# US 2012/0073632 A1 · Weatherable polyvinylidene fluoride coated substrates

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- Number: US 2012/0073632 A1
- Document ID: US20120073632A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/377,391
- Filed: 2010-06-09
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Earliest claimed: 2009-06-10
- Assignees: Arkema Inc.
- Inventors: Walter Kosar; Kurt A. Wood; Wayne Skilton; Gregory S. O'Brien; Mark A. Aubart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073632A1

## CPC

- B32B 17/10018: {comprising only one glass sheet}
- B32B 17/10788: {containing ethylene vinylacetate}
- H10F 19/85: Protective back sheets
- B32B 2367/00: Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y10T 428/3154: Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to architectural substrates coated with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dispersion coating to produce a weatherable material. One specific use is as a PVDF coating on a frontsheet or backsheet of a photovoltaic module for capturing and using solar radiation. The polyvinylidene fluoride coating is exposed to the environment and provides chemical resistance, low water vapor transmission, electrical insulation, and UV light protection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A photovoltaic module, comprising:
a) an outer transparent glazing material;
b) encapsulated interconnected solar cells; and
c) a backsheet comprising a support substrate coated on the side exposed to the environment, or both sides with a dispersion fluoropolymer composition comprising a mixture of a fluoropolymer and a non-functionalized acrylic.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer composition comprises a polyvinylidene fluoride homopolymer or copolymer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The photovoltaic module of claim 2, wherein said PVDF composition is selected from a polyvinylidene fluoride homopolymer, a polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer, a blend of a PVDF polymer with a compatible polymer wherein at least 10 percent by weight of the blend is PVDF, and an acrylic modified fluoropolymer with a minimum PVDF content of 10%.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The photovoltaic module of claim 2, wherein said PVDF is non-functionalized

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said dispersion fluoropolymer composition does not contain crosslinking.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer and acrylic mixture is in the form of a interpenetrating polymer network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said backsheet substrate is a primed or un-primed substrate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The photovoltaic module of claim 7, wherein said primed substrate has been primed by corona treated, or by coating with an adhesive compound.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said back sheet is a multi-layer structure, having said fluoropolymer composition in the outermost layer, and further comprising at least one barrier layer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, aluminum or reactive polyethylenes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer composition further comprises from 2 to 30 weight percent of one or more mineral pigments or fillers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said Fluoropolymer is a PVDF copolymer having from 1 to 29 weight percent of hexafluoropropene.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer composition is applied as an aqueous or solvent dispersion coating.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said backsheet substrate is polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate substrate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said backsheet substrate further comprises a functional polyolefin.

### Claim 15

A photovoltaic module, comprising:
a) an outer transparent glazing material;
b) encapsulated interconnected solar cells; and
c) a back sheet comprising a substrate coated on both or the side exposed to the environment with a fluoropolymer composition comprising functionalized fluoropolymer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The photovoltaic module of claim 15, wherein said functionalized fluoropolymer comprises from 5 to 100 weight percent of a maleic anhydride graft copolymer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The photovoltaic module of claim 16, wherein said fluoropolymer composition further comprises a non-functionalized acrylic compound.

### Claim 18

An architectural structure comprising a substrate coated on one or more sides with a fluoropolymer composition comprising a dispersion of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and a non-functionalized acrylic.