Collector sealants and breathing. Final Report, 25 September 1978-31 December 1979
The objectives of this program were: (1) to investigate the pertinent properties of a variety of possible sealants for solar collectors and identify the most promising candidates, and (2) to study the effect of breathing in flat-plate, thermal solar collector units. The study involved two types of sealants, Class PS which includes preformed seals or gaskets and Class SC which includes sealing compounds or caulks. It was the intent of the study to obtain data regarding initial properties of candidate elastomers from manufacturers and from the technical literature and to use those sources to provide data pertaining to endurance of these materials under environmental service conditions. Where necessary, these data were augmented by experimental measurements. Environmental stresses evaluated by these measurements included elevated temperatures, moisture, ultraviolet light, ozone and oxygen, and fungus. The second major area of the work involved a study of the effects of materials used and design on the durability of solar collectors. Factors such as design, fabrication, materials of construction, seals and sealing techniques and absorber plate coatings were observed on actual field units removed from service. Such phenomena as leakage, corrosion and formation of deposits on glazing and absorber plate were noted. An evaluation of the properties of several desiccants was made in order to providemeans to mitigate the deleterious effects of water on collector life. Adsorbents for organic degradation products of sealants were also investigated in order to protect the glazing and absorber plate from deposited coatings. Since adsorbents and desiccants in general tend to take up both water and organic decomposition products, relative affinities of a number of these agents for water and for organic compounds were determined . Results are presented in detail.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Research and Development Center
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-78CS15362
- OSTI ID:
- 5415127
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CS/15362-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Improved solar-collector sealants. Final report, October 1980-July 1982
Improved solar-collector sealants. Semiannual report, May 1981-October 1981
Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELASTOMERS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
WEATHERING
SEALING MATERIALS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SEALS
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADHESION
AGING
CAULKING
COMPRESSIBILITY
COMPRESSION
CORROSION RESISTANCE
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
DATA COMPILATION
DEGASSING
DESICCANTS
ELONGATION
EMBRITTLEMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUNGI
GLAZING MATERIALS
GRAPHS
HARDNESS
INSPECTION
LEAKS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MOISTURE
OZONE
PERFORMANCE
POLYMERS
RUBBERS
SCREENING
SERVICE LIFE
SILICA GEL
SILICONES
SPECIFICATIONS
STANDARDS
SURVEYS
TABLES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TENSILE PROPERTIES
TESTING
THERMAL DEGRADATION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VENTS
WATER
WEIGHT
ADSORBENTS
CARBON
DATA
DATA FORMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
RADIATIONS
SILOXANES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators
360404 - Materials- Polymers & Plastics- Physical Properties- (-1987)