Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules

Tracy, Jared; Bosco, Nick; Novoa, Fernando; Dauskardt, Reinhold

doi:10.1002/pip.2817

Title: Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules

Journal Article · Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Progress in Photovoltaics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2817· OSTI ID:1351446

Tracy, Jared ^[1]; Bosco, Nick ^[2]; Novoa, Fernando ^[1]; Dauskardt, Reinhold ^[1]

Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Abstract Photovoltaic modules are designed to operate for decades in terrestrial environments. However, mechanical stress, moisture, and ultraviolet radiation eventually degrade protective materials in modules, particularly their adhesion properties, eventually leading to reduced solar cell performance. Despite the significance of interfacial adhesion to module durability, currently there is no reliable technique for characterizing module adhesion properties. We present a simple and reproducible metrology for characterizing adhesion in photovoltaic modules that is grounded in fundamental concepts of beam and fracture mechanics. Using width‐tapered cantilever beam fracture specimens, interfacial adhesion was evaluated on relevant interfaces of encapsulation and backsheet structures of new and 27‐year‐old historic modules. The adhesion energy, G _c [J/m ² ], was calculated from the critical value of the strain energy release rate, G, using G = βP ² , where β (a mechanical and geometric parameter of the fracture specimen) and P (the experimentally measured critical load) are constants. Under some circumstances where testing may result in cracking of brittle layers in the test specimen, measurement of the delamination length in addition to the critical load was necessary to determine G . Relative to new module materials, backsheet adhesion was 95% and 98% lower for historic modules that were exposed (operated in the field) and unexposed (stored on‐site, but out of direct sunlight), respectively. Encapsulation adhesion was 87–94% lower in the exposed modules and 31% lower in the unexposed module. The metrology presented here can be used to improve module materials and assess long‐term reliability. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; DE‐AC36‐08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1351446

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1401879

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5J00-66410

Journal Information:: Progress in Photovoltaics, Vol. 25, Issue 1; ISSN 1062-7995

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 32 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (32)

Moisture transport, adhesion, and corrosion protection of PV module packaging materials Jorgensen, G.; Terwilliger, K.; Delcueto, J. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 90, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2006.04.003	journal	October 2006
Elastic solids with many cracks: A simple method of analysis Kachanov, Mark International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 23, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7683(87)90030-8	journal	January 1987
Interlaminar Fracture Behavior and Fiber Bridging of Glass-Epoxy Composite Under Mode I Static and Cyclic Loadings Hwang, W.; Han, K. S. Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 23, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1177/002199838902300407	journal	April 1989
Elastoplastic analysis of the peel test Kim, K-S.; Aravas, N. International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 24, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7683(88)90071-6	journal	January 1988
Testing of packaging materials for improved PV module reliability Jorgensen, G. J.; Terwilliger, K. M.; Kempe, M. D. Conference Record of the Thirty-first IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2005.1488179	conference	January 2005
Peel adhesion. I. Some phenomenological aspects of the test Gardon, John L. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 7, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1963.070070219	journal	March 1963
A Comparison of Fracture Toughness of Matrix Controlled Failure Modes: Delamination and Transverse Cracking Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 20, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1177/002199838602000205	journal	March 1986
Effect of matrix cracking in cross-ply ceramic matrix composite beams on their mechanical properties and natural frequencies Birman, Victor; Byrd, Larry W. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics, Vol. 38, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7462(01)00055-5	journal	March 2003
Experimental studies of Mode I energy release rate in adhesively bonded width tapered composite DCB specimens Jyoti, A. Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 65, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2004.04.006	journal	January 2005
On the use of planar shear-lag methods for stress-transfer analysis of multilayered composites Nairn, J. A.; Mendels, D. A. Mechanics of Materials, Vol. 33, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6636(01)00056-4	journal	June 2001
A parametric study of the peel test Thouless, M. D.; Yang, Q. D. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, Vol. 28, Issue 4-5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2007.06.006	journal	June 2008
Adhesion and debonding kinetics of photovoltaic encapsulation in moist environments: Adhesion and debonding kinetics of photovoltaic encapsulation Novoa, Fernando D.; Miller, David C.; Dauskardt, Reinhold H. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 24, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2657	journal	July 2015
Mechanics of the Peel Test for Thin Film Adhesion Kim, K-S. MRS Proceedings, Vol. 119 https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-119-31	journal	January 1988
Failure analysis on lattice matched GaInP/Ga(In)As/Ge commercial concentrator solar cells after temperature accelerated life tests: Failure Analysis on III-V commercial concentrator solar cells Orlando, Vincenzo; Gabás, Mercedes; Galiana, Beatriz Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 25, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2818	journal	September 2016
Capping vertically aligned InGaAs/GaAs(Sb) quantum dots with a AlGaAsSb spacer layer in intermediate-band solar cell devices: Capping the InGaAs QDs with a AlGaAsSb spacer layer Liu, Wei-Sheng; Lin, Hsiao-Chien; Liu, Ren-Yo Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 25, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2815	journal	September 2016
A Triangular Double Cantilever Beam Test for Measuring Adhesive or Cohesive Fracture Energy Liu, G.; Gent, A. N. The Journal of Adhesion, Vol. 38, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1080/00218469208031268	journal	June 1992
The interlaminar fracture of organic-matrix, woven reinforcement composites Bascom, W. D.; Bitner, J. L.; Moulton, R. J. Composites, Vol. 11, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-4361(80)90016-6	journal	January 1980
Analytical Solution for Bending of Laminated Composites with Matrix Cracks Barbero, Ever J.; Cabrera Barbero, Javier Composite Structures, Vol. 135 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.09.021	journal	January 2016
Environmental mechanisms of debonding in photovoltaic backsheets Novoa, Fernando D.; Miller, David C.; Dauskardt, Reinhold H. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 120 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2013.08.020	journal	January 2014
Effective bending stiffness for plates with microcracks Simkins Jr, D. C.; Li, S. Archive of Applied Mechanics (Ingenieur Archiv), Vol. 73, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00419-003-0292-7	journal	September 2003
Rate Effects on Delamination Fracture Toughness of Graphite/Epoxy Composites Daniel, I. M.; Yaniv, G.; Auser, J. W. Composite Structures 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3457-3_20	book	January 1987
Interface strength, work of adhesion and plasticity in the peel test Wei, Yueguang; Hutchinson, John W. International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 93, Issue 1/4, p. 315-333 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007545200315	journal	January 1998
The peeling of flexible laminates Kinloch, A. J.; Lau, C. C.; Williams, J. G. International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 66, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012635	journal	March 1994
Theory of stress transfer in a 0°—90°—0° cross-ply laminate containing a parallel array of transverse cracks McCartney, L. N. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, Vol. 40, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5096(92)90226-R	journal	January 1992
Fracture and fatigue response of a self-healing epoxy adhesive Jin, Henghua; Miller, Gina M.; Sottos, Nancy R. Polymer, Vol. 52, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2011.02.011	journal	March 2011
Compressive-shear adhesion characterization of polyvinyl-butyral and ethylene-vinyl acetate at different curing times before and after exposure to damp-heat conditions: Compressive-shear adhesion characterization of PVB and EVA Chapuis, Valentin; Pélisset, Ségolène; Raeis-Barnéoud, Marylène Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 22, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2270	journal	September 2012
Long Term Reliability of Photovoltaic Modules Wohlgemuth, John; Cunningham, Daniel; Monus, Paul 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conference https://doi.org/10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279905	conference	May 2006
Fracture Mechanics Anderson, Ted L.; Anderson, T. L. CRC Press https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420058215	book	June 2005
Fracture Mechanics for Structural Adhesive Bonds. Part 2 Brussat, T. R.; Chiu, S. T.; Mostovoy, S. https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA061805	report	August 1978
Equating damp heat testing with field failures of PV modules Wohlgemuth, John H.; Kempe, Michael D. 2013 IEEE 39th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744113	conference	June 2013
Fracture Mechanics Knott, J. F. Metal Science, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1179/030634575790444937	journal	January 1975
Fracture mechanics Person, P. Physics in Technology, Vol. 13, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4624/13/4/405	journal	July 1982

Cited By (4)

Increased reliability of modified polyolefin backsheet over commonly used polyester backsheets for crystalline PV modules Omazic, Antonia; Oreski, Gernot; Edler, Michael Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 137, Issue 30 https://doi.org/10.1002/app.48899	journal	January 2020
A novel test method for quantifying cracking propensity of photovoltaic backsheets after ultraviolet exposure Lin, Chiao-Chi; Lyu, Yadong; Jacobs, Deborah S. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 27, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3038	journal	July 2018
Evaluating and predicting molecular mechanisms of adhesive degradation during field and accelerated aging of photovoltaic modules Tracy, Jared; D'hooge, Dagmar R.; Bosco, Nick Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 26, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3045	journal	July 2018
Fluorescence imaging analysis of depth‐dependent degradation in photovoltaic laminates: insights to the failure Lyu, Yadong; Fairbrother, Andrew; Kim, Jae Hyun Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 28, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3212	journal	December 2019

Similar Records

Chemical and mechanical interfacial degradation in bifacial glass/glass and glass/transparent backsheet photovoltaic modules

Journal Article · Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Progress in Photovoltaics · OSTI ID:1351446

Spinella, Laura; Uličná, Soňa; Sinha, Archana; +4 more

Evaluating and predicting molecular mechanisms of adhesive degradation during field and accelerated aging of photovoltaic modules

Journal Article · Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Progress in Photovoltaics · OSTI ID:1351446

Tracy, Jared; D'hooge, Dagmar R.; Bosco, Nick; +2 more

Field retrieved photovoltaic backsheet survey from diverse climate zones: Analysis of degradation patterns and phenomena

Journal Article · Wed May 17 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Solar Energy · OSTI ID:1351446

Wieser, Raymond J.; Wang, Yu; Fairbrother, Andrew; +10 more

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
adhesion
reliability
delamination
photovoltaic
encapsulation
backsheet

Title: Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules

Citation Formats

References (32)

Cited By (4)

Similar Records

Related Subjects