Durability and Reliability of Polymers and Other Materials in Photovoltaic Modules (Plastics Design Library) - Hardcover

Durability and Reliability of Polymers and Other Materials in Photovoltaic Modules describes the durability and reliability behavior of polymers used in Si-photovoltaic modules and systems, particularly in terms of physical aging and degradation process/mechanisms, characterization methods, accelerated exposure chamber and testing, module level testing, and service life prediction. The book compares polymeric materials to traditional materials used in solar applications, explaining the degradation pathways of the different elements of a photovoltaic module, including encapsulant, front sheet, back sheet, wires and connectors, adhesives, sealants, and more.

In addition, users will find sections on the tests needed for the evaluation of polymer degradation and aging, as well as accelerated tests to aid in materials selection. As demand for photovoltaics continues to grow globally, with polymer photovoltaics offering significantly lower production costs compared to earlier approaches, this book will serve as a welcome resource on new avenues.

• Provides comprehensive coverage of photovoltaic polymers, from fundamental degradation mechanisms, to specific case studies of durability and materials failure
• Offers practical, actionable information in relation to service life prediction of photovoltaic modules and accelerated testing for materials selection
• Includes up-to-date information and interpretation of safety regulations and testing of photovoltaic modules and materials

Hsinjin Yang is the President of Pioneer Scientific Solutions, LLC, a consulting company offering solutions for polymers and materials in the areas of materials flammability science and technology, durability of photovoltaic materials, long term aging performance and service life prediction, biomedical devices, and more. He has more than 27 years of experience of R&D, product and business development, quality/regulatory/safety issues and management in the area of polymers/materials science and engineering.

Roger French is the F. Alex Nason Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He is the founder of the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Center, a world class-research center dedicated to lifetime and degradation science. He previously worked in Central Research and Development at DuPont, and was Adjunct Professor of Materials Science at the University of Pennsylvania

Laura Bruckman is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. She is currently working at the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Centre at Case Western, with specific research interests in quantitative spectroscopy, data science and analytics, polymer material degradation, and photovoltaics.