Evaluation of the adherence of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as an alternative material for the protection of solar cells

Abstract

At present, the care of the environment as well as the use of solar energy are of great importance. One way to use solar energy for clean energy generation is through the use of photovoltaic modules. The performance of the crystalline silicon PV module is mainly determined by the efficiency of the silicon cells, but the properties of the other components, such as the encapsulant material, also have a high impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adherence of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) as an alternative material for the protection of solar cells, since the encapsulating material most used in solar production to date is Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and it serves as a comparison of possible advantages and disadvantages. The tests carried out were in accordance with the International IEC 61215 and 61345 Standards. The adhesion results were sufficiently good and without optical defects. It is concluded that TPU can be used as an alternative material for encapsulating solar cells.