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Y Voronko, G Eder, M Knausz, G Oreski, T. Koch, K Berger:
"Influence of environmental factors on the ageing behaviour of photovoltaic backsheets";
Talk: 6th European Weathering Symposium Natural and Artificial Ageing of Polymers, Bratislava; 09-11-2013 - 09-13-2013; in: "6th European Weathering Symposium Natural and Artificial Ageing of Polymers", Gesellschaft für Umweltsimulation, (2013), ISBN: 978-3-9813136-8-0; 1 - 9.

The ageing stability of photovoltaic (PV) backsheets, which is known to be crucial for the reliability of PV modules, was investigated by evaluating the influence of environmental factors like radiation, temperature, humidity and corrosive gases in artificial ageing experiments. Different types of backsheets (multilayer laminates) with polyester (PET) core and protective thin outer layers were exposed to UV- and Xenon-weathering, isolated and combined heat and/or damp and/or ammonia containing atmosphere. The chemical, physical and mechanical changes of the polymeric materials induced by the environmental factors were then evaluated by applying various analytical tools: Infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry) and mechanical testing (elongation at break).

photovoltaic materials, ageing, characterization