Polycarbonate has World Cup covered

Polycarbonate sheet from Bayer MaterialScience will keep 70,000 spectators protected from the elements as part of the Estadio Nacional stadium roof at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Bayer states its Makrolon solid polycarbonate sheets are sturdy, highly impact-resistant, and break-proof and meet the relevant requirements for safety, weather resistance, transparency, economic feasibility and design.

The Makrolon UV 2099 grade that will be used in the stadium has a UV coating on both sides that is said to remain in place after being processed by cold-bending, and even after many years of weathering.

The polycarbonate sheets have a light transmission of 82 percent, said to ensure optimum natural light for healthy turf growth.

The final inner ring of the stadium roof will consist of 110 metric tons of Makrolon UV 2099, with each sheet 12mm thick and over 10 metres long.

Bayer states thanks to their relatively low weight compared to other materials, the polycarbonate sheets do not require a costly sub-structure. Furthermore, the sheets are said to be easy to process, allowing direct handling on-site.

The Estadio Nacional continues the long list of projects in recent years where Makrolon has been used in sports arenas for major international events, including the roofs of the stadiums in Shenyang and Tianjin for the Summer Olympic Games in 2008, the Arena Legia in Warsaw, and the PGE Arena Gdansk for UEFA Euro 2012.