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• BASF presents solar product range at European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Hamburg, Germany;
• New pan construction for installing photovoltaic modules by SCHOTT Solar from BASF plastics Ultramid;
• Broad portfolio of products for the photovoltaic industry.
This year's conference and exhibition, which belong to the most important in this field, will be taking place in Hamburg, Germany.
Experts will be on hand at BASF's booth (A12 in hall B1G) to inform visitors about the company's extensive offering, which covers the entire value chain for solar cells. Established products will be joined by a special product innovation: a sub-construction (“pan”) made from the engineering plastic Ultramid®, which allows a novel and easy installation of PV modules.
Roof integrated, lightweight and multi-functional plastic pan for PV modules
A new photovoltaic concept study, developed by SCHOTT Solar and BASF, comprises a one-piece plastic pan, which can be installed on the roof instead of the conventional roofing, and a frameless double-glazed module. After installing the pan on the roof substructure, in a second step the double-glazed module only needs to be inserted into the pan’s precision mounting system and secured in position by means of an integrated latch – tool-free and screw-free. A plastic handle as well as integrated support edges of the plastic pan facilitate the installation. Thanks to the rain channels, cable channels and a large opening in the center of the pan, the 1.7m ² photovoltaic module weighs only 8 kg and has adequate back ventilation . The plastic that makes these characteristics possible is Ultramid B High Speed by BASF (polyamide 6): the material is not only easy-flowing but also tough, rigid and weather-resistant – and it satisfies the criteria required for such construction applications (material class B2).
Alongside the product innovation plastic pan, BASF presents SELURIS® Clean, the eco-friendly cleaning fluid and the plastics Ultramid® for manufacturing connectors and junction boxes again this year. Moreover, plastic additives like Uvinul® and Irganox®, cutting fluids from the Pluriol® range, inks and pastes for metallization (Cyposol®) and polyurethane casting systems COLO-FAST® for framing will be topics on the BASF booth.
Solar cell cleaning
BASF offers and develops solutions for etching, texturizing, doping, and cleaning mono- and polycrystalline solar cells. The range is extended by the innovative and eco-friendly cleaning fluid SELURIS® Clean. Treatment with SELURIS® Clean prior to phosphoric acid doping provides both final pre-dope wafer cleaning and efficient surface hydrophilization resulting in excellent dopant wetting. As a consequence, a homogeneous distribution of phosphoric acid on the wafer can be achieved. Post doping treatment (phosphoric acid or POCI3 process) with SELURIS® Clean offers efficient removal of phosphor silicate glass residues and of the less active emitter zone (dead layer) leaving a clean and high performing emitter.
Plastic for connectors and junction boxes
In order to efficiently use the energy generated by photovoltaic plants, connectors are required. They transport the electricity to the end consumer. BASF supplies special variants of Ultramid®for connectors and junction boxes, which fulfill those functions. This plastic of the polyamide family is highly stable, flame-retardant and especially low-temperature impact resistant, which is essential for the durability of plants exposed to the elements. Significant fluctuations in temperature and humidity also place high demands on the plastic components.
Heat, light and UV stabilizers
BASF plastic additives enable all plastics used in PV modules to withstand exposure to heat (Irgafos®, Irganox®) and sunlight (Chimassorb®, Tinuvin®, Uvinul®). The company offers a broad range of heat, light and UV stabilizers for plastics worldwide. They are tailor-made for the various plastic resins used in PV-applications, like encapsulants, frames, backsheet films and electrical components to meet the lifetime requirements of at least 25 years.
Cutting fluids
In addition, BASF will also show-case the well-established Pluriol® portfolio, a range of tailor-made wafer cutting fluids for the solar cell industry. These products allow wafer cutters the flexibility to design cutting slurries that match their process requirements. The Pluriol ® portfolio ensures optimized wafer production economics through constant high wafer quality, high yield, less wafer defect and breakage as well as high fluid recycling efficiency.
Inks and pastes for metallization
CypoSol ® is a range of silver and aluminum inks and pastes for the metallization of solar wafers. In addition to pastes for conventional screen printing, the CypoSol ® range also includes the L series, especially designed inks for the innovative laser transfer printing process. The lead-free inks are eco-friendly and can be used to print the front and backside of the wafer.
PU casting systems for framing
The polyurethane casting system COLO-FAST® is a quick, reliable and high-quality method for framing photovoltaic modules. The UV-stable and weather-proof PU system is able to replace traditional aluminum frames both with installed PV modules in the roof and on the roof. COLO-FAST® opens up an almost unlimited choice of color and a variety of possible frame designs for the customer. The COLO-FAST ® technology enables the installation of clamping elements and electrical components in one work step. Ultimately, PV modules framed with COLO-FAST ® can be integrated perfectly into the roof, which fulfills high aesthetic demands.
About BASF
BASF (basf.com) is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of about €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN).
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