are often exposed to high pressures as well as aggressive fluids or abrasive substances. SABIC offers a range of polymer solutions tailored to meet these demanding challenges.
- Infrastructure: To aid in the supply and distribution of renewable energy from solar and wind farms, underground power lines are an attractive alternative to traditional overland lines. SABIC offers a custom solution for power cable ducts to help drive the change towards renewable energy. In addition, the company has developed a new biaxial pipe technology together with partners, offering up to 30% of material savings over incumbent polyolefin pipes and superior resistance to slow-crack growth, which facilitates cost-efficient trenchless installation across geographic landscapes.
- Agri- and Aquaculture: Securing the efficient and reliable production of food across plantations, farms and large greenhouse operations requires modern irrigation systems, especially where crop water demand exceeds the average rainfall and precious fresh water resources must be preserved. SABIC® HDPE materials enable the manufacture of long-lasting and dependable pipes and tapes used for pressure-and drip irrigation as well as for fish farm cages.
Structural glazing
LEXAN™ solid and multiwall sheet solutions help architects, builders and contractors implement aesthetic, energy efficient, high-impact and cost-effective glazing concepts from urban infrastructure to stadium roofs. For roofs and skylights of high-rise buildings, strength, weight and transparency have long remained a challenge. Multiwall panels from SABIC’s Functional Forms business offer extremely lightweight and easy-to-handle solutions. The following product examples and many more are also included in the interactive virtual building Explorer at SABIC’s booth.
- Solar control: LEXAN™ THERMOCLEAR™ Solar Control IR multiwall sheet delivers a unique combination of very high thermal insulation and solar control performance to enhance energy conservation, light transmission, aesthetics and comfort while providing high strength and stiffness and impact resistance. By allowing up to 90% of natural daylight to enter, the sheet also saves on electricity for artificial lighting.
- Greenhouses: The broad portfolio of LEXAN THERMOCLEAR sheet for greenhouse glazing applications may help operators to achieve significant overall cost reductions, energy savings and improved yield of crops. Next to ease of installation, excellent thermal insulation and UV resistance, it is also available with proprietary EASY CLEAN and DRIPGARD coatings to reduce maintenance costs and prevent condensation damage of crops. Last but not least, LEXAN THERMOCLEAR sheet is also resistant to hail impact, which avoids the damaging of the greenhouse façade and roofing, resulting in lower insurance costs. Read more.
- Façade claddings: Besides various LEXAN THERMOCLEAR sheet products for vertical building applications, LEXAN™ THERMOCLICK™ sheet system was specifically developed to enable visually striking profile-free façade installations. The system consists of UV-protected multiwall sheet panels with a profiled tongue and groove connection for interlocking, which eliminates the need for additional vertical profiles. Read more.
Solid building sheet systems
The wide range of solid LEXAN sheet solutions provides a superior choice over other thermoplastic and glass products available in the B&C market for protective glazing, cladding, partition walls, signage etc. The proven portfolio combines outstanding light transmission, UV resistance and impact strength with exceptional freedom of design for complex, curved and thermoformed shapes. All B&C solid sheet products from Functional Forms, including classical LEXAN 9030, LEXAN™ EXELL™ D and LEXAN™ MARGARD™ sheet, can be experienced in great detail using the interactive virtual applications EXPLORER at SABIC’s booth. Two more recently introduced new examples:
- Outdoor protection: With proprietary coatings on both sides, novel LEXAN™ EXTRITE™ sheet is a solid transparent material that provides the required abrasion, scratch and weathering resistance for a growing number of demanding outdoor applications, such as bus shelters, soundwalls and walkways. It has an expected lifetime of at least 30 years, comes with a 15 year written limited warranty and is 100% recyclable. Read more.
- Hospital wall claddings: Opaque and low-gloss LEXAN™ CLINIWALL™ sheet is a unique new specialty product that was developed for cleanroom surfaces and interior wall claddings in public facilities and hospitals. It meets stringent European fire regulations for building materials, shows excellent chemical resistance e.g. to blood and urine stains as well as common hospital cleaners and disinfectants, and can be supplied in specific grades with anti-bacterial properties. Read more.
Visit SABIC during K 2022 from October 19 to 26 in Düsseldorf, Germany, in Hall 6, Booth D42 to learn more about these and other advanced building & construction solutions. The company’s experts will be available at the booth to discuss how SABIC’s materials portfolio and design services can help you accelerate your journey towards circularity and reduce the climate impact of your products. See also SABIC’s dedicated K website for B&C solutions.
