Silicones improve the cost-effectiveness,
durability, and performance of solar panels and photovoltaic
devices.
While solar cells are made of silicon, silicones are used during module
assembly, and installation as encapsulants, coatings, potting agents,
adhesives, and sealants.
Because they can withstand the sun’s unrelenting rays for year after year,
silicones are ideal materials for solar panel and photovoltaic (PV)
applications.
Anatomy of a solar panel
Click the  icons to see how many ways
silicones contribute to the performance of solar panels and photovoltaic
products.
Solar energy basics
Are you curious about how solar cells and solar panels work? Download these
informative fact sheets ...
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Solar Energy
101 (PDF Size 92KB) – How solar cells convert sunlight to energy.
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Solar Energy
102 (PDF Size 128KB) – How solar power works in residential homes.
Why silicone materials excel in solar applications
- Silicones are renowned for their UV stability and moisture
resistance.
- Silicones are durable and solar radiation resistant.
- Silicones have excellent electrical insulating properties –
excellent dielectric strength and high volume resistivity.
- Silicones have low ionic impurities, low moisture absorption,
and low dielectric constant.
- Silicone encapsulants perform over a wide operating temperature
range – from -40 to 150°C (-40 to 302°F).
- Silicones are optically transparent over a wide spectrum.
- Silicones offer excellent adhesion to glass and photovoltaic cell
substrates.
- Optical, mechanical, and thermal properties can be varied to meet
requirements of specific photovoltaic applications.
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Silicone elastomers and
gels can be
formulated with low modulus, giving them excellent stress relief
capabilities.
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Silicone resins can be
formulated with high modulus to provide durable protection and abrasion
resistance.
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Proven performance – silicones have demonstrated their ability to perform
under harsh conditions.
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The unique flow properties of silicones can increase productivity and
reduce photovoltaic module manufacturing costs.
Learn about other competitive
advantages of silicones.
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Did you know ... Dow Corning is one of the
only companies
in the world that can provide silicon-based material
solutions for everything from solar cell manufacturing
to module assembly and installation!
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Versatile material options
Silicones for solar applications come in many forms:
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Optically clear resins for abrasion-resistant conformal coatings
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Elastomers and gels for protecting, potting, and encapsulating
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Sealants and adhesives for assembly
Learn more about the different forms of silicone.
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Did you know... silicones can be hard or
soft, flexible or rigid!
Open the silicone
toolbox to learn more about the many things silicones can be and do.
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