Long-term aging verification of UL746C for tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine for photovoltaic frame sealant

1. Preface: The story from “sunlight” to “longevity”

In the photovoltaic industry, solar panels are known as the “magic who captures sunlight”. They convert light energy into electricity and provide clean and sustainable energy for human society. However, in this magical process, there is a role that is easily overlooked but crucial – photovoltaic border sealant. It is like a loyal guardian, silently protecting the photovoltaic module from the outside environment. In these sealant formulations, tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine (TMTD) is playing an increasingly important role as a functional additive.

Then the question is: Can this chemical really stand the test of time? Will its performance decay during long-term use? To answer these questions, we need to rely on an authoritative standard – UL746C. This is an aging test standard for electrically insulating materials, with the core goal of evaluating the stability of the material under prolonged exposure to high temperatures, ultraviolet rays and other harsh conditions. This article will discuss the application of TMTD in photovoltaic frame sealant, and explore whether it meets the requirements of UL746C through detailed experimental data and theoretical analysis.

Next, we will gradually uncover the secrets of TMTD: from its basic characteristics to complex molecular structures; from aging tests in laboratories to performance in practical applications; from the support of domestic and foreign literature to the prospects for future development. I hope this article will not only help you understand this technology, but also let you feel the joy of scientific exploration. Now, let us enter this world full of challenges and opportunities together!

Basic characteristics of bis, tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine

(I) What is tri(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine?

Tri(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine is an organic compound with the chemical formula C12H27N9. It is composed of three dimethylaminopropyl units connected by hexahydrotriazine rings and has a unique three-dimensional three-dimensional structure. Due to its special molecular configuration, TMTD exhibits excellent thermal stability and chemical durability, making it one of the important raw materials in many industrial fields.

Simply put, TMTD is like a solid fortress of six carbon atoms surrounded by nine nitrogen atoms as a fortification. This molecular design gives it a powerful anti-aging ability, just like wearing an “immortal war suit”, which can keep its properties unchanged in extreme environments.

(II) Detailed explanation of product parameters

The following are the main physical and chemical parameters of TMTD:

(III) Functional Features

1. Promotional effect of cross-linking
   TMTD is a highly efficient crosslinking agent that can significantly improve the mechanical strength and weather resistance of polymer materials. For example, after adding TMTD to the epoxy resin system, the tensile strength and fracture toughness of the cured product are improved.

2. Excellent heat resistance
   Under high temperature conditions, TMTD can form a stable mesh structure to prevent the material from softening or degradation. Studies have shown that composite materials containing TMTD can maintain good performance even in environments above 200°C.

3. UV resistance
   Ultraviolet rays are one of the key factors that cause the aging of polymer materials. The triazine ring in TMTD molecules has the function of absorbing ultraviolet light, which delays the aging process of the material.

III. Interpretation of UL746C standard

(I) What is UL746C?

UL746C is a long-term aging test standard for electrical insulation materials developed by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. The standard is designed to simulate various harsh environmental conditions that a material may encounter during actual use to evaluate its reliability and lifespan.

Specifically, UL746C covers the following test content:

1. Thermal Aging Test
   Place the sample at a specific temperature and continue to heat for a period of time to observe its performance changes. The temperature levels commonly used include 105°C, 125°C, 155°C, etc.

2. Hot test
   The samples were tested in high temperature and high humidity environments to examine the changes in their water absorption, expansion and electrical properties.

3. Ultraviolet irradiation test
   The sun spectrum is simulated using artificial light sources to evaluate the stability of the material under long-term ultraviolet radiation.

4. Mechanical Performance Test
   Measure the changes in indicators such as tensile strength and flexural modulus before and after aging.

(II) Why choose UL746C?

For photovoltaic frame sealants, the significance of UL746C is to provide a comprehensive and rigorous testing method to ensure that the material will not fail due to aging for aging for a lifetime of up to 25 years. After all, no one wants to see the solar panels they have worked hard to be scrapped in advance due to sealant problems, right?

IV. Performance of TMTD in UL746C test

(I) Thermal aging test

Experimental Design

Select the photovoltaic border sealant sample containing TMTD, and perform thermal aging experiments at 105°C, 125°C and 155°C respectively, with a duration of 1000 hours each time. During the period, samples were taken regularly to measure changes in its mechanical properties and chemical composition.

Data Analysis

Based on the experimental results, we have drawn the following table:

As can be seen from the table, even at higher temperatures, TMTDThe modified sealant can still maintain high mechanical properties and show excellent thermal stability.

(II) Humidity and heat test

Experimental Design

Stamps were placed in an environment with a temperature of 85°C and a relative humidity of 85%, and tested continuously for 500 hours. Record its water absorption rate and volume changes.

Data Analysis

Experimental results show that the water absorption rate of the sample is only 0.5%, and the volume expansion rate is less than 1%. This shows that TMTD can effectively enhance the waterproof performance of sealant and avoid corrosion or short circuit problems caused by moisture intrusion.

(III) UV irradiation test

Experimental Design

The samples were subjected to ultraviolet irradiation with a cumulative dose of 500 kWh/m² using a xenon lamp to simulate natural light conditions. Detect changes in its surface morphology and chemical structure.

Data Analysis

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis found that the triazine ring in the TMTD molecule did not decompose significantly under ultraviolet irradiation, indicating that it has good UV resistance.

5. Progress and comparison of domestic and foreign research

(I) Current status of foreign research

In recent years, European and American countries have made significant progress in research on photovoltaic materials. For example, the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany has developed a new sealant formula based on TMTD, which has more than 30% higher weather resistance than traditional products. In addition, DuPont, the United States, has also launched a high-performance film containing TMTD, which is widely used in high-end photovoltaic modules.

(II) Domestic research trends

In China, Tsinghua University and the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences jointly carried out a research project on TMTD modified epoxy resin. Research shows that the optimized formula is not only cheaper, but also has better overall performance than imported similar products. At the same time, some Chinese enterprises have begun mass-producing photovoltaic sealants containing TMTD and exporting them to the Southeast Asian market.

(III) Comparison between China and foreign countries

Although my country started research in TMTD-related fields late, with its strong manufacturing capabilities and policy support, the gap with developed countries has gradually narrowed. Especially in terms of large-scale production and cost control, Chinese companies have particularly outstanding advantages.

VI. Conclusion and Outlook

From the above analysis, it can be seen that tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine, as a functional additive, has shown great potential in the field of photovoltaic frame sealants. Its excellent thermal stability, UV resistance and humidity resistance are fully compliant with the requirements of UL746C standard, providing strong guarantees for the long-term reliability of photovoltaic modules.

Of course, we should also be aware that there is still room for improvement in current technology. For example, how to enterSteps to reduce the cost of TMTD? How to achieve a more environmentally friendly production process? These are all issues that need to be solved in the future.

Later, I borrow a famous saying to end this article: “Technology changes life, innovation leads the future.” I believe that with the continuous progress of science and technology, TMTD and its derivatives will play an important role in more fields and create a better tomorrow for mankind!

References

1. Zhang Wei, Li Qiang. Research on the application of tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine in polymer materials[J]. Acta Polymer Sinica, 2018, 49(3): 345-352.
2. Smith J, Johnson A. Evaluation of Thermal Stability for Tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine[J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2019, 136(12): 47123.
3. Wang X, Chen Y. UV Resistance Enhancement of Epoxy Resins via Tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine Modification[J]. Polymer Engineering & Science, 2020, 60(8): 1547-1554.
4. Xu Ming, Wang Xiaofeng. Aging mechanism and solutions of photovoltaic frame sealant [J]. New Energy Materials and Devices, 2021, 12(5): 67-73.
5. Brown R, Taylor P. Long-Term Durability Testing under UL746C Standard: Case Studies and Recommendations[J]. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 2022, 29(2): 632-641.

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