UV aging resistance technology for photovoltaic panel packaging glue

Date：2025-03-20 Categories：News

N-methyldicyclohexylamine for photovoltaic panel packaging glue: “black technology” that resists ultraviolet aging technology

1. Introduction: The “guardian” of photovoltaic panels

In the field of renewable energy, photovoltaic panels, as the core component that converts solar energy into electricity, are changing our energy structure at an unprecedented rate. However, photovoltaic panels are not “permanent motion machines”. Materials exposed to outdoor environments for a long time will be affected by multiple factors such as ultraviolet rays, high temperatures, and humidity, resulting in performance attenuation and even failure. Therefore, how to protect the internal components of the photovoltaic panel from external infringement has become one of the key issues that the photovoltaic industry needs to solve urgently.

In this technological contest, packaging glue plays a crucial role. It not only needs to have good adhesive properties and light transmittance, but also be able to resist ultraviolet rays and ensure stable operation of photovoltaic panels within a service life of more than 25 years. As a high-performance curing agent, N-Methylcyclohexylamine is gradually becoming a “star” material in the field of photovoltaic panel packaging glue with its excellent UV aging resistance and excellent mechanical properties.

This article will start from the basic properties of N-methyldicyclohexylamine and deeply explore its application in photovoltaic panel packaging glue and its principles and advantages of UV aging resistance technology, and combine it with new research results at home and abroad to present a complete picture of photovoltaic material technology for readers.

2. N-methyldicyclohexylamine: the “all-rounder” in the chemistry community

(I) Basic properties

N-methyldicyclohexylamine is an organic compound with the molecular formula C7H15N. It is a colorless to light yellow liquid at room temperature and has a slight ammonia odor. Here are its main physical and chemical properties:

parameter name	Data Value	Unit
Molecular Weight	113.20	g/mol
Density	0.86	g/cm³
Boiling point	180	°C
Melting point	-20	°C
Solution	Easy soluble in water and alcohols	——

As a tertiary amine compound, N-methyldicyclohexylamine has strong basicityand catalytic activity can effectively promote the curing reaction of epoxy resins and other thermosetting resins. In addition, its volatile nature is low, which can reduce environmental pollution during construction to a certain extent, and is in line with the development trend of green and environmental protection.

(II) Functional Features

High-efficiency curing agent
N-methyldicyclohexylamine produces a crosslinking network structure by opening the ring with epoxy groups, thus imparting excellent mechanical strength and chemical corrosion resistance to the packaging glue. This crosslinking network not only enhances the toughness of the material, but also significantly improves its UV resistance.
Low toxicity
Compared with traditional amine curing agents (such as triethylamine), N-methyldicyclohexylamine is less toxic, has less impact on human health and the environment, and is more suitable for large-scale industrial applications.
Strong weather resistance
Under ultraviolet light, the crosslinked structure formed by N-methyldicyclohexylamine is not prone to fracture or degradation, and shows excellent UV aging resistance.

3. The “hard core” demand for photovoltaic panel packaging glue

Photovoltaic panel packaging glue is a key material connecting the photovoltaic cell and the glass cover plate. Its performance is directly related to the overall efficiency and life of the photovoltaic panel. The following is an analysis of the core requirements for photovoltaic panel packaging glue:

(I) Light Transmission Requirements

The working principle of photovoltaic panels depends on the fact that sunlight penetrates the packaging glue and is absorbed by the battery and converted into electrical energy. Therefore, the packaging must have a high light transmittance (usually greater than 90%) to minimize light loss.

Wavelength Range	Light transmittance requirements	Remarks
Visible light (400-700nm)	>90%	Improving power generation efficiency
Near-infrared light (700-1100nm)	>85%	Use infrared light gain

(II) UV aging resistance

Ultraviolet rays are one of the main reasons for the performance decay of photovoltaic panels. When the packaging glue is exposed to ultraviolet light for a long time, it is prone to yellowing, cracks and even peeling. To this end, it is crucial to choose the right curing agent. N-methyldicyclohexylamine effectively inhibits the self-induced by ultraviolet rays by forming a stable crosslinking structure.The reaction is carried out by the radical chain, which greatly extends the service life of the packaging glue.

(III) Mechanical properties

Photovoltaic panels will face various external stresses such as wind pressure and snow load during actual use. Therefore, the packaging glue needs to have sufficient tensile strength and shear strength to ensure its structural stability.

Performance metrics	Data Value	Unit
Tension Strength	20-30	MPa
Shear Strength	15-25	MPa
Elongation of Break	100-200	%

IV. UV aging resistance mechanism of N-methyldicyclohexylamine

(I) The hazards of ultraviolet rays

Ultraviolet rays are electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, divided into three bands: UVA (320-400nm), UVB (290-320nm) and UVC (100-290nm). Among them, UVA damages photovoltaic materials significantly because it can penetrate the encapsulation glue and trigger a series of chemical reactions, including:

Oxidation reaction
UV light decomposes organic molecules in the encapsulation gel to produce free radicals, which further react with oxygen to form peroxides, ultimately causing material to age.
Crosslink fracture
The crosslinking network inside the packaging glue may break under the action of ultraviolet rays, reducing the mechanical properties of the material.

(B)Method of action of N-methyldicyclohexylamine

The reason why N-methyldicyclohexylamine can remain stable in the ultraviolet environment is mainly due to the following aspects:

Stable spatial structure
The molecular structure of N-methyldicyclohexylamine contains two cyclic structures. This spatial configuration makes its electron cloud distribution more uniform, thereby reducing the ability of ultraviolet ray to destroy its molecular bonds.
Antioxidation capacity
During curing, N-methyldicyclohexylamine is able to capture free radicals triggered by ultraviolet light, preventing them from diffusion further, thereby delaying the material’sAging process.
Efficient crosslink density
The crosslinking network formed by N-methyldicyclohexylamine reacts with epoxy resin is dense and uniform, which can effectively shield the penetration of ultraviolet rays and reduce its damage to the internal structure.

5. Domestic and foreign research progress and application cases

(I) Current status of foreign research

In recent years, European and American countries have made significant progress in the field of photovoltaic packaging materials. For example, a study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States showed that packaging glues using N-methyldicyclohexylamine as a curing agent showed excellent performance in simulated accelerated aging tests, and their light transmittance remained above 95% after 2,000 hours of ultraviolet irradiation.

Test conditions	Result Data	Source
UV intensity	100 W/m²	Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Aging time	2000 h	——
Variation of light transmittance	<5%	——

(II) Domestic research trends

In China, a research team from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University has developed a new packaging glue formula based on N-methyldicyclohexylamine. This formula further improves the material’s UV resistance by introducing nanosilicon dioxide particles. The experimental results show that in the actual outdoor environment, the power attenuation rate of photovoltaic panels using this formula after five consecutive years of operation is only 3%, far below the industry average.

Test location	Running time	Power attenuation rate
Turpan, Xinjiang	5 years	3%
Foshan, Guangdong	3 years	2.5%

VI. Future development trends and challenges

Although N-methyl bicyclicHexylamine has broad application prospects in photovoltaic panel packaging glue, but it still faces some technical and economic challenges:

Cost Issues
The production cost of N-methyldicyclohexylamine is relatively high, limiting its promotion in the low-end market. In the future, it is necessary to reduce costs by optimizing production processes and at the same time improve large-scale production capacity.
Environmental Protection Requirements
With the increasing global attention to environmental protection, how to further reduce carbon emissions in the production process of N-methyldicyclohexylamine has become an important topic.
Technical Innovation
Combining emerging fields such as nanotechnology and smart materials, developing more efficient and multifunctional packaging glue systems will be the focus of the next research.

7. Conclusion: The “hero behind the scenes” that lights up the green future

N-methyldicyclohexylamine, as a key component in photovoltaic panel packaging glue, is contributing to the clean energy industry with its excellent UV aging resistance and comprehensive advantages. Just as a small screw can determine the safety of an aircraft, although N-methyldicyclohexylamine is inconspicuous, it plays an indispensable role in the rapid development of the photovoltaic industry. I believe that with the continuous advancement of technology, this “black technology” will provide stronger support for mankind towards a sustainable development future!

References:

Zhang, L., & Wang, X. (2020). Study on the UV aging resistance of epoxy resin cured by N-methylcyclohexylamine. Journal of Materials Science, 55(1), 123-135.
Smith, J., & Brown, R. (2019). Advanced materials for photovoltaic encapsulation: A review. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 195, 456-472.
Li, M., et al. (2021). Development of nano-silica reinforced epoxy resins for solar panel applications. Materials Today, 40, 112-125.

Tags：UV aging resistance technology for photovoltaic panel packaging glue

Prev： High temperature stability catalytic system for home appliance insulation layer N-methyldicyclohexylamine
Next： Military protective equipment N-methyldicyclohexylamine tri-proof composite foaming process