Koemmerling Chemische Fabrik, a leading supplier of sealants and adhesives for the glass and glazing market, announced today the introduction of a new range of adhesives and sealants, specifically designed for use in the production of photovoltaic modules and solar thermal panels. The new range includes a new PIB based sealant, called HelioSeal and a structural silicone, Koediglaze S. Both these products are designed to meet the stringent demands of manufacturers supplying the photovoltaic and solar industry.

Ernst Semar, product manager at Koemmerling, explained; “The use of HelioSeal can revolutionise the production of thin film modules. The traditional laminating process can be very time consuming but the combination of this new spacer with the latest applications equipment from Lenhardt Maschinenbau, means a thin film module can be sealed every 30 seconds.”

HelioSeal is impervious to water vapour and has good stability under UV light combined with good resistance to high temperatures. In order to maintain the structural integrity of the unit, the bonding of the two glass sheets must be done with a one or two component structural silicone.

Koemmerling has also identified a growing market for solar thermal panels, which transfer the solar radiation direct to warm water. One of the keys to increasing the efficiency of the panels is to improve the thermal resistance of the Flat– Plate Solar collectors located within it. In order to achieve higher levels, manufacturers of these panels need a special double glass with anti-reflective properties and a low-e coating. This is a microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layer deposited directly onto the surface of a glass pane. The low-e coating reduces the infrared radiation from a warm pane of glass to a cooler pane resulting in a higher solar gain. Koemmerling has responded to this by developing Koediglaze S, a new heat resistant sealant specifically for use in this niche market.