Climbing Drum Peel (CDP) Test Method for Characterizing Adhesion in Flexible PV Modules

Characterization of adhesion in flexible PV modules during the product development and field exposure is critical to ensure long-term adhesion in the field over a typical warranty period of 25 years. Currently, no established standard test is available for a quantitative evaluation of adhesion in flexible PV modules. In this work, a Climbing Drum Peel (CDP) test is proposed as a preferred method for this purpose. The proposed CDP test method is demonstrated on a flexible PV module laminate configuration subjected to varying levels of environmental exposure including field exposure. With a simpler sample preparation and fracture mechanics based analysis of test results, CDP can potentially become a preferred test standard for emerging flexible PV products.