Characterization of Customized Encapsulant Polyvinyl Butyral Used in the Solar Industry and Its Impact on the Environment

Samer Khouri, Marcel Behun, Lucia Knapcikova, Annamaria Behunova, Marian Sofranko and Andrea Rosova
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Samer Khouri: Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Kosice, 9, 04200 Kosice, Slovakia
Marcel Behun: Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Kosice, 9, 04200 Kosice, Slovakia
Lucia Knapcikova: Department of Industrial Engineering and Informatics, Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies with the seat in Presov, Technical University of Kosice, 1, 08001 Presov, Slovakia
Annamaria Behunova: Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Kosice, 9, 04200 Kosice, Slovakia
Marian Sofranko: Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Kosice, 9, 04200 Kosice, Slovakia
Andrea Rosova: Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Kosice, 9, 04200 Kosice, Slovakia

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: Taking climate and geopolitical issues into account, we must shift our thinking towards “eco” and focus on renewable energy. The accessible solar energy represents 400 times the amount of consumption, while its potential represents 10,000 times the amount of demand. The paper aims to analyze recycled, customized polyvinyl butyral (PVB) with high purity (more than 98%) concerning its physicochemical and mechanical properties and its possible applicability in the photovoltaic industry as an encapsulating material. The detailed investigation on polyvinyl butyral starting from characterizations, homogenization, and moulding process to tensile tests and used exposure testing in laboratory apparatus are performed. Samples of recycled polyvinyl butyral were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the value 0.76 W.m –2 .nm –1 at 340 nm, water spray, drying at 50 °C and condensation for 320 h when the radiation was turned off. The results obtained were more controlled in a laboratory environment than those found in external, uncontrolled environments. These conditions subsequently accelerate any degradation of polyvinyl butyral as a material and subsequent degradation of the final product.

Keywords: polyvinyl butyral; solar panels; environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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