Modules with high mechanical strength, high electrical insulation performance and excellent anti-PID performance: DAH Solar has also been offering its customers in Latin America the option of modules with a composite frame.
Today, the current situation regarding aluminum frames for photovoltaic modules is influenced by rising aluminum prices, which can have significant variations in price per ton, leading to increased costs for the final product. Reducing the weight of the aluminum frame can directly decrease material costs, thus reducing the total cost of the module.
However, offering this type of product to the market can be dangerous. After reducing the weight of the aluminum frame, the structure will not be able to effectively withstand strong winds and snow, as well as the mechanical stresses that may occur during installation and maintenance.
In this sense, the idea is not to stop working with aluminum frame modules, but rather to offer a more competitive alternative with excellent mechanical and electrical characteristics, namely composite frame modules.
Composite materials are modern products obtained through the controlled combination of two or more materials with distinct properties, resulting in a final material with superior characteristics. These composites are generally formed by three main components: matrix, reinforcement, and adhesive.
- Matrix: can be made of metals, metal alloys, rubber, plastics, resins or ceramics;
- Reinforcement: includes glass fibers, carbon fibers, boron fibers, whiskers, and other elements that provide mechanical strength and stability;
- Adhesive: responsible for joining the components, and can be volatile or self-adhesive.
Therefore, composites are materials formed by combining a matrix (continuous phase) with a reinforcement (fibers, particles) to create improved properties, and the application of these materials is widespread in other sectors, such as aerospace and automotive, brake and engine parts, and products that are often subjected to high temperatures.
Composite materials offer advantages such as cost savings, lightweight yet high-strength products, flexible design, high-grade electrical insulation, excellent corrosion resistance, and low carbon emissions during production, making the supply chain even more sustainable.
Composite frames can be made of high-strength fiberglass, modified acrylic resin, modified polyamide (coating), and high-strength polyphenylene oxide (frame corners).
These combined elements provide high strength and corrosion resistance, high tensile strength and high thermal distortion temperature, improved performance by reducing water absorption, and high weather resistance.
Furthermore, the performance advantages of composite frames for photovoltaic modules include:
- The tensile strength of the composite material structure is 6 times greater than that of the traditional aluminum structure, reaching 1600 MPa; the flexural strength is 5 times greater than that of the traditional aluminum structure, reaching 1500 MPa;
- The composite material structure has already undergone tests for resistance to aging, flame retardancy, mechanical properties, etc.;
- After optimization, the composite material of the structure exhibits excellent resistance to UV rays and is suitable for prolonged exposure to sunlight.
The composite frame offers significantly greater resistance to static and dynamic loads compared to the IEC standard, with 100% resilience and no irreversible deformation. Its safety factor against salt spray corrosion is superior to that of metallic structures.
Furthermore, both the materials and the photovoltaic modules with composite frames comply with the relevant regulations.
Here are some tests conducted for certification that can be highlighted in this article:
- Accelerated aging test;
- Heat deflection temperature;
- Tensile strength;
- Impact resistance;
- Sulfur dioxide test;
- Ammonia resistance test;
- Water absorption rate;
- Salt spray test;
- Compatibility test between the frame and the silicone;
- Damp heat test;
In summary, the performance advantages of composite frames for photovoltaic modules are:
- Flexural strength is more than 6 times greater than that of aluminum alloy, and its axial tensile strength is more than 7 times that of traditional aluminum alloy materials;
- Weather resistance, as the composite frame has high resistance to moisture and heat, acids and alkalis, and salt spray.
- It maintains stable performance in harsh environments, making it suitable for coastal areas, high humidity environments, and salt spray;
- High insulation performance, since the composite structure has insulating properties, with a volume resistivity of up to 1×10^14 Ω·cm, eliminating the need to ground the modules after installation;
- Anti-PID performance, as the composite frame resists the PID (Potential Induced Degradation) phenomenon, which helps reduce module performance degradation and improve its long-term energy generation efficiency;
- The fire resistance performance of the composite frame meets the flame retardancy requirements of class B1, increasing the safety performance of the module.
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The opinions and information expressed are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the author. Canal Solar.
