PV Manufacturing Seals

Improve Uptime In Cell Manufacturing With High Performance Seals

As the demand for photovoltaic (PV) systems continue to rise, manufacturers must find ways to increase uptime and improve output. Unplanned maintenance due to incompatible sealing materials can cause downtime and interfere with production schedules.

Selecting the appropriate sealing material can help improve performance and lower cost of ownership in both bulk crystalline silicon and thin film photovoltaic processes. Kalrez® parts retain their elastomeric properties at temperatures as high as 325°C, and resist over 1800 chemicals including alkalis, acids, solvents, O2 and fluorine-based plasma.

The latest sealing product from DuPont, Zalak® 5300 high performance seals, joins the Kalrez® perfluoroelastomer product line as a cost-effective alternative in select applications where traditional sealing materials are insufficient. It bridges the performance gap between standard fluoroelastomers (FKM) and perfluoroelastomers (FFKM) parts. Zalak® 5300 parts have been specially formulated for use in the different photovoltaic manufacturing processes.

Silicon Wafer-Based Cell Manufacturing Processes

Thin Film Cell Manufacturing Processes

Process Types Suggested Product Cell Layer Deposition/Absorber Amorphous/Micro-Crystalline Silicon Kalrez® 9100 / Zalak® 5300* CIS/CIGS    Diffusion    CdS Buffer Deposition    Cu (In, GA) Sputtering Kalrez® PV8070 Kalrez® PV8030 Zalak® 5300 Cadmium Telluride    Single Side Activation    Cadmium Etching    CdS Buffer Deposition Kalrez® PV8050 Kalrez® PV8030 Kalrez® PV8030 TCO Deposition/ Front Contact ZnO Reactive Sputtering Diethyl Zinc (DEZ) MOCVD Zalak® 5300 Kalrez® PV8030