Characterizing photovoltaic backsheet adhesion degradation using the wedge and single cantilever beam tests, Part I: Field Modules

Julien, Scott E.; Kempe, Michael D.; Eafanti, Joshua J.; Morse, Joshua; Wang, Yu; Fairbrother, Andrew; Napoli, Sophie; Hauser, Adam W.; Ji, Liang; O’Brien, Gregory S.; Gu, Xiaohong; French, Roger H.; Bruckman, Laura S.; Wan, Kai-tak; Boyce, Kenneth P.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110669

Characterizing photovoltaic backsheet adhesion degradation using the wedge and single cantilever beam tests, Part I: Field Modules

Journal Article · Mon Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110669· OSTI ID:1677453

Julien, Scott E. ^[1]; Kempe, Michael D. ^[2]; Eafanti, Joshua J. ^[2]; Morse, Joshua ^[2]; Wang, Yu ^[3]; Fairbrother, Andrew ^[4]; Napoli, Sophie ^[5]; Hauser, Adam W. ^[5]; Ji, Liang ^[6]; O’Brien, Gregory S. ^[5]; Gu, Xiaohong ^[4]; French, Roger H. ^[3]; Bruckman, Laura S. ^[3]; Wan, Kai-tak ^[1]; Boyce, Kenneth P. ^[6]

Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
Arkema, Inc., King of Prussia, PA (United States)
Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Northbrook, IL (United States)

Photovoltaic backsheets are exposed to harsh outdoor weathering conditions throughout their service lives that can compromise their protective function, through adhesive debonding between their constituent layers and between the backsheet and the module. We report a large-scale study on adhesive degradation was conducted on 37 field-exposed modules, that spanned 19 different module manufacturers, that were deployed among six Köppen–Geiger climatic zones, and that were fielded between 0 and 28 years. Six outer layer polymer classes were identified among the backsheets: polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), fluoroethylene vinyl ether copolymer (FEVE), and tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene vinylidene fluoride copolymer (THV). Two adhesion tests were used to measure the adhesive strength: the wedge test and the width-tapered single-cantilever beam (SCB) test. Adhesion energies were compared across exposure time and Köppen–Geiger climatic zone. Many of the PET-, PVF-, and PVDF-based backsheets experienced degradation of the adhesive layer between the backsheet outer and core layers. A consistent trend of decreasing adhesion energy with exposure time was observed in five out of the six backsheet types. Trends among adhesion energy and climatic zone, while expected, were not observed, possibly due to broad ranges in temperature, humidity, and precipitation defining Köppen–Geiger climatic zones. The cantilever beam measurements produced an upper cutoff of approximately 100 J/m², above which no modules exhibited field delamination. The results are part of a two-part study quantifying adhesion in both field-weathered and indoor-exposed PV backsheets.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; EE0007143

OSTI ID:: 1677453

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1635328

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5K00-77476; MainId:27412; UUID:d0856e62-c4c6-4b9a-8b37-6437a163d3f2; MainAdminID:18643

Journal Information:: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Journal Name: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells Vol. 215; ISSN 0927-0248

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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