Weathering Degradation of EVA Encapsulant and the Effect of Its Yellowing on Solar Cell Efficiency

F. J. Pern; A. W. Czanderna; K. A. Emery; R. G. Dhere

Weathering Degradation of EVA Encapsulant and the Effect of Its Yellowing on Solar Cell Efficiency

F. J. Pern, A. W. Czanderna, K. A. Emery, R. G. Dhere

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Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

55 Scopus Citations

Abstract

After five or more years of weathering, the degradation of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant in photovoltaic (PV) modules resulted in a yellow to dark brown color. Degraded EVA shows a substantial increase in the gel content and a large to complete loss of the ultraviolet (UV) absorber, Cyasorb UV 531. The EVA discoloration is caused by the formation of polyconjugated (C=C)_n double bonds of various lengths. Acetic acid and other volatile organic components are also produced from the photothermal decomposition of the EVA. The solar cell efficiency was reduced by approximately 9% by a light-yellow-brown EVA and approximately 50% by a dark-brown EVA. Weathered PV modules with dark-brown EVA also show a approximately 50% decrease in efficiency.

Original language	American English
Pages	557-561
Number of pages	5
State	Published - 1992
Externally published	Yes
Event	Twenty-second IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference - 1991 - Las Vegas, Nevada Duration: 7 Oct 1991 → 11 Oct 1991

Conference

Conference	Twenty-second IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference - 1991
City	Las Vegas, Nevada
Period	7/10/91 → 11/10/91

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-214-4543

Cite this

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title = "Weathering Degradation of EVA Encapsulant and the Effect of Its Yellowing on Solar Cell Efficiency",

abstract = "After five or more years of weathering, the degradation of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant in photovoltaic (PV) modules resulted in a yellow to dark brown color. Degraded EVA shows a substantial increase in the gel content and a large to complete loss of the ultraviolet (UV) absorber, Cyasorb UV 531. The EVA discoloration is caused by the formation of polyconjugated (C=C)n double bonds of various lengths. Acetic acid and other volatile organic components are also produced from the photothermal decomposition of the EVA. The solar cell efficiency was reduced by approximately 9% by a light-yellow-brown EVA and approximately 50% by a dark-brown EVA. Weathered PV modules with dark-brown EVA also show a approximately 50% decrease in efficiency.",

author = "Pern, {F. J.} and Czanderna, {A. W.} and Emery, {K. A.} and Dhere, {R. G.}",

year = "1992",

language = "American English",

pages = "557--561",

note = "Twenty-second IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference - 1991 ; Conference date: 07-10-1991 Through 11-10-1991",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Weathering Degradation of EVA Encapsulant and the Effect of Its Yellowing on Solar Cell Efficiency

AU - Pern, F. J.

AU - Czanderna, A. W.

AU - Emery, K. A.

AU - Dhere, R. G.

PY - 1992

Y1 - 1992

N2 - After five or more years of weathering, the degradation of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant in photovoltaic (PV) modules resulted in a yellow to dark brown color. Degraded EVA shows a substantial increase in the gel content and a large to complete loss of the ultraviolet (UV) absorber, Cyasorb UV 531. The EVA discoloration is caused by the formation of polyconjugated (C=C)n double bonds of various lengths. Acetic acid and other volatile organic components are also produced from the photothermal decomposition of the EVA. The solar cell efficiency was reduced by approximately 9% by a light-yellow-brown EVA and approximately 50% by a dark-brown EVA. Weathered PV modules with dark-brown EVA also show a approximately 50% decrease in efficiency.

AB - After five or more years of weathering, the degradation of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant in photovoltaic (PV) modules resulted in a yellow to dark brown color. Degraded EVA shows a substantial increase in the gel content and a large to complete loss of the ultraviolet (UV) absorber, Cyasorb UV 531. The EVA discoloration is caused by the formation of polyconjugated (C=C)n double bonds of various lengths. Acetic acid and other volatile organic components are also produced from the photothermal decomposition of the EVA. The solar cell efficiency was reduced by approximately 9% by a light-yellow-brown EVA and approximately 50% by a dark-brown EVA. Weathered PV modules with dark-brown EVA also show a approximately 50% decrease in efficiency.

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M3 - Paper

AN - SCOPUS:0026634603

SP - 557

EP - 561

T2 - Twenty-second IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference - 1991

Y2 - 7 October 1991 through 11 October 1991

ER -

Weathering Degradation of EVA Encapsulant and the Effect of Its Yellowing on Solar Cell Efficiency

Abstract

Conference

NREL Publication Number

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