Minimize PVM Silicon Wafer Encapsulant Discoloration With United Initiators Peroxides

ELYRIA, OH, May 18 (MARKET WIRE) --
In the world of solar energy production, the more useable sunlight that
can be directed into a photovoltaic module's silicon wafers, the more
electricity can be produced. PVM designers and manufacturers, therefore,
strive to increase the amount of solar energy their solar cells absorb.

To a large degree, the amount of useable light from the solar spectrum
that enters the silicon wafer is affected by the encapsulant film that
protects the wafer's surface.

For that reason, advances in solar encapsulate materials that resist
discoloration are significant to solar panel manufacturers. Discoloration
is yellowing or hazing that causes a reduction in the sunlight that
penetrates to the silicon wafer, and the goal obviously is to reduce
discoloration and extend the period of time during which the encapsulants
are at their maximum clarity.

United Initiators, with facilities in
Elyria, Ohio; Mobile, Alabama; Pullach, Germany; Syndey, Australia; and
Shanghai, China, is the specialist in customized organic peroxides and
inorganic persulfate initiators. Peroxides and other cross-linking agents
are the sole focus of United Initiators' business, which is set up to
supply products to solar panel manufacturers around the world.

To gain understanding about the role that crosslinking agents play in
reducing discoloration in PVM silicon wafer encapsulates, it is helpful
to understand the nomenclature.

"Peroxide" is the general classification of the organic materials used,
while "initiator" is the functional name. People in the solar energy
industry refer to peroxides and initiators as "crosslinking agents."

"The solar energy industry is ever on the alert for opportunities to gain
increases in the light that penetrates to the silicon wafer to produce
more electrical current," said Onofrio Palazzolo, United Initiators
commercial manager. "Our customers gain satisfaction with increased
performance of PVMs' silicon wafer encapsulates thanks to the
crosslinking agents we manufacture for them."

Silicon wafer encapsulant yellowing is a complex issue that has been
addressed with excellent results with new crosslinked resins.

Silicon wafers' EVA encapsulation must survive for 20 years of continued
daily thermal cycling and retain those properties that are required for
PVM performance. Among the various functional properties required of EVA
encapsulates are maximum light transmission to the silicon solar cell
operating wavelength. The EVA also must retain mechanical properties,
maintain a required level of electrical insulation to protect against
electrical breakdown and arcing, and remain chemically inert with
encapsulated components such as the solar cells themselves,
metallization, and electrical wiring.

A paper published in 1983 by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL
Publication 83-35) documents that freshly cured and unaged A-9918 EVA has
a total integrated light transmission of near 91 percent (not corrected
for surface reflection losses, which would be in the order of 8 percent
for normal incident light).

The goal is that even as they age, the EVA encapsulates should not change
in transparency so as to reduce light transmission, which would then
directly result in a decreased power output from the solar cells.

The goal for a PVM's power output is that it should not after 20 years
decrease to less than 75 percent of the initial output. While power output
can decrease due to such factors as surface soiling or a decline in the
performance efficiency of the solar cells themselves, the EVA's light
transmission properties are controllable and can be improved, thanks to
advances in crosslinking chemistry that enables the encapsulate material
to remain clear throughout its lifetime.

Peroxides have a proven track record in the polymer industry, which
historically has used the same initiators. The TBPEHC product used for
solar panels has become the standard.

For more information on minimizing PVM silicon wafer encapsulant
discoloration with peroxides, visit www.PVMEncapsulates.com.

(Editor's Note: Readers may know these products by other names, including
TBEC, Lupersol or Luperox.)

For more information, contact:

Onofrio Palazzolo
440-326-2413
Email Contact

Jack Wollitz
330-492-5500
Email Contact

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