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Title: Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Potential Problems for Photovoltaic Packaging

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) devices are typically encapsulated using ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) to provide mechanical support, optical coupling, electrical isolation, and protection against environmental exposure. Under exposure to atmospheric water and/or ultraviolet radiation, EVA will decompose to produce acetic acid, lowering the pH and increasing the surface corrosion rates of embedded devices. Even though acetic acid is produced at a very slow rate, it may not take much to catalyze reactions that lead to rapid module deterioration. Another consideration is that the glass transition of EVA, as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis, begins at temperatures of about -15 degC. Temperatures lower than this can be reached for extended periods of time in some climates. Because of increased moduli below the glass transition temperature, a module may be more vulnerable to damage if a mechanical load is applied by snow or wind at low temperatures. Modules using EVA should not be rated for use at such low temperatures without additional low-temperature mechanical testing beyond the scope of UL1703.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
944469
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-99-GO10337
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: [Proceedings] 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-4), 7-12 May 2006, Waikoloa, Hawaii; Related Information: For preprint version see NREL/CP-520-39915
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; ACETATES; ACETIC ACID; CLIMATES; CORROSION; ENERGY CONVERSION; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE; GLASS; PACKAGING; SNOW; TESTING; TRANSITION TEMPERATURE; ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION; WATER; Solar Energy - Photovoltaics

Citation Formats

Kempe, M D, Jorgensen, G J, Terwilliger, K M, McMahon, T J, Kennedy, C E, and Borek, T T. Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Potential Problems for Photovoltaic Packaging. United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
Kempe, M D, Jorgensen, G J, Terwilliger, K M, McMahon, T J, Kennedy, C E, & Borek, T T. Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Potential Problems for Photovoltaic Packaging. United States.
Kempe, M D, Jorgensen, G J, Terwilliger, K M, McMahon, T J, Kennedy, C E, and Borek, T T. 2006. "Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Potential Problems for Photovoltaic Packaging". United States.
@article{osti_944469,
title = {Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Potential Problems for Photovoltaic Packaging},
author = {Kempe, M D and Jorgensen, G J and Terwilliger, K M and McMahon, T J and Kennedy, C E and Borek, T T},
abstractNote = {Photovoltaic (PV) devices are typically encapsulated using ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) to provide mechanical support, optical coupling, electrical isolation, and protection against environmental exposure. Under exposure to atmospheric water and/or ultraviolet radiation, EVA will decompose to produce acetic acid, lowering the pH and increasing the surface corrosion rates of embedded devices. Even though acetic acid is produced at a very slow rate, it may not take much to catalyze reactions that lead to rapid module deterioration. Another consideration is that the glass transition of EVA, as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis, begins at temperatures of about -15 degC. Temperatures lower than this can be reached for extended periods of time in some climates. Because of increased moduli below the glass transition temperature, a module may be more vulnerable to damage if a mechanical load is applied by snow or wind at low temperatures. Modules using EVA should not be rated for use at such low temperatures without additional low-temperature mechanical testing beyond the scope of UL1703.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/944469}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2006},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2006}
}

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