Study of lamination quality of solar modules with PMMA front layer

Abstract

Purpose The photovoltaic modules with front glass as a protective layer are the most popular type in the industry, but for some applications it can be considered as too heavy. One of the approaches is to laminate the cells using PMMA [Poly(methyl methacrylate)] as the front layer. This polymer has good mechanical strength and optical properties but exhibits low adhesion to lamination foil. To increase adhesion between these two materials, PMMA surface treatment may be required. Design/methodology/approach To examine the PMMA treatment influence on the sample, adhesion samples’ surfaces were modified by grinding and laser cutting. Also two types of PMMA available in the market were tested, namely, smooth and satin types. The quality of lamination was determined using two methods, namely, tear test with recorded maximal tear force achieved for the samples, and environment chamber tests, in which the system resistance against the cyclic temperature variation was evaluated. Findings Additional treatment of the PMMA surface lead to increased adhesion of the lamination foil used. Ethylene-vinyl acetate foil in the PMMA system is sensitive to temperature variation, which can lead to system delamination, whereas polyvinyl butyral foil exhibits better environmental performance and even its adhesion to PMMA is lower. Originality/value This paper presents atypical surface modification methods that contributed to higher adhesion of lamination systems in glass-free solar modules. Glass front sheet and polymeric backsheet were replaced with PMMA. As the adhesion mechanism in the PMMA-lamination foil system differs from that in the traditional glass system, different PMMA surface treatments need to be evaluated.

Characterization of Customized Encapsulant Polyvinyl Butyral Used in the Solar Industry and Its Impact on the Environment

“…Polyvinyl butyral belongs to the group of amorphous polymers with a very high VA (vinyl acetate) content higher than 63.3% by weight [16,17]. The melting point (Tm) is between 171 • C and 218 • C [18]. DSC 204 equipment from NETZSCH company was used to determine the Tg and Tm temperatures.…”

“…Thorough homogenization of the material was ensured by continuous mixing of polyvinyl butyral [18,19]. The material was mixed on a Brabender Plasti-Corder W 350 E, under laboratory conditions at 22 • C and 60% humidity.…”

“…We obtained important information that helped us decide the right manufacturing process for the material. [18,23]. We can see from Figure 6 that the measurement of the recycled polyvinyl butyral seal took place as a function of mW/mg at a temperature of • C. If the measurement is set to mW/mg, it means that the calorimeter was calibrated before starting the measurement.…”

Analysis of application status and development prospect of environmental chambers: A review

“…The temperature, humidity, pressure, gas concentration, illuminance and other parameters are adjusted according to the principle of the researched sensor, and the small-sized environmental chamber is the main method for this type of study. [102][103][104][105][106][107] According to various studies, the sensitivity, frequency range, stability, repeatability and other parameters should be fully considered when selecting sensors. When studying the performance of batteries, especially automotive batteries, small environmental chambers are often used to simulate extreme environments.…”

Engineering Concept of Energy Storage Systems Based on New Type of Silicon Photovoltaic Module and Lithium Ion Batteries

“…One way to reduce the weight of a solar module is to replace glass with another, lighter material. In the proposed solution, the glass has been replaced with a sheet of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) [8]. Thanks to this solution, the mass of the module decreased almost twice.…”