Ferro Corporation

Tomark-worthen, LLC

E David Santoleri

Robert F Davis

W Robert Abell, Iii

Jeffrey S Armour

An improved backsheet used in the construction of solar panels is disclosed. A method of manufacturing the backsheet and solar panel comprising the backsheet, including coextrusion processes are also disclosed. Additionally, a photovoltaic solar panel module comprising the backsheet of the invention is disclosed. The backsheet of the instant invention may comprise an exterior layer having inner and outer surfaces, a middle layer, having inner and outer surfaces, and an interior layer having inner and outer surfaces. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the middle layer may be adjoined to the inner surface of the exterior layer, and the inner surface of the middle layer may be adjoined to the outer surface of the interior layer. The exterior layer, middle layer, and interior layer may be adjoined via a co-extrusion process, thereby eliminating the need for the use of adhesives for bonding the layers of the backsheet together. The backsheet of the invention improves upon the efficiency, strength, weather resistance, cost, and useful life of the solar panels in which the backsheet is incorporated.

Coextruded solar panel backsheet and method of manufacture

The present invention provides a multilayer polymer structure including an inner structural layer (A) of a rigid polymer composition, an intermediate or tie layer (B) of a polymer composition including a thermoplastic polyurethane, and an exposed or surface layer (C) of a polymer composition including a thermoplastic elastomer, which is preferably a partially cross-linked chlorinated olefin interpolymer alloy. Layer (B) is disposed between and bonded to layers (A) and (C). Preferably, layer (C) and layer (B) are bonded to layer (A) under pressure, at a temperature at which both the layer (C) and layer (B) are at or near their respective melting or softening points, but layer (A) is maintained at a temperature at which it remains dimensionally stable. Multilayer polymer structures according to the invention can be formed into decking material, conveyor belting and a variety of other products.

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Glen Mills, PA, United States of America

E David Santoleri