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After all, when module manufacturers guarantee their modules for 25 or more years,
they need to be confident that the materials they’ve chosen won’t fail or lead to a
decline in module performance over time.
for over 20 years and has focused on high performing backsheets for the PV industry
for the past nine years and has shared his insights through published articles and
presentations delivered at conferences around the world.
Results from recent materials testing will be presented at the European PV Solar
Energy Conference and Exhibition to be held in Valencia, Spain, in September 2010.
In the meantime, Dr. DeBergalis has agreed to answer some questions to give us a
preview of the study.
which is why TPT (Tedlar /Polyester/Tedlar ) is one of the most popular backsheets
™ ® ®
used today. In this backsheet construction, Tedlar film provides a dual role.
®
The outside layer protects the module from the environment and the inside layer
provides protection and excellent long term adhesion to the encapsulant layer of
the module.
Why select backsheets containing Tedlar Film? ®
What were the findings?
The primary reasons are performance and design. When today’s Full details of the findings will be presented at the European PV
popular “glass/backsheet” module was designed in the 1970’s, Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Valencia, Spain, in
many materials were considered for the polymeric backsheet. September 2010, three key findings are:
Tedlar film was adopted as the best choice because of its
®
combination of durability, adhesion, color and cost vs. other First, when testing backsheet adhesion to encapsulant after
available materials. Those properties still make sense today. damp heat, we saw a loss of adhesion or mechanical failure
When you add those properties to the 25 year performance for some PET-based and fluoropolymer-based backsheets at
track record, Tedlar remains a compelling choice and continues
®
1,000 hours. In sharp contrast, the TPT constructions showed
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to be the standard used to compare other materials. improved adhesion after exposure.
What material properties did you examine—and why? Second, when testing backsheet elongation after damp heat,
We tested a range of critical backsheet properties, performed we saw embrittlement of a PVDF-based backsheet tested at
a series of exposure tests and conducted a visual inspection 500 hours that worsened at 1,000 hours. The TPT constructions
™
of various backsheet materials, using the same structure and continued to provide superior performance after exposure.
same conditions for a true side-by-side comparison. The physical
properties we tested included: Third, when evaluating color change, we saw a significant
• peel strength to EVA—determines adhesion of the change after 1190h xenon exposure and 2380h xenon exposure
backsheet to the encapsulant. for both the all-polyester-based backsheet and the PFAVE-based
• tensile properties—determines physical integrity, backsheet. On the other hand, the TPT backsheet exhibited
™
however, accelerated exposure tests were run for more cycles reliably for more than 25 years. Tedlar is the only backsheet
®
than standards require in order to better approximate long term material that has delivered proven performance in modules
exposure. for more than 25 years, and will continue to enable long-term,
reliable power output and module performance for many years
to come.
photovoltaics.dupont.com
Copyright © 2010 DuPont. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont , The miracles of science , Tedlar and TPT are trademarks or registered
™ ™ ® ™
trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 05/10.