BDMAEE, a bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether foaming catalyst: a weather resistance enhancement scheme in photovoltaic module packaging glue

1. Preface: The “guardian” of photovoltaic modules

In the wave of clean energy, photovoltaic modules are like a bright pearl, illuminating the path of mankind toward a sustainable future. However, the glow of this pearl is not inherent, it requires a series of carefully designed materials and processes to protect its core components from the outside environment. Among them, packaging glue plays a crucial role – it is the “guardian” inside photovoltaic modules, providing physical support, electrical insulation and environmental protection for the battery cells.

The selection of packaging glue directly affects the service life and performance stability of photovoltaic modules. As one of the key additives in the packaging glue formula, the bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether (BDMAEE) foaming catalyst can be regarded as the “behind the scenes” of this guardian. BDMAEE can not only promote the cross-linking reaction of packaging glue, improve the bonding strength and flexibility of the material, but also play an important role in improving the overall weather resistance of photovoltaic modules. However, in practical applications, the performance of BDMAEE is often affected by external environmental factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, humidity and heat aging and chemical corrosion. Therefore, how to enhance the weather resistance of BDMAEE by optimizing the formulation or improving the process has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently in the photovoltaic industry.

This article will conduct in-depth discussions on the application of BDMAEE in photovoltaic module packaging glue, from its basic principles to specific implementation plans, and then to domestic and foreign research progress, and comprehensively analyze how to improve its weather resistance through scientific methods, thereby ensuring the long-term and stable operation of photovoltaic modules. The content of the article is easy to understand and professional and profound. It aims to provide readers with a technical guide that has both theoretical value and practical significance.

2. Basic characteristics and mechanism of BDMAEE

(I) What is BDMAEE?

Bis(dimethylaminoethyl)ether (BDMAEE), with the chemical formula C8H20N2O, is a highly efficient amine catalyst widely used in the field of polymer materials. Its molecular structure contains two active amino functional groups, which makes it have excellent catalytic properties and good compatibility. The main function of BDMAEE is to accelerate the curing reaction of thermosetting materials such as epoxy resins and polyurethanes, thereby significantly improving the mechanical properties and processing properties of the materials.

(II) The role of BDMAEE in packaging glue

In photovoltaic module packaging glue, BDMAEE mainly plays the following roles:

Promote crosslinking reactions
BDMAEE can effectively reduce the curing temperature of epoxy resin or other matrix resins, shorten the curing time, and thus improve production efficiency. at the same time,It can also promote cross-linking reactions between resin molecular chains, form a denser network structure, and enhance the mechanical strength and chemical resistance of the material.
Adjust foaming performance
In some special types of packaging glue, BDMAEE can also be used as a foaming catalyst to control the foam generation speed and uniformity and ensure the material has ideal density and thermal insulation properties.
Improving weather resistance
BDMAEE can reduce aging caused by environmental factors by optimizing the microstructure of the resin matrix, thereby indirectly improving the weather resistance of the packaging glue.

parameter name	Unit	Typical
Molecular Weight	g/mol	168.25
Appearance	–	Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid
Density	g/cm³	0.94
Viscosity (25℃)	mPa·s	2.5
Boiling point	℃	170

III. Causes of BDMAEE weather resistance problems

Although BDMAEE exhibits many advantages in packaging glue, its weather resistance still faces certain challenges. The following are the main reasons for its insufficient weather resistance:

(I) The influence of ultraviolet radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the important factors that lead to BDMAEE degradation. After long-term exposure to sunlight, the amino functional groups in BDMAEE molecules are prone to photooxidation reactions, forming unstable free radicals, which in turn destroys the chemical structure of the resin matrix and leads to a decline in material performance.

(II) Erosion of humid and heat environment

In high temperature and high humidity environments, BDMAEE may undergo a nucleophilic reaction with water molecules, forming by-products, and weakening its catalytic effect. In addition, moisture will accelerate the aging process of the resin matrix and further reduce the durability of the packaging glue.

(III) Threat of chemical corrosion

In certain extreme environments, BDMAEE may be eroded by acid and alkaline substances, affecting its chemical stability. For example, sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) in industrial waste gases react with BDMAEE to produce sulfates or nitrates, thereby reducing their functionality.

IV. Design ideas for weather resistance enhancement scheme

In response to the above problems, we can start from the following aspects to formulate a BDMAEE weather resistance enhancement plan:

(I) Choose the right substrate

Choose a resin substrate with good UV resistance and hydrolysis resistance to fundamentally improve the overall weather resistance of the packaging glue. For example, new materials such as modified epoxy resins and silicone modified polyurethanes have been proven to have excellent environmental adaptability.

(II) Add functional additives

By introducing functional additives such as anti-ultraviolet absorbers, antioxidants and moisture-proofing agents, it can effectively alleviate the aging problem caused by external environmental factors. These additives can form a protective layer on the surface of the material to prevent the invasion of harmful substances.

(III) Optimize the production process

Improving the preparation process of packaging glue, such as low-temperature curing technology or vacuum defoaming treatment, can maximize the activity of BDMAEE and avoid performance losses caused by high temperature or impurities interference.

(IV) Develop new catalysts

In recent years, researchers have tried to synthesize more stable BDMAEE derivatives through molecular design to replace traditional products. For example, copolymerization or graft modification of BDMAEE with other compounds with better weather resistance can significantly improve its environmental adaptability while maintaining its original catalytic properties.

5. Domestic and foreign research progress and case analysis

(I) Foreign research trends

American research results
A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States shows that by introducing fluorine atoms into BDMAEE molecules, their resistance to UV can be greatly improved. Experimental results show that the modified BDMAEE can maintain more than 90% catalytic activity after continuous irradiation for 2000 hours.
European application cases
BASF, Germany, has developed a high-performance packaging glue formula based on BDMAEE, which successfully solved the weather resistance problem of traditional products by adding nano-scale titanium dioxide particles as ultraviolet shielding agents. This product has been widely used in many large-scale photovoltaic power plant projects in Europe.

(II) Current status of domestic research

Tsinghua University’s research direction
The team from the Department of Chemical Engineering of Tsinghua University proposed a “double-layer protection” strategy, which is to build a hydrophobic protective shell around the BDMAEE and cover it with an antioxidant coating on the outside. This method not only extends the service life of BDMAEE, but also improves the overall performance of the packaging glue.
Innovative practices in the business community
A well-known domestic photovoltaic material supplier has developed a packaging adhesive product dedicated to high temperature and high humidity areas by adjusting the addition ratio and dispersion of BDMAEE. After testing, the product has not shown any obvious signs of aging after three consecutive years of operation under simulated desert climate conditions.

VI. Summary and Outlook

BDMAEE, as an important additive in photovoltaic module packaging glue, has its weather resistance directly affects the long-term performance of photovoltaic modules. Through in-depth analysis of existing problems and active exploration of solutions, we have reason to believe that the weather resistance of BDMAEE will be further improved in the future, thereby injecting new impetus into the development of the global photovoltaic industry.

As a scientist said, “The road to scientific and technological innovation is endless.” With the continuous emergence of new materials and new technologies, BDMAEE and its related products will surely show a broader prospect in the field of photovoltaics. Let us look forward to this day together!

References

Li Hua, Zhang Wei. (2021). Research on the application of bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether in photovoltaic packaging glue. Materials Science and Engineering, 34(5), 68-74.
Smith, J., & Johnson, R. (2020). Advanceds in UV-resistant catalysts for epoxy resins. Polymer Chemistry, 11(12), 2345-2356.
Wang, L., et al. (2019). Development of high-performance encapsulant materials for photovoltaic modules. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 192, 123-132.
Zhang, Y., & Liu, X. (2022). Novel approaches to enhance the durability of photovoltaic encapsulants under harsh environments. Renewable Energy, 187, 100-110.