Labthink Helps Set New EPE Film Standard for Solar Performance!

The rapid growth of the solar (photovoltaic, PV) industry is driving demand for advanced packaging materials for solar modules. This has led to the development of new materials, notably EPE film.

 


Photovoltaic EPE film

 

The New TSHPTA 082-2024 Standard

EPE film is a transparent, co-extruded multi-layer film specifically designed for solar panel encapsulation. It combines the benefits of two common polymers EVA and POE. This structure offers a balance of high adhesion, excellent barrier properties, strong weather resistance, and cost-effectiveness.

To support the widespread use of EPE film, a new product standard, TSHPTA 082-2024: "Co-extruded EPE film for photovoltaic module encapsulation," has been officially implemented.

This standard was developed by a team of experts from various fields, including new energy, new materials, testing instrument development, and research institutions. Labthink, a company specializing in testing instruments, was a key contributor, sharing its expertise in material barrier and mechanical performance testing. They conducted extensive research into EPE film's manufacturing process, application needs, and testing challenges. The new standard sets clear guidelines for many performance indicators of EPE film, including appearance, dimensions, peel strength, shrinkage rate, cross-linking degree, light transmittance, tensile properties, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), electrical tracking resistance index and aging performance. This comprehensive standardization is crucial for improving EPE film quality and promoting the healthy development of the industry.

 

EPE Film Key Performance Assessment

The TSHPTA 082-2024 standard for EPE film introduces several new performance assessments to the industry.

1.     Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR): A Crucial New Requirement

Moisture ingress is a major cause of solar module failure, leading to circuit corrosion and delamination. Encapsulant films must block external water vapor to protect cells and extend module life. The new EPE standard explicitly adds "Water Vapor Transmission Rate" as a required performance indicator. Testing for WVTR is recommended under specific conditions (38°C, 90% RH) using methods like GB/T 26253 or GB/T 21529, which are the Chinese equivalents for ISO 15106-2 and ISO 15106-3 (Plastics; Film and sheeting – Determination of water vapour transmission rate – Part 2: Infrared detection sensor method and Part 3: Electrolytic detection sensor method).


 

2. Mechanical Properties: Tensile Performance and Peel Strength

Encapsulant films provide structural support within solar modules, a function tied to their mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break). The new EPE standard has higher requirements for elongation at break.

 

Tensile performance

EPE Film

EVA Film

Tensile strength

≥10 MPa

≥16MPa

Elongation at break

≥600%

≥450%

 

Peel strength (adhesion to glass, cells, and backsheet) is vital for module stability. The EPE standard not only increases the overall peel strength requirements but also adds new specific tests for peel strength between the film and the backsheet, reflecting real-world application needs.``

   

Peel strength

EPE Film

EVA Film

Adhesion to glass

≥80 N/cm

>60 N/cm

Adhesion to backsheet

≥80 N/cm

/

 


 

3. Enhanced Aging Resistance

Solar films face long-term exposure to high voltage, high temperature, high humidity, and UV radiation, which causes degradation and reduces module performance. Commonly applied tests including dry heat, high-pressure accelerated aging, UV resistance, high temperature/humidity, and UV/high temperature/humidity, aging performance is assessed by "yellowness index" and "peel strength" changes after these tests. The EPE standard sets higher requirements for peel strength after various aging tests.

   

Aging Resistance

EPE Film

EVA Film

Yellowness index

    <5.0

    <5.0

Peel strength

    >40 N/cm

    >30 N/cm

 

The TSHPTA 082-2024 standard for co-extruded EPE film establishes more scientific and stringent performance indicators tailored to current solar module application needs. This provides a consistent reference for EPE film's large-scale production, ensuring higher quality and reliability. Labthink as a contributing drafter, continues to support the solar film industry's product upgrades and technological advancements through its testing expertise.

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