Evaluation of the Durability of Flexible Barrier Materials
To enable the production of lightweight photovoltaic modules, it is desired to use thin film absorbers on metal substrates in a flexible package. To do this with a polymer based frontsheet, it is estimated that a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) less than 10-4 g/m2/day must be achieved and maintained through the expected life of the module. Barrier-frontsheet films have been developed at 3M with very low permeation rates and evaluated for their long term durability with respect to WVTR and optical transmittance. After exposure to 2500 h of 10 UV suns at 105 degrees C, one design was found which experienced negligible loss in optical transmission while maintaining a WVTR well below the required 10-4 g/m2/day. Further accelerated tests were conducted at different stress levels. For some less durable designs we were able to obtain degradation acceleration factors suggesting the highest exposure was equal to between 4.4 and 10 y on a roof.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1250662
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-5J00-63614
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC), 14-19 June 2015, New Orleans, Louisiana; Related Information: Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC), 14-19 June 2015, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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