Plasticization study on recycled cross-linked EVA encapsulant films from PV module

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Engineering

Background:

• Retired photovoltaic (PV) modules contain significant amounts of cross-linked ethylene-vinyl acetate (X-EVA) materials.
• Effective recycling methods for X-EVA are crucial for waste reduction and resource recovery in the solar industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient recycling model for X-EVA from discarded PV modules.
• To plasticize X-EVA through synergistic degradation and lubrication mechanisms.
• To create a value-added recycled material with enhanced properties.

Main Methods:

• Synergistic degradation involving physical shear and peroxide additives to break down the X-EVA network.
• Incorporation of polypropylene (PP) to act as a lubricant and grafting agent.
• Characterization of recycled material (CR-EVA) using melt index (MI), rheological analysis, XPS, and FTIR.

Main Results:

• Achieved significant plasticization of X-EVA, increasing melt flow rate (MI) up to 20.5 g/10 min.
• Formation of graft copolymers and partial de-crosslinking of the X-EVA network.
• Demonstrated excellent dispersion and interfacial compatibility in CR-EVA-modified PP compounds.

Conclusions:

• The proposed recycling model effectively transforms X-EVA from PV modules into a high-performance recycled material (CR-EVA).
• The synergistic degradation and lubrication approach enhances melt flow and creates graft copolymers.
• This method offers a novel pathway for the value-added recycling of EVA waste from solar panels.