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Title: Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules

Abstract

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 thatmore » 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.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1351446
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1401879
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5J00-66410
Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308; DE‐AC36‐08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Progress in Photovoltaics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 25; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; adhesion; reliability; delamination; photovoltaic; encapsulation; backsheet

Citation Formats

Tracy, Jared, Bosco, Nick, Novoa, Fernando, and Dauskardt, Reinhold. Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1002/pip.2817.
Tracy, Jared, Bosco, Nick, Novoa, Fernando, & Dauskardt, Reinhold. Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2817
Tracy, Jared, Bosco, Nick, Novoa, Fernando, and Dauskardt, Reinhold. Mon . "Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2817. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1351446.
@article{osti_1351446,
title = {Encapsulation and backsheet adhesion metrology for photovoltaic modules},
author = {Tracy, Jared and Bosco, Nick and Novoa, Fernando and Dauskardt, Reinhold},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1002/pip.2817},
journal = {Progress in Photovoltaics},
number = 1,
volume = 25,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Increased reliability of modified polyolefin backsheet over commonly used polyester backsheets for crystalline PV modules
journal, January 2020

  • Omazic, Antonia; Oreski, Gernot; Edler, Michael
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A novel test method for quantifying cracking propensity of photovoltaic backsheets after ultraviolet exposure
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Evaluating and predicting molecular mechanisms of adhesive degradation during field and accelerated aging of photovoltaic modules
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  • Tracy, Jared; D'hooge, Dagmar R.; Bosco, Nick
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Fluorescence imaging analysis of depth‐dependent degradation in photovoltaic laminates: insights to the failure
journal, December 2019

  • Lyu, Yadong; Fairbrother, Andrew; Kim, Jae Hyun
  • Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 28, Issue 2
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