MODULE I MANUFACTURING
As with silicone sealants, SolarBond InFrame offers the opportunity for precision application.However, it also helps manufacturers avoid the mess and resulting cost of cleaning labor incurred by the runoff of liquid
sealants.The foamed material fills the aluminum channel in the frame,even in the corners. This eliminates the risk of water collecting in the frame.What results is a strong, long-term,weather-resistant bond for a durable final product
staged to initially cure before they can be handled. This type of process accumulates inventory expenses associated with housing and maintaining the extra modules.
Second, the potential for silicone sealants to overflow onto the module’s surface during the application process poses another challenge. The added step of cleaning excess silicone from the module can slow down the line and incurs extra cost in cleaning supply acquisition and disposal. Manufacturers have to be aware of how these interruptions will impact the flow of their operations and their bottom line. They will have to tackle these challenges if they hope to speed production, mitigate waste and reduce costs in order to remain competitive.
Q A
What new technologies are on the horizon to help manufacturers tackle these challenges?
At Saint-Gobain Solar, we recently launched SolarBond InFrame, an advanced framing solution that combines the
benefits of both tapes and silicone sealants. It is applied warm in a continuous motion, ensuring both accuracy and high bonding strength immediately after contact with the glass, backsheet and frame. This instant adhesion means the product can be handled promptly after application, eliminating time delays required for curing.
SolarBond InFrame is well suited for highly automated application processes since it provides immediate handling capabilities for shortened production cycles. This also eliminates the risk of costly product waste, which can result from the handling of modules framed with silicone sealants when they are not fully cured. As a result, manufacturers can reduce the costs associated with damaged products, slower production cycles and inventory storage during the time that the silicone sealant takes to cure.
As with silicone sealants, SolarBond InFrame offers the opportunity for precision application. However, it also helps manufacturers avoid the mess and resulting cost of cleaning labor incurred by the runoff of liquid sealants. The foamed material fills the aluminum channel in the frame, even in the corners. This eliminates the risk of water collecting in the frame. What results is a strong, long-term, weather-resistant bond for a durable final product.
When used with Saint-Gobain Solar’s patented single-piece frame, SolarBond™ InFrame also reduces the number of corner keys or other mechanical fasteners such as screws required to secure the corners of the frame around the module, using just one instead of four fasteners typically required for both tapes and silicones. This can take steps out of the production process and reduce component expenses, further decreasing module costs.
Q A SolarBond InFrame 22
www.solar-international.net I Issue II 2012
Solar module manufacturers are in the business of alternate energy solutions, so it follows that they would want to enhance the sustainability of their own operations. Which framing solution offers the most in sustainability benefits?
Each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. As I mentioned before, silicone sealants are pumpable for application on an automated line, but can overflow from the frame, creating material waste and requiring an additional cleaning step. For this, manufacturers will need to use additional cleaning solutions, often solvent based, further compromising
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