Barrier layer made of a curable resin containing polymeric polyol

• US 7,255,926 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France S.A. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Bayer, Heiner, Calwer, Hermann, Dlugosch, Dieter, Kuhne, Gudrun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nakarani; D. S
• Application Number:
  US10/503,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 428/437, 136/252, 136/264, 136/265
• US Class Current: 428/437
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/26 using curing agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/38 comprising epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4063 Mixtures of compounds of group C08G18/62 with other macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/027 obtained by epoxidation of unsaturated precursor, e.g. polymer or monomer
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/62 Alcohols or phenols
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 63/00 Compositions of epoxy resins; Compositions of derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3163 Next to acetal of polymerized unsaturated alcohol [e.g., formal butyral, etc.]

Abstract

A component involving a substrate, a layered structure arranged on the substrate, and a barrier layer arranged over the layered structure, wherein the barrier layer has the reaction product of an epoxy resin and a polymeric polyol.

Claims

1. A component comprising a substrate, a layered structure arranged on the substrate, and a barrier layer arranged over the layered structure for protection against moisture, wherein the layered structure includes an optically active film and wherein the barrier layer comprises the reaction product of polymeric polyol in the form of polyvinyl butyral, and a curable epoxy resin, wherein the amount of polymeric polyol is in the range of from 1% to 30% by weight of the curable epoxy resin.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is located at least at one outer surface of the component.

3. The component of claim 2, wherein the layered structure comprises an edge at its outer surface and wherein the barrier layer covers the edge.

4. The component of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is impermeable to moisture.

5. The component of claim 4, wherein the layered structure comprises an edge at its outer surface and wherein the barrier layer covers the edge.

6. The component of claim 1, wherein the component further comprises a laminate structure with a cover and an intermediate adhesive layer that is arranged over the barrier layer.

7. The component of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises at least one plastic layer.

8. The component of claim 6, wherein the cover is a glass plate.

9. The component of claim 6, wherein the intermediate adhesive layer consists of polyvinyl butyral.

10. The component of claim 1, wherein the curable epoxy resin is UV curable.

11. The component of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer covers the layered structure on a top surface facing away from the substrate and on a side, and ends on the substrate.

12. The component of claim 1, which component is a solar cell or a solar module.

13. The component of claim 1, wherein the layered structure comprises a moisture-sensitive absorber layer.

14. The component of claim 13, wherein the moisture-sensitive absorber layer comprises copper-indium-diselenide.

15. A solar cell comprising a substrate, a layered structure arranged on the substrate, and a barrier layer arranged over the layered structure for protection against moisture, wherein the barrier layer comprises the reaction product of a polymeric polyol and an epoxy resin, and wherein the amount of polymeric polyol is in the range of from 1% to 30% by weight of the epoxy resin.

16. The solar cell of claim 15, wherein the wherein the layered structure includes an optically active film.

17. The solar cell of claim 16, wherein the optically active film comprises a moisture-sensitive absorber layer.

18. The solar cell of claim 17, wherein the moisture-sensitive absorber layer comprises copper-indium-diselenide.

19. The solar cell of claim 15, wherein the polymeric polyol comprises polyvinyl butyral.

20. The solar cell of claim 15, further comprising a cover and an intermediate adhesive layer that is arranged over the barrier layer.

21. A solar module comprising a substrate, a layered structure arranged on the substrate, and a barrier layer arranged over the layered structure for protection against moisture, wherein the barrier layer comprises the reaction product of a polymeric polyol and an epoxy resin, and wherein the amount of polymeric polyol is in the range of from 1% to 30% by weight of the epoxy resin.