Decomposition of EVA(Ethylene vinyl acetate) used as an adhesion of photovoltaic(PV) module by ultrasonic irradiation in bath-type cleaner

Using ultrasonic irradiation, the separation and recovery of PV cell, made of silicon wafer, from PV module was carried out through selective decomposition of EVA used as an interlaminated binder. The ultrasonic cleaner of bath-type (Output: 130 W, Frequency: 40 kHz) was used as an ultrasonic apparatus in this research. With the fixed distance of 2 cm, from ultrasonic generator to PV cell, the experiment of EVA decomposition was performed in various organic solvents such as Toluene, Trichloroethylene, O-dichlorobenzene, Benzene. And also their concentrations and temperature was changed to survey the optimum conditions. However EVA can be decomposed perfectly at $55^{\circ}C$ within 160 min in 5 M of all kinds of solvent, PV cell may be recovered with being damaged or broken severely. This damage may be resulted from the swelling of EVA in the process of decomposition. Whereas, at the condition of 5 M at $65^{\circ}C$, PV cell can be recovered with the state of minor damage or crack. This implies that the decomposition rate of EVA increases with an increase of temperature, thereby EVA can be decomposed before the swelling of EVA layer. Conclusively, it is possible for PV cell to be recovered within 40 min, at $65^{\circ}C$ in 5 M, with less damage.

Bath-type 초음파(超音波) 세척기(洗滌器)를 이용(利用)한 태양전지모듈 접착제(接着劑) EVA(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) 분해특성(分解特性)

태양전지(Photovoltaic, PV) 모듈의 층간 접착제로 사용된 EVA(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate)를 초음파 조사(irradiation)를 이용하여, 선택적으로 분해함으로써 모듈 내 실리콘웨이퍼(Si-wafer)로 제조된 셀(cell)을 분리, 회수하는 연구를 진행하였다. 본 실험에 사용한 초음파 발생장치는 bath-type의 초음파 세척기 (Output: 130 W, Frequency: 40 kHz)로, PV모듈과의 거리는 2 cm로 고정하고 유기용매 종류, 농도, 온도를 조절하면서 EVA 분해 및 셀의 분리 최적 조건을 도출하였다. $55^{\circ}C$, 5M인 조건에서는 용매 종류에 상관없이 160 min 이내에 EVA층의 완전 분해는 가능하였으나, 분해과정 중 발현되는 팽창현상(swelling)에 의해 셀의 일부분이 파손된 상태로 회수되었다. 반면에 $65^{\circ}C$, 5M조건에서는 셀의 파손이 억제된 상태로 회수 가능하였으며, 이는 온도 상승에 의해 EVA 성분의 분해속도가 상승되고, 이로 인해 EVA층의 팽창현상이 발현되기 전에 분해가 일어난 결과라고 판단된다.