Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) recently introduced two revolutionary LEXAN polycarbonate sheet solutions for aircraft interiors.

These innovative, new offerings — clear LEXAN XHR2000 sheet and LEXAN LIGHT F6L300 sheet — will help provide long-awaited solutions to airlines’ quest for differentiated cabin interior designs while also helping to take out significant weight, resulting in a more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Design engineers will benefit from these lightweight, durable materials, which can help to reduce system costs, offer ease of fabrication and comply with the industry’s strict regulatory standards.

“SABIC understands the need for its aircraft interior customers to not only stay ahead of design trends, but also to meet the demand for lighter weight aircraft interior components that can help improve overall fuel efficiency of the aircraft. SABIC’s durable, lightweight LEXAN XHR2000 and LEXAN LIGHT F6L300 sheet solutions are market-first solutions, created to help our customers remain at the forefront of innovation in this exciting environment where aesthetics, safety and sustainability are all critical,” said Kim Choate, marketing director, mass transportation for SABIC’s innovative plastics business.

Aircraft interior designers are often restricted by the clarity and compliance limitations of the transparent materials currently available to them.

With 80 percent light transmission — the highest level of light transmission available in an OSU-compliant sheet material today — SABIC’s new clear LEXAN XHR2000 sheet is a pioneering option for aircraft interiors with this level of transparency while still meeting OSU 65/65 heat release and typical industry flame, smoke, toxicity (FST) requirements (FAR25.853, BSS7239, ABD0031).

SABIC’s new patent-pending high performance LEXAN LIGHT F6L300 sheet is the lightest thermoplastic sheet option available today regardless of base material that complies with flame, smoke and OEM toxicity.

Using LEXAN LIGHT sheet to replace high-toxicity PVC/PMMA products on seating frames can help reduce weight by approximately 121.6 kg (268 lbs).