AKASOL®: The strong backbone for your photovoltaic modules
AKASOL® is a weather-resistant back-sheet laminate with outstanding mechanical, electrical and chemical properties. It provides an effective shield against both UV radiation and the influences of moisture throughout the tens of years a photovoltaic module is in service.
Based on our extensive know-how in using films and adhesives together with the mature technologies we apply for coating and laminating, we carry out innovative development work to relieve bottlenecks on the market by offering new combinations and thereby stay ahead in engineering progress.
- AKASOL® is a product family specially developed for photovoltaic engineering from combinations of various polymer film materials (PET, PEN, PC, PVF and PVDF). Other designs are also available, in combination with e.g. aluminium foil to act as the moisture barrier, or with copper foil to establish an electrically conductive connection as the back contact for the cells.
- AKASOL® assures constancy in the product quality from ISO/TS 16949 and ISO 9001 and by conforming with IEC 61730-1 and IEC 60664-1. Also, the laminates are UL-recognised components and are listed in the QIHE2 category (E 312 459).
- AKASOL® has the right solution for every technical and economic requirement from a choice of four, three and two-layer designs. The product programme covers the different system voltages by combining different thickness grades and also satisfies requirements on the appearance by offering the products in different colours.
- AKASOL® is compatible with all encapsulation plastics of relevance, like e.g. EVA, PVB and TPU. Excellent adhesive-bonding is realised by mutually-matched special surface pre-treatment processes.
- AKASOL® makes handling straightforward as it is supplied on reels or as sheet material or as punched structures. Marking with broken lines gives an easy recognition of the pre-treated side.
AKASOL® types
| AKASOL® types | PTL
3-38/75 TWH |
PTL
3-38/250 TWH |
PTL
3 HR 750V |
PTL
3 HR 1000V |
PTL
3-25/250 TUT |
TAPL
38-50-330 |
PVL
1000V |
| Market introduction
Material composition Colours |
1992
To-P-To white, black |
2004
To-P-To white, black |
2006
Tc-P-Tc white, black, high reflection |
2006
Tc-P-Tc white, black, high reflection |
2002
Ttr-P-Ttr transparent |
2006
Tc-A -P white, black |
2007
PVDF- P- PDVF white, black |
| Film size | |||||||
| Thickness
Max width range Weight |
180
µm 2000 mm 240 g/m² |
355µm
2000 mm 485 g/m² |
195µm
2000 mm 265 g/m² |
320µm
2000 mm 440 g/m² |
316µm
1650 mm 440 g/m² |
443
µm 2000 mm 675 g/m² |
330
µm 2000 mm 470 g/m² |
| Stability characteristics | |||||||
| Dimensional stability (MD/TD)
EVA peel strength Water vapour permeability Breakdowm voltage Maximum system voltage |
<1.0
% >40 N/cm <1.5 g/m²d >14 kV >750 V |
<1.2
% >30 N/cm <0.8 g/m²d >28 kV >1000 V |
<1.0
% >40 N/cm <1.3 g/m²d >15 kV >750 V |
<1.0
% >30 N/cm <0.8 g/m²d >30 kV >1000 V |
<1.2
% >30 N/cm <0.8 g/m²d >28 kV >1000 V |
<0.05
% >40 N/cm <0 g/m²d >30 kV >1100 V |
<1.1
% >40 N/cm <0.8 g/m²d >30 kV >1000 V |
AKASOL® properties
For all system voltages
The build of layers is different for the various types of AKASOL® PV laminated films. Polyester film (PET) is both dimensionally stable and heat-resistant and this therefore used in thickness grades of 50 µm to 330 µm for the inner layer (core film) in order to attain the required stability to partial discharge (PD) and hence for the system voltage for the modules.
Dependable UV protection
Fluorpolymer-films or UV-shielding films are used for protecting the core film on either one or both sides. This protection is to prevent disruption by UV radiation of the molecular chains in the PET film. Depending on type and manufacturer, the thickness of such films can be between 25 µm and 38 µm.
PVF films (TEDLAR®) can be chosen as dull-bright, biaxial-oriented extrusion film (e.g. AKASOL® PTL 3-38/250 TWH) or as high-gloss, high-reflection, non-oriented films (e.g. AKASOL® PTL 3 HR 1000 V).
PVDF films have also asserted themselves from the decades of proven outdoor service. PVDF films are high-gloss and are dimensionally stable to heat (e.g. AKASOL® PVL 1000 V).
Less stringent requirements on the UV stability can also be satisfied by filled polyester films (e.g. AKASOL® PPL 1000 V). The drawback of using filled polyester film is however that the flame retardance is lower.
Wide range of colours, transparent films as well
Besides the standard “white”, there are many colours for our products to choose from. Customised designs with two different coverlay colours – like white and black – are also possible.
Combinations of transparent polyester film and transparent, UV-stable, coverlays are needed for manufacturing transparent glass-back-sheet PV modules (e.g. AKASOL® PTL 3-25/250 TUT).
Effective moisture barrier
Effective exclusion of the moisture is a requirement for PV modules based on thin-film technology in particular. Compliance is assured by including aluminium foil laminated between the layers of plastic material (e.g. AKASOL® TAPL HR 1000V WW).
Covering the connecting strings
It is common practice for cosmetic reasons to cover the connecting strings by using thin strips of back-sheet laminate in the same colour. All AKASOL® types for this purpose are available supplied on reels and in the desired widths.
Repair tape
Repair tape, e.g. AKASOL® PTL 2-38/250 TWH psa can be used in the event of minor damage to the back-sheet laminate during transportation or installation of the PV modules. The adhesive coating on one side can be laminated without the need for heat and following cross-linking and is stable to damp/heat and is temperature-resistant. The repair tape is supplied on reels in the widths required.
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