The Influence of Water Content on the Adhesion between Solar Module Interfaces

Nicholas C. Theut, April M. Jeffries, Rishi E. Kumar, Guillaume Von Gastrow, David P. Fenning, Mariana I. Bertoni

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Delamination of solar module interfaces often occurs in field-tested solar modules after decades of service due to environmental stressors such as humidity. In the presence of water, the interfaces between encapsulant and the cell, glass, and backsheet all experience losses of adhesion, exposing the module to accelerated degradation. Understanding the relation between interfacial adhesion and water content inside PV modules can help mitigate detrimental power losses. Water content measurements via short wave infrared reflectometry combined with 180° peel tests were used to study peel test samples exposed to damp heat and dry heat conditions. The effect of temperature, cumulative water dose, and water content during peel tests on interfacial adhesion was studied. Temperature and time decreased adhesion at all interfaces, whereas water content at time of measurement showed significant decreases in strength for the backsheet/encapsulant interface. Water dose showed little effect for the glass/encapsulant and backsheet/encapsulant interfaces, but there was significant adhesion loss with water dose at the front cell busbar/encapsulant interface.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2020 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2020
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages2057-2061
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781728161150
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 14 2020
Event47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2020 - Calgary, Canada
Duration: Jun 15 2020Aug 21 2020

Publication series

NameConference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
Volume2020-June
ISSN (Print)0160-8371

Conference

Conference47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2020
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityCalgary
Period6/15/208/21/20

Keywords

  • adhesion
  • degradation
  • delamination
  • water

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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