IP Library Granted Patent US 8,426,544
Granted Patent B2
US 8,426,544 · App. 12/861,187 · Granted Apr 23, 2013

Encapsulating material for solar cell

Inventors: Koichi Nishijima (Ichihara, JP); Akira Yamashita (Chiyoda-ku, JP)
Assignees: Du-Pont Mitsui Polychemicals, Co., Ltd.; Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,426,544
App. No.
12/861,187
Granted
Apr 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar cell encapsulated with an encapsulating material which is a non-crystalline or low-crystalline α-olefin-based copolymer or its composition (I). The composition (C) can contain 50 to 100 parts by weight of non-crystalline α-olefin polymer (A) which meets the following requirements: (a) the α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms is not less than 20 mol %, (b) practically no melt peak as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter is observed, and (c) the Mw/Mn is not more than 5, and 50 to 0 parts by weight of crystalline α-olefin polymer (B) (the total of (A) and (B) being 100 parts by weight). The non-crystalline or low-crystalline α-olefin copolymer may also have a crystallinity of not higher than 40% as measured by use of X rays.

Claims (12)

1. A solar cell module which is obtained by using a solar cell encapsulating material comprising a non-crystalline or low-crystalline α-olefin-based copolymer or its composition (I),

wherein the non-crystalline or low-crystalline α-olefin-based copolymer or its composition (I) is a resin composition (C) containing 50 to 100 parts by weight of non-crystalline α-olefin polymer (A) meeting the following requirements (a) through (c) and 50 to 0 parts by weight of crystalline α-olefin polymer (B) (the total of (A) and (B) being 100 parts by weight):

(a) a polymerization unit based on α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms is not less than 20 mol %;

(b) practically no melt peak as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter is observed;

(c) the Mw/Mn is not more than 5, and

wherein the non-crystalline or low-crystalline α-olefin-based copolymer or its composition (I) does not contain a cross-linking agent or cross-linking accelerator.

2. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein propylene polymerization unit of the non-crystalline α-olefin polymer (A) is not less than 30 mol %.

3. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the non-crystalline α-olefin polymer (A) is a polymer produced by use of a metallocene catalyst.

4. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the crystalline α-olefin polymer (B) is a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene and another α-olefin.

5. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the resin composition (C) is a composition having JIS A hardness of 40 to 100.

6. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the haze of the copolymer at the thickness of 0.5 mm is not higher than 10%.

7. The solar cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the solar cell encapsulating material is in the form of sheet.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Sep 19, 2025
From: RM TOHCELLO CO., LTD.
To: MITSUI CHEMICALS ICT MATERIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 072307/0330 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 19, 2025
From: MITSUI CHEMICALS TOHCELLO, INC.
To: RM TOHCELLO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 072911/0466 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 27, 2019
From: DU PONT-MITSUI POLYCHEMICALS CO., LTD.
To: DOW-MITSUI POLYCHEMICALS COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 049606/0841 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2011
From: MITSUI CHEMICALS FABRO, INC.
To: MITSUI CHEMICALS TOHCELLO, INC.
Reel/Frame 027439/0750 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2004-381061 · Dec 28, 2004 · national
JP 2004-381109 · Dec 28, 2004 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 11794353
Related Publication 20100313956A1 · Dec 16, 2010