Possible encapsulation material?

[superduperenergydude]

waste of time.

do yourself a favor and return the cells or resell them.
you can buy panels without the frame for 59 cents a watt it will cost you over $1 per watt for just the materials with labor probably over $1.50 a watt.

[jimbo100]

Great information guys

This thread has been a great help! I am a new member here and this site is just what I have been looking for. I have just recently purchased 1KW of 6X6 .5V 8AMP + cells and am in the process of building my panels. I will try to document my progress to post here! Thank you very much for your help.

Thanks
jimbo100

[RJMcSherry]

List of possible encapsulants

*EpicResins D9940*

http://www.epicresins.com/solarPower-Bonding.asp

http://view.vcab.com/?vcabid=eaaSppgnScprlle&count=29/04/2011%2016:05:59-2

*DOW6100*

http://www.dowcorning.com/applications/search/default.aspx?R=8095EN

*DOW6010*

http://www.dowcorning.com/applications/search/default.aspx?R=6245EN

*Sylgard 184*

http://www.dowcorning.com/applications/search/default.aspx?R=131EN

*Solar-Tite 384*
Have yet to find the actual datasheet for this product, but there a lot of reviews for this floating around the internet and it is readily available from ebay

*Elastosil 2202*

http://www.wacker.com/cms/en/products-markets/products/product.jsp?product=11344

*Cell Guard*
Once again, can't find a data sheet for this. But it is a product of ML SOLAR and can be found on ebay

*QSil 216*

http://www.quantumsilicones.com/PDFs/data/QSil%20216%20Data%20Sheet.pdf

*OptiTec 7020*

http://www.intertronics.co.uk/products/opt7020.htm

*GE RTV 615*

http://www.dcproducts.com.au/RTV_Silicone_Solutions/Tech_Data_Sheets/RTV615-tds.pdf

[Mike90250]

You need to find out what the cure method is. It appears to be 1 part, with moisture cure. Is it chemically neutral (acetone), which is safe to use on electrical parts, or is it an acetic acid cure ? (both are humidity activated).

[jeanlafete]

Encapsulant Imported

Has anyone ordered any of this encapsulant? The price is great, but the shipping is a killer unless a group went in together and ordered it.
Just looking around and found it....... Thanks

15 Liters comes out to about $50 a liter.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/104108/210248460-359001497/liquid-silicone-for-solar-bond-encapsulating-material.html

[Alan]

"The silicone works out to about $21 per kg

Please point me in the right direction. "


search ebay for solar encapsulant d9940 or if you want to spend more dow 6010 those are the cheapest two solutions.

the d9940 has bubbles in it, but they are much easier to get out than the sylgard. Will you have a panel with zero bubbles? probably not, .....Will it still work great, sure.

[RJMcSherry]

Mixing by hand?

epic resin d9940 is pretty good just made a sample hockey puck sized piece for testing. you can bend it in your hands, but it is not rubbery/bouncy like silicone is, more like a semi hard plastic. got if off ebay.

How easily was it to mix the D9940 by hand? Were there a lot of air bubbles trapped in the resin?

Has anyone used the D9940 on a panel and have had successful results?

[Plinkomax]

The silicone works out to about $21 per kg

Please point me in the right direction.

[Alan]

@ $6 per 10oz tube why bother? you can get "real" encapsulants for the same price NT

@ $6 per 10oz tube why bother? you can get "real" encapsulants for the same price NT

[Plinkomax]

I had difficulty finding DAP titanium but it looks like GE Silicone 2 eaves troughs mix has similar properties.

The curing agent in this case is methanol and ammonia, which is nice because mineral spirits is ethanol and methanol based. Should reduce the toxic gas.

This could cause problems with plastic front covers but I will be testing some out this weekend.

[Mike90250]

Any thoughts on DAP titanium silicone?

From their data sheet

Discoloration may occur with copper and its alloys; try a test area before using.

Not recommended on surfaces that might bleed oils, plasticizers, or solvents. Best adhesion and
compatibility are not achieved with substrates made of methylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polypropylene,

Not recommended for use underwater or below grade

It provides a long-lasting, flexible and watertight seal.


Watertight is not water vapor proof. I'd try it on a small part, abuse it, and then see what happens.

[Plinkomax]

Silicone

Hey guys,

The amount of information on this forum has prompted me to register rather then lurk.

Any thoughts on DAP titanium silicone?

http://www.dap.com/docs/tech/00078670K.pdf

This seems to be similar to a platinum based silicone that someone was talking about earlier.

The important aspect is that it wont corrode metal.

My plan would be to cut it with paint thinner (mineral spirits) so it could be poured into the frame.

[Alan]

epic resin.

epic resin d9940 is pretty good just made a sample hockey puck sized piece for testing. you can bend it in your hands, but it is not rubbery/bouncy like silicone is, more like a semi hard plastic. got if off ebay.

[longwolf]

slygard 184 do is what everyone complains about becuase it is expensive and has air bubbles.

but there are 4 other solar encapsulants:
dow 6010 around $36/kg
Elastosil 2202 unknown price
EpicResins d9940 $7/kg
qsil 216 around $25/kg

just do a google search for solar encapsulants and you can get more info, the companies might even send you a free sample if you ask nicely.

the reason people do NOT use these encapsulants is some have minimum orders of over $1000.00

Wow, those look like some good prices.
Do you know which will do small orders?
Will the EpicResins d9940 stay flexible?

[longwolf]

Hey longwolf, How many ounces of liquid nails clear seal will I need for a 108 cell panel?

That's hard to say. My panel was a little less than 1600 sq inches. It's been a while but I believe I used 7 of the small tubes that Walmarts sells. That was enough to glue the glass to the frame, make a dam around the cells then do the pours. I think the tubes were either 5.5 or 6.5 oz each.