Abstract: A solar cell module comprises a solar cell assembly and a polymeric encapsulant material. The polymeric encapsulant material is in contact with components of the solar cell assembly that comprise oxidizable metals, such as silver. Discoloration may result when metal cations migrate into the encapsulant material. An improved encapsulant material described herein includes one or more reducing agents to lessen or prevent this discoloration.

Abstract: A solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet is positioned next to the light-receiving or the back side of the solar cell component and comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition containing about 10 to about 23 wt % of a plasticizer based on the total weight of the composition. A process of preparing solar cell assembly comprising (i) providing a solar cell component and a stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) composition containing about 10 to about 23 wt % of a plasticizer based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) composition, and (ii) encapsulating the solar cell component in a polymer matrix comprising the poly(vinyl butyral) composition.

Abstract: Non-sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyester compositions having improved thermal properties and biodegradability, and articles such as films, coatings and laminates, produced from the non-sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyester compositions, are provided.

Abstract: Sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyester compositions having improved thermal properties and biodegradability, and articles such as films, coatings and laminates, produced from the sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyester compositions, are provided.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film or sheet having a thickness of about 1 mil (0.026 mm) to about 20 mils (0.51 mm) containing a surface embossed layer comprising a copolymer of alpha olefin(s) with alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomer(s), ionomers derived therefrom and combinations thereof useful for making solar cell laminates, wherein the surface is embossed with a pattern which provides channels for de-airing, the channels having depth of about 20 microns or less, a width of about 30 microns to about 300 microns and spaced about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm apart, and use thereof in photovoltaic cells and the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic film or sheet comprising two surface layers made of acid copolymers, or ionomers, or combinations thereof and at least one inner layer made of ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, a solar cell module comprising at least one encapsulant layer derived therefrom, and a process of manufacturing the solar cell module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safety laminate or solar cell module comprising an acid terpolymer containing film or sheet, wherein the acid terpolymer comprises copolymerized units derived from an ?-olefin, about 15 to about 30 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbons, and about 0.5 to about 40 wt % of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester having 4 to 12 carbons, based on the total weight of the acid terpolymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell pre-lamination assembly comprising a terionomer multilayer film or sheet and solar cell modules prepared therefrom.

Abstract: An ionomer blend composition comprises a blend of a first ionomer and a second ionomer that is different from the first ionomer. The first ionomer is derived from a first precursor acid copolymer that has a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min and that comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin and about 20 to about 30 wt % of copolymerized units of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. Moreover, the first precursor acid can be neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% to form a sodium ionomer that has a MFR of about 0.7 to about 25 g/10 min and a freeze enthalpy that is less than about 3.0 j/g or that is not detectable, when determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A variety of articles may comprise or be produced from the ionomer blend composition, for example by injection molding.

Abstract: A laminate comprises an ionomeric interlayer sheet which, in turn, comprises or is prepared from a sodium/zinc mixed ionomer that comprises carboxylate groups and a combination of counterions that consists essentially of sodium cations and zinc cations. The sodium/zinc mixed ionomer is the neutralization product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin and an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and it has a melt flow rate of about 70 to about 1000 g/10 min. In addition, the precursor acid copolymer, when neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90%, and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium ions, produces a sodium ionomer that has a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g, when determined by differential scanning calorimetry.

Abstract: A solar cell module comprising a solar cell layer and an ionomer sheet comprising a sodium/zinc mixed ionomer that is the neutralization product of a precursor acid copolymer; wherein the precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and about 20 to about 30 wt % of copolymerized units of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms based on the total weight of the precursor acid copolymer; wherein the precursor acid copolymer has a melt flow rate of about 70 to about 1000 g/10 min, as determined in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 190° C. and 2.16 kg; and wherein when about 40% to about 90% of the total content of the carboxylic acid groups present in the precursor acid copolymer are neutralized to carboxylate groups to comprise carboxylate groups and counterions that consist essentially of sodium ions, the resulting sodium ionomer has a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.

Abstract: A sodium/zinc mixed ionomer comprises carboxylate groups and a combination of counterions that consists essentially of sodium cations and zinc cations. The sodium/zinc mixed ionomer is the neutralization product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin and an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and it has a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min. In addition, the precursor acid copolymer, when neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90%, and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium ions, produces a sodium ionomer that has a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g, when determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Further provided are articles comprising or prepared from the sodium/zinc mixed ionomer.

Abstract: A thin film solar cell module comprising thin film solar cells deposited on a first float glass sheet, an ionomer encapsulant sheet and a float glass protective sheet.

Abstract: A concentrator solar cell module comprises at least one solar cell and at least one light concentrating article. The at least one light concentrating article is capable of concentrating about 1.02 to about 2000 sun equivalents of solar energy onto the solar cell(s) and comprises an ionomer composition. The ionomer composition comprises or is produced from an ionomer that has a temperature of onset of creep that is significantly greater than its peak melting temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell module comprising a polymeric encapsulant sheet, wherein the polymeric encapsulant sheet comprises an ethylene copolymer composition, wherein the ethylene copolymer comprises copolymerized units of ethylene and about 5 to about 20 wt % of an ester of a C4-C8 unsaturated acid having two carboxylic acid groups.

Abstract: A pipe- or tube-shaped article having an innermost layer is disclosed which comprises a polyolefin composition comprising a polyolefin comprising ethylene and an ?-olefin. The article provides long lifetime, highly abrasion-resistant pipes for mining and other transportation uses. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the article and transporting abrasive materials.

Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module comprising a solar cell layer and an ionomer sheet comprising an ionomer composition, said ionomer composition comprises a first ionomer that is the neutralized product of a first precursor acid copolymer, wherein, (A) the first precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of a first ?-olefin having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and about 20 to about 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the first precursor acid copolymer, of copolymerized units of a second ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms; (B) the first precursor acid copolymer has a melt flow rate of about 70 to about 1000 g/10 min, as determined in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 190° C. and 2.16 kg; and (C) the first precursor acid copolymer, when neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium cations, produces a sodium ionomer, and said sodium ionomer has a melt flow rate of about 0.

Abstract: A solar cell module comprising a solar cell layer and a sheet comprising at least one layer of a sodium ionomer composition, wherein the sodium ionomer composition consists essentially of a sodium ionomer that is an ionic, neutralized derivative of a precursor ?-olefin carboxylic acid copolymer, wherein about 10% to about 35% of the total content of the carboxylic acid groups present in the precursor ?-olefin carboxylic acid copolymer have been neutralized with sodium ions, and wherein the precursor ?-olefin carboxylic acid copolymer comprises (i) copolymerized units of an ?-olefin having 2 to 10 carbons and (ii) about 20 to about 25 wt %, based on the total weight of the ?-olefin carboxylic acid copolymer, of copolymerized units of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8.

Abstract: A pipe or tube article comprising an innermost comprising a grafted polyolefin composition made from a grafted polyolefin composition is disclosed which can provide long lifetime, highly abrasion-resistant pipes for mining and other transportation uses. Methods for preparing the article and transporting abrasive materials through the article are also described.

Abstract: A safety laminate comprises an interlayer that comprises an ionomer that is the neutralized product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of a first ?-olefin having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and about 20 to about 30 wt % of copolymerized units of a first ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms; and has a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min. When neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium cations, the precursor acid copolymer produces a sodium ionomer that has a melt flow rate of about 0.7 to about 25 g/10 min and a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g. The ionomer composition may further comprise a second ionomer that has a melt flow rate of about 10 g/10 min or less.