Durability of Polymeric Glazing and Absorber Materials
Abstract
The Solar Heating and Lighting Program has set the goal of reducing the cost of solar water heating systems by at least 50%. An attractive approach to such large cost reduction is to replace glass and metal parts with less-expensive, lighter-weight, more-integrated polymeric components. The key challenge with polymers is to maintain performance and assure requisite durability for extended lifetimes. The objective of this task is to quantify lifetimes through measurement of the optical and mechanical stability of candidate polymeric glazing and absorber materials. Polycarbonate sheet glazings, as proposed by two industry partners, have been tested for resistance to UV radiation with three complementary methods. Incorporation of a specific 2-mil thick UV-absorbing screening layer results in glazing lifetimes of at least 15 years; improved screens promise even longer lifetimes. Proposed absorber materials were tested for creep and embrittlement under high temperature, and appear adequate for planned ICS absorbers.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 860835
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-520-37041
TRN: US200524%%327
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-99-GO10337
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: Presented at the 2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting, 25-28 October 2004, Denver, Colorado. Also included in the proceedings available on CD-ROM (DOE/GO-102005-2067; NREL/CD-520-37140)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; CREEP; EMBRITTLEMENT; GLASS; GLAZING MATERIALS; PERFORMANCE; POLYCARBONATES; POLYMERS; RADIATIONS; SCREENS; SOLAR HEATING; SOLAR WATER HEATING; STABILITY; PV; POLYMERIC GLAZING; SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS; UV LIGHT; ABSORBING SCREENING LAYER; THERMAL STABILITY; METALLOCENE-BASED MULTI-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (MBMDPE); POLYPROPYLENE (PP); Solar Energy - Photovoltaics
Citation Formats
Jorgensen, G, Terwilliger, K, Bingham, C, and Milbourne, M. Durability of Polymeric Glazing and Absorber Materials. United States: N. p., 2005.
Web.
Jorgensen, G, Terwilliger, K, Bingham, C, & Milbourne, M. Durability of Polymeric Glazing and Absorber Materials. United States.
Jorgensen, G, Terwilliger, K, Bingham, C, and Milbourne, M. 2005.
"Durability of Polymeric Glazing and Absorber Materials". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/860835.
@article{osti_860835,
title = {Durability of Polymeric Glazing and Absorber Materials},
author = {Jorgensen, G and Terwilliger, K and Bingham, C and Milbourne, M},
abstractNote = {The Solar Heating and Lighting Program has set the goal of reducing the cost of solar water heating systems by at least 50%. An attractive approach to such large cost reduction is to replace glass and metal parts with less-expensive, lighter-weight, more-integrated polymeric components. The key challenge with polymers is to maintain performance and assure requisite durability for extended lifetimes. The objective of this task is to quantify lifetimes through measurement of the optical and mechanical stability of candidate polymeric glazing and absorber materials. Polycarbonate sheet glazings, as proposed by two industry partners, have been tested for resistance to UV radiation with three complementary methods. Incorporation of a specific 2-mil thick UV-absorbing screening layer results in glazing lifetimes of at least 15 years; improved screens promise even longer lifetimes. Proposed absorber materials were tested for creep and embrittlement under high temperature, and appear adequate for planned ICS absorbers.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/860835},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2005},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2005}
}