Fabrication and characterization of polymeric coating for abrasion resistance

Solar cell panels exposed to dessert sands, harsh weather conditions, and contact cleaning method are subjected to scratching force. This factor can lead to loss of structural integrity, tremendously affect the performance of the panel system and greatly lower the energy conversion efficiency. Development of abrasion resistant coatings on solar cell panels can be achieved in composite systems containing both hard polymer and nano scale fillers. Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) encompass high aspect ratio, stiffness, and strength while remain understudied about the coating usage. By appropriate treatment, HNT possess high dispersion quality and enable efficient interfacial adhesion to polymer after mixing. Using HNT in hardcoat polymers is supposed to increase strength, modulus and improve mechanical robustness (i.e., effective HNT modulus was estimated to reach ∼300 GPa plus a half scratch depth of polymer without HNT). The interaction efficiency between polymer and nanofillers is quantitatively expressed using dynamic mechanical analysis. Anti-abrasion properties are characterized using abrasion test and followed by comparing morphological changes in a sample without undergoing the abrasive test. This study aims at development of environmentally friendly and cost effective coating, which is highly potential to be commercialized.