Newly developed thermoplastic polyolefin encapsulant–A potential candidate for crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules encapsulation

Adothu, Baloji; Bhatt, Parth; Chattopadhyay, Shashwata; Zele, Sarita; Oderkerk, Jeroen; Sagar, Hosangadi Prutvi; Costa, Francis Reny; Mallick, Sudhanshu

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2019.11.018

Cited by 57 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The use of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) as an alternative to EVA as the encapsulant has been evaluated [ 483 , 484 ] and was found to have superior thermal stability, adhesive strength and resistance to discolouration. For instance, discolouration on exposure to UV radiation was ca nine times slower in TPO relative to EVA, and may also be easier to process.…”

Section: Materials Damagementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020

Neale

Barnes

Robson

et al. 2021

Photochem Photobiol Sci

131

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This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides the latest scientific update since our most recent comprehensive assessment (Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, 2019, 18, 595–828). The interactive effects between the stratospheric ozone layer, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate change are presented within the framework of the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We address how these global environmental changes affect the atmosphere and air quality; human health; terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; biogeochemical cycles; and materials used in outdoor construction, solar energy technologies, and fabrics. In many cases, there is a growing influence from changes in seasonality and extreme events due to climate change. Additionally, we assess the transmission and environmental effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of linkages with solar UV radiation and the Montreal Protocol.

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Section: Materials Damagementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020

Neale

Barnes

Robson

et al. 2021

Photochem Photobiol Sci

131

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“…[23][24][25] Over the last 15 years, various approaches for developing materials to replace EVA have been undertaken, ranging from ionomers, 26,27 thermoplastic silicone elastomers (TPSEs), 28 silicone elastomers, 29,30 to polyethylene and polyethylene copolymers. [31][32][33][34][35] Earlier developments like the silicones, ionomers or first-generation polyethylene derivates either did not succeed to enter the market successfully or found use for certain niches like in the case for ionomers as encapsulation of double-glass copper-indium-galliumselenium (CIGS) modules. 36 Recently, different types of nextgeneration encapsulant films were introduced and could draw attention on the market.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TPO films, however are thermoplastic elastomers, which exploit thermoreversible physical cross-links like ion bonds, hydrogen bonds or via crystallites. TPO films usually have melting temperatures around 100 C to ensure thermo-mechanical stability during operation 3,31,34 and allow for lamination times below 10 min 40 due to the lack of the time-consuming cross-linking process. Further major advantages of the new encapsulants compared to EVA are (i) the higher volume resistivity and (ii) the lower water vapour transmission rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[42][43][44] Even though these types of materials are already on the market since several years, only few publications are available describing the principal material properties of a certain encapsulant type relevant for lamination as well as the long-term behaviour during operation of the PV module. 31,34 But a broad comparison of properties and differences between EVA, TPO and POE has not been published yet. Table 1 summarizes the polymeric encapsulants and backsheets, which were investigated for the findings described in the paper.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Properties and degradation behaviour of polyolefin encapsulants for photovoltaic modules

Oreški

Omazic

Eder

et al. 2020

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Various types of next-generation encapsulation films based on polyolefins have recently been introduced and could attract market attention. These material innovations can be classified as polyolefin elastomer (POE) and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) encapsulants, both of which consist of a polyethylene backbone with different side groups. The main advantage of these materials is the replacement of the vinyl acetate side groups of state-of-the-art encapsulant ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) so that acetic acid cannot be formed. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the material properties of next-generation encapsulant films and compare them to an EVA reference. Two commercially available EVA alternatives (POE and TPO) have been selected. The material properties of single films as well as the electrical performance of test modules using these different encapsulants were investigated. The different films show comparable optical, thermal and thermo-mechanical properties, with slight differences in UV transparency and melting temperatures. Only shear viscosity values are higher for TPO than for POE and EVA, which requires adaption of the photovoltaic (PV) module lamination parameters. The test modules comprising the different encapsulation films show minor differences in the electrical performance after manufacturing; upon accelerated aging, no significant power loss is observed. But compared to TPO or POE, after 3000 h of damp heat exposure, test modules with EVA show the beginning of corrosion effects at the silver grid and above the ribbons. Based on the results, it can be stated that the new polyolefin encapsulation materials show great potential to be a valid replacement for EVA.

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“…Recently, an interest in new encapsulant materials has increased to overcome the issues due to the use of EVA and new formulations have been tested. In particular, Thermoplastic Polyolefines (TPO) and Polyolefin Elastomers (POE) have been introduced as alternatives to EVA as encapsulants for PV applications [ 8 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. TPO and POE are polyethylene based materials, as well as EVA, but do not have vinyl acetate moieties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Degradation Behavior of Newly Developed Encapsulation Materials for Photovoltaic Applications under Different Artificial Ageing Tests

et al. 2021

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The main focus of this work is to investigate the degradation behavior of two newly developed encapsulants for photovoltaic applications (thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and polyolefin elastomer (POE)), compared to the most widely used Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) upon exposure to two different artificial ageing tests (with and without ultraviolet (UV) irradiation). Additive composition, optical and thermal properties and chemical structure (investigated by means of Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry, UV-Visible-Near Infrared spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis and Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy, respectively) of the analyzed polymers were monitored throughout the exposure to artificial ageing tests. Relevant signs of photo-oxidation were detectable for TPO after the UV test, as well as a depletion of material’s stabilizers. Signs of degradation for EVA and POE were detected when the UV dose applied was equal to 200 kW h m−2. A novel approach is presented to derive information of oxidation induction time/dose from thermogravimetric measurements that correlate well with results obtained by using oxidation indices.

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Newly developed thermoplastic polyolefin encapsulant–A potential candidate for crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules encapsulation

Cited by 57 publications

References 24 publications

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020

Properties and degradation behaviour of polyolefin encapsulants for photovoltaic modules

Comparison of Degradation Behavior of Newly Developed Encapsulation Materials for Photovoltaic Applications under Different Artificial Ageing Tests

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