Outer Edge Seal for Module

Abstract

The peripheral edge seal is used at the outer edges of various modules to reduce the penetration of moisture and reactive gases and extend the life of the modules. Sealed modules include photovoltaic modules, insulating glass units, screens, dynamic glazing products, HET windows, electrochromic windows, thin film transistors, or other modules that use items between substrates. The edge seal includes a dry adhesive carried by a barrier film that forms a tape. The vapor barrier is disposed along the edge of the sealed module or against a portion of the outer substrate surface around the edge and the sealed module to provide a drying seal that extends the drying path that water vapor follows before penetrating into the internal space of the sealed module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - References to Related Applications This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 346,170, filed May 26, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Background of the Disclosure Technical Field The present disclosure relates to seals used outside various types of modules to reduce the penetration of water vapor and gas into the modules and extend the life of the modules. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a dry adhesive outer peripheral edge seal or tape that can be placed on or around the edges of sealed or unsealed modules to provide or extend a dry barrier path that limits the penetration of water vapor and air. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to using a dry polymer adhesive carried by a barrier film having at least a low moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) to seal the ends of modules such as photovoltaic modules.

[0003] Background Information A hermetic module including a plurality of substrates with spaced-apart edges sealed is used in screens such as photovoltaic modules, insulating glass units for windows, thin-film transistors, and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens. The hermetic module is also used in dynamic glazing products, switching windows, and electrochromic windows. The substrates forming the hermetic module can be glass, polymer, metal, or a combination of materials. The sealed internal space of these modules is sensitive to the penetration of moisture and oxygen, or in the case of insulating glass units, the loss of a filling gas such as argon. When water vapor enters the module, the filling gas leaks, or a reactive gas such as oxygen enters the module, the life of the module is shortened. Therefore, these hermetic modules have a common requirement that the internal space defined between the substrate and the edge seal needs to be sealed. In particular, the internal spaces of various modules need to be sealed against the intrusion of water vapor and oxygen. As shown in FIG. 1, one solution is to use a dried internal edge sealant 30 placed directly between substrates 16 and 18 of the module to create a dried path for water vapor, and by means of a desiccant, significantly reduce the water vapor moving through the internal edge seal 30 into the internal space or components 19 of the module. The drawback of this solution is that the width of the internal edge seal reduces the area of the substrate that can be used for applying the sealed module. A wide seal is desirable for protection against water vapor, and a narrow seal is desired to increase the effective surface area of the module.

[0004] Photovoltaic (PV) devices convert light energy, particularly solar energy, into electrical energy. The electrical energy generated by solar power generation can be used for the same purposes as the electricity generated by batteries or the renewable electrical energy obtained from existing power grids. Sunlight is the only thing required to generate electricity using photovoltaic devices. Many types of photovoltaic devices include at least one photovoltaic module with a photoactive layer supported on a substrate such as glass, plastic, or metal. The photoactive element is covered with another substantially light-transmissive substrate so that sunlight can reach the active element. The substrate is called a sheet, pane, or layer. The substrate can be a substantially hard or flexible glass piece such as float glass, soda-lime glass, low-iron glass, a durable and strong polymeric material such as polyimide, or a metal sheet or film such as aluminum, steel, titanium, chromium, or iron.

[0005] Photovoltaic module manufacturers use various techniques to slow the ingress of water vapor into the photovoltaic module and protect the active layer from moisture. Moisture within the photovoltaic module can cause several problems that affect the performance of the module. These include, but are not limited to, reduced efficiency, corrosion, and loss of functionality. One technique to slow the ingress of water vapor is to encapsulate the active elements. Another technique is to apply a dried butyl perimeter edge seal inside the outer perimeter edge between the two substrates. The edge seal can be used on both rigid and flexible substrates. The perimeter edge seal delays the presence of moisture within the module. As another method, there is a way to apply a sealant to the frame and embed the module in the sealant so that the sealant flows around the module. This method is not effective in preventing the ingress of moisture into the interior of the module. Although it is easy to embed in silicone sealant, silicone sealant is very permeable to moisture. Hot melt butyl sealant has low permeability, but because it cools quickly, it is difficult to form good adhesion and a barrier, and there is a possibility that the path to the module may be short-circuited. Also, hot melt butyl does not contain a desiccant necessary to achieve the effective penetration rate required for durability of at least 25 years.

[0006] Insulating glass units typically include glass substrates, sheets, plate glass, or layers, and are spaced apart by an internal perimeter spacer that defines an internal chamber between the substrates. The internal chamber can be filled with an inert gas such as argon. The internal spacer provides sufficient structural support to maintain the spacing between the substrates, and some types include a desiccant to minimize the ingress of water vapor into the internal chamber.

[0007] In some video screens, sealed modules with active layers disposed between substrates are also used. These can be used not only in small screens such as watches and handheld computers, but also in large video displays. One type is an OLED screen that can be configured to be used from small devices such as watches and handheld computers (phones or game devices) to large video displays (flat screen TVs or other video displays). OLED devices typically include one or more organic light-emitting layers disposed between electrodes. For example, first and second contacts such as a cathode and a light-transmissive anode are formed on a substrate. When an electric current flows between the cathode and the anode, light is emitted. When photons are generated and emitted, the photons move through the organic layer. Photons that generally move toward the cathode containing metal may be reflected by the organic layer. Photons that pass through the organic layer and move to the light-transmissive anode and finally reach the substrate can be emitted from the OLED in the form of light energy. The OLED device can be mounted on a rigid substrate such as glass or generally can be bent into a flexible shape, that is, a shape with a radius of curvature. Oxygen and moisture are particularly harmful to the OLED structure. When oxygen or moisture enters the OLED device, dark spots are formed and the illuminance decreases. Therefore, it is important to create an airtight seal around the OLED panel to minimize the possibility of oxygen and moisture intrusion. Particularly concerning areas are around the edges of the OLED device or panel where the laminate edges of adjacent layers of the OLED device structure may be exposed and there is a risk of oxygen and moisture intrusion. When using an internal perimeter seal, the seal must be compatible with the organic light-emitting layer and the electrodes.

[0008] Other uses of the sealed modules include dynamic glazing products, switchable windows, electrochromic windows, thin film transistors, etc. These and other sealed modules benefit from improved edge seals. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] Summary of the Disclosure The present disclosure provides an external edge seal that is used on or around the outer edges of different types of modules to reduce the penetration of reactive gases such as water vapor and oxygen and extend the life of the module. The sealed module can be a photovoltaic module, an insulating glass unit for windows, a screen, a dynamic glazing product, a switchable window, an electrochromic window, a thin film transistor, or any other module that uses an item between substrates sealed against water vapor and air. The external edge seal includes a dried adhesive carried by a barrier film to form a tape. The seal is disposed along or around the edge of the sealed module against a portion of the substrate surface outside the sealed module and provides or extends a drying path that the water vapor must follow before penetrating into the internal space of the module. A vapor barrier can be used alone or in combination with an internal edge seal. The internal seal may or may not be dry. The internal seal can be either low MVTR or high MVTR.

[0010] The present disclosure provides different configurations of an outer peripheral edge seal used to seal the periphery of a module such as a photovoltaic module. In one exemplary configuration, the seal is provided as a moisture barrier tape (MBT) including a dry adhesive carried on a film. The dry adhesive has a breakthrough time (BTT) T10% of more than 4 hours when tested in accordance with IEC 62788-6-2 or when a 1-mm thick adhesive is tested at 85°C / 100%RH. The composition of the adhesive varies depending on the configuration. In one example, the adhesive is an olefin-based polymer. In another example, the adhesive is an isobutylene-based polymer adhesive. The proportion of the desiccant varies depending on the configuration. The structure of the film varies depending on the configuration. In one example, the film can be made of a material with a low or very low moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR). The film can be a thin foil such as a metal foil or a metallized material. The film can be a plastic film, a laminated plastic film, or a plastic film or laminated plastic film coated with a coating such as a ceramic coating.

[0011] In one configuration, the present disclosure provides a photovoltaic module with a dry outer peripheral edge seal that at least covers the outer edge of the module to seal the module from moisture, either in combination with an internal seal or as the main seal of the module. The dry outer peripheral edge seal can wrap around the edge of the module, engage with a part of the outer surface of its substrate, and lengthen the path of water vapor intrusion.

[0012] One configuration of the outer peripheral edge seal is applied after laminating the photovoltaic module. In this configuration, the outer peripheral edge seal is applied and brought into contact with the front, back, and outer periphery edges, and the film and the dry butyl adhesive are arranged in the path where water vapor enters the module. This slows down the intrusion of moisture. This can replace or complement the internal seal between the module substrates. In another configuration, the outer peripheral edge seal is applied to the outer peripheral edge surface without covering the front and back. Both configurations can be housed within a protective frame.

[0013] The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a sealed module such as a photovoltaic module, in which the assembly line is stopped to ensure time for manually or automatically adding an outer peripheral edge seal around the module.

[0014] The present invention provides a method for assembling a sealed module such as a photovoltaic module provided with an outer peripheral edge seal, in which the module moves continuously along the conveyor direction. The continuous manufacturing method is a roll-to-roll process. In this process, since the module is not stopped, the edges perpendicular to the conveyor direction need to receive the outer peripheral edge seal in another way. In one configuration, after the module is cut off from the continuous assembly conveyor and taken out, the outer peripheral edge seal is applied to the entire circumference of the module. In another configuration, while the module is moving along the assembly conveyor, the edges of the module parallel to the conveyor direction receive the outer peripheral edge seal, and after the module is cut off and taken out from the conveyor, the edges perpendicular to the conveyor receive the outer peripheral edge seal. In yet another configuration, while the module is moving along the assembly conveyor, the edges of the module parallel to the conveyor direction receive the sealant (inner edge seal 30) injected between the substrates, and after the module is cut off and taken out from the conveyor, the edges perpendicular to the conveyor receive the outer peripheral edge seal.

[0015] The present disclosure provides a method for increasing the effective surface area of a module sealed with a narrowed inner edge seal by adding an outer peripheral edge seal that compensates for the seal performance lost by narrowing the width of the inner edge seal. The advantage is that the effective surface area becomes wider, but the disadvantage is that the edge becomes thicker. Another advantage is that in some embodiments, the outer peripheral edge seal can have a different composition from the inner edge seal. This is because the function of the outer peripheral edge seal is mainly the breakdown time, while the inner seal may have additional functions that must be balanced by its composition.

[0016] Each of the individual features described below can be combined in different combinations than those specifically described below to form different configurations of the devices of the present disclosure. The position and number of items can be changed. The foregoing non-limiting aspects of the present disclosure, and other aspects, will be described more specifically below. A more complete understanding of the devices, assemblies, and methods can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are not intended to show the relative sizes and dimensions of the assemblies. In these drawings and the following description, like numeral designations refer to components of like function. The specific terms used in the description are intended to refer only to the specific structure of the device.

[0017] The drawings are selected embodiments for purposes of illustration and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

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[0019] Detailed Description of the Disclosure The description of this exemplary embodiment is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are considered to be a part of the entire written description. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and for clarity and conciseness, certain features may be shown at exaggerated scales or in somewhat schematic form. In the description, relative terms such as "horizontal", "vertical", "up", "down", "upper", "bottom", and their derivatives ("horizontally", "downwardly", "upwardly", etc.) should be construed to refer to the direction being described at that point or shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and are not normally intended to require a particular direction. Terms such as "inwardly" and "outwardly", "longitudinally" and "transversely" should, as appropriate, be construed relative to each other or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis of rotation or a center of rotation. Connection, coupling, and related terms such as "coupled", "connected", "interconnected", etc. refer to both a relationship where structures are directly or indirectly fixed or connected to each other through intervening structures and a relationship of movable or fixed connection or coupling, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0020] The first configuration of the outer peripheral edge seal in the form of a moisture barrier tape is generally designated by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10. The second configuration is generally designated by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 5 and 7. Each seal 10 is used to seal the edge of the device or module 14 against the ingress of air, water, and moisture. In the context of this application, the device or module includes an item 19 disposed between substrates 16 and 18, and it is desirable to seal the outer edges of substrates 16 and 18 to extend the life of item 19. The device or module 14 can include an internal edge seal 30, which can be a spacer (e.g., a flexible polymer spacer, a metal spacer, a plastic spacer), a polymer seal (e.g., a silicone or olefin polymer seal), a dry seal, or other materials used within the outer edge of module 14. The internal edge seal 30 can have a high MVTR or a low MVTR. Examples of the device or module 14 include a photovoltaic module, a thermopane unit, a screen, a dynamic glass unit, a switchable window unit, an electrochromic window unit, and a thin film transistor.

[0021] The device or module 14 includes a first substrate 16 and a second substrate 18, and the item 19 is disposed in the internal space between substrates 16 and 18. The item 19 can be a single one or a plurality of them. The item 19 can be a substance such as air or a gas such as argon. The item 19 can be an active material such as used in a photovoltaic module, a thin film transistor, or a screen held by either substrate 16 or 18 or held by its own carrier. The item 19 can be one component or a plurality of components. The item 19 can be encapsulated or laminated between substrates 16 and 18.

[0022] The outer edge seal 10 is provided in a long length that can be wound and cut to a desired length, or in a strip that can be wound for shipping, storage, and applied as a flat strip. The outer edge seal 10 includes a backing barrier film 20 and a dry adhesive 22 carried by the barrier film. The dry adhesive 22 can be extruded onto the backing film 20. The outer edge seal 10 can be extruded with a U-shaped cross-section or in a flat configuration that is folded into the U-shape shown in FIGS. 2-4. The outer edge seal 10 can be manufactured and stored in a flat, unfolded state (see FIG. 7) and then folded around the module 14. Notches 24 can be provided to minimize the spillage of the adhesive 22 when the seal 10 is folded. The outer edge seal 10 can be extruded as needed at the location of the module manufacturing line. Also, the outer edge seal 10 can be manufactured as a long strip wound on a storage reel. The outer edge seal 10 can be applied at the time of application as a single continuous piece (with a cut at the corner) around the perimeter or as a strip cut to length with a sealed joint.

[0023] The backing film 20 has a low or very low MVTR. The backing film 20 can be a metal foil such as aluminum foil. The backing film 20 can be a metallized polymer. The backing film 20 can be a polymer or laminated polymer used in the manufacture of flexible photovoltaic modules. The backing film 20 can be a combination of these materials or other low MVTR films.

[0024] The dry adhesive 22 can be a dry butyl adhesive that may or may not cure.

[0025] The MVTR is tested as described in ASTM F1249, which is incorporated herein by reference. A low MVTR is considered to be less than about 5, preferably less than about 1, more preferably less than about 0.5, and most preferably less than about 0.3 per square meter per day for a 60 mil (1.524 mm) thick test sample when tested at 100% relative humidity and 37.8 degrees Celsius. A very low MVTR is less than 0.3 and is a material such as aluminum foil or a polymer laminate that is substantially less than 0.3.

[0026] In one embodiment, the polymer used in the adhesive 22 is one or a combination of olefinic polymers selected from the group including polyisobutylene, polybutene, butyl rubber (polyisobutylene-isoprene), styrene block copolymers, particularly SBS, SIS, SEBS, SEPS, SIBS, SPIBS (including modifications), and amorphous copolymers and / or terpolymers of α-olefins (APAO).

[0027] Isobutylene-based polymers such as polyisobutylene and butyl rubber are preferred as adhesives for seal 10 because of their low MVTR. However, other polymers can be used instead of or in addition to isobutylene-based polymers. An isobutylene-based polymer is defined as a polymer containing at least 80 mole percent isobutylene repeating units. Examples of other polymers include ethylene-propylene polymers, ethylene-propylene-diene polymers (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetate, acrylic rubber, neoprene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, urethane, epoxy, natural rubber, and polymers from conjugated dienes such as synthetic polyisoprene polybutadiene, nitrile rubber, or styrene-butadiene rubber, and amorphous polyolefins (e.g., homopolymers of propene, copolymers of other monoolefins or diolefins having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and a crystallinity as a polymer of less than 20 weight percent, other than EPDM and ethylene-propylene polymers). Polyisobutylene desirably has a number average molecular weight of about 2,000 - 1,400,000 or more, more desirably 10,000 - 800,000. Polyisobutylene is desirably essentially a polymer of isobutylene and contains initiator fragments and / or chain transfer fragments or chain termination fragments. Butyl rubber is a polymer containing about 80 - about 98 or 99 weight percent isobutylene and about 1 - about 20 weight percent of other monomers such as dienes having 4 - 12 carbon atoms (e.g., isoprene) and / or aromatic vinyl monomers having 8 - 16 carbon atoms such as styrene, paramethylstyrene. When paramethylstyrene is a comonomer, the polymer is desirably halogenated (e.g., brominated). Butyl rubber desirably has a number average molecular weight of about 250,000 to about 600,000, more desirably about 350,000 to about 450,000. Other polymers desirably have a number average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 1,000,000 or 2,000,000. Amorphous polyalphaolefins desirably have a number average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 40,000, more desirably about 10,000 to about 25,000.When butyl rubber is present within the core, it desirably is from about 5 to about 70 weight percent of the core polymer. Amorphous polyalphaolefins are often used in combination with polyisobutylene and / or butyl rubber. The weight ratio of amorphous polyalphaolefin to polyisobutylene and / or butyl rubber desirably is from 1:8 to 8:1, more desirably from 1:4 to 4:1.

[0028] Desiccants typically increase the time it takes for moisture to penetrate the adhesive layer 22 and reach an item 19 such as a photoelectric layer. Desiccants can be provided at from 2 weight percent to 80 weight percent of the adhesive. Desiccants preferably are zeolite molecular sieves, and the concentration is from 10 weight percent to 50 weight percent, more preferably less than 10 weight percent to 20 weight percent (wt.%). Other desiccants can be used in combination with or in place of zeolite molecular sieves. These can be calcium oxide, silica gel, or other moisture removing agents. Desiccants adsorb moisture within the zeolite cage structure and prevent moisture from penetrating into materials 19 such as the laminate adhesive film and the photoelectric layer until the desiccant within the adhesive 22 is completely or nearly completely saturated, thereby increasing the time differential until steady state water vapor transmission through the sealant occurs. In the example of a photoelectric panel, by preventing moisture from entering the photoelectric layer from the edge of the panel, the durability and / or lifespan of the panel and the photoelectric layer is increased. As used herein, the phrases “dry sealant” and “dry adhesive” mean any sealant or adhesive sealant material and desiccant described herein, and any equivalents of the sealant material, desiccant, and / or any combination of the sealant material and / or desiccant.

[0029] IEC 62788-6-2:2020 of the International Electrotechnical Commission specifies methods for measuring the steady-state water vapour transmission rate (WVTR), water vapour permeability (P), diffusivity (D), solubility (S), and moisture breakthrough time (T10, defined as the time to reach 10% of the steady-state WVTR) for polymeric materials such as encapsulants, edge seals, front sheets, and back sheets. When tested by this method, one configuration of the dry adhesive 22 exhibits a moisture breakthrough time T10 of more than 4 hours at 85 °C / 100% relative humidity (RH) when tested at a thickness of 1 mm. A second configuration of the dry adhesive 22 exhibits a moisture breakthrough time T10 of more than 18 hours at 85 °C / 100% relative humidity (RH) when tested at a thickness of 1 mm. A third configuration of the dry adhesive 22 exhibits a moisture breakthrough time T10 of more than 30 hours at 85 °C / 100% relative humidity (RH) when tested at a thickness of 1 mm.

[0030] Exemplary dry adhesive 22 can include the following components, measured by weight percent: 30 - 70 percent olefin polymer, 0 - 10 percent modified polymer, 5 - 50 percent particulate inert filler, 2 - 80 percent moisture-binding substance, 0 - 4 percent antioxidant, 0 - 4 percent adhesion promoter / coupling agent, 0 - 30 percent plasticizer viscosity modifier - MW 100 - 1000, and 0 - 35 percent tackifying resin - MW 500 - 3000. The modified polymer is disclosed in U.S. Patent 8372909, which is incorporated by reference.

[0031] In FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 7, and 10, an internal edge seal 30 is disposed between substrates 16 and 18. In FIG. 10, two internal edge seals 30 and an internal substrate 17 such as the structure of a triple glass unit are used. The internal edge seal 30 can be applied as a strip or a dry butyl seal that is pumped into a predetermined position. The internal edge seal 30 can also be a physical spacer or a material that protects the edges of the material 19. The internal edge seal 30 can be made permeable to water vapor such as silicon. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the outer peripheral edge seal 10 covers around the outer peripheral edge of the module 14. The seal 10 has outer legs that extend across a part of the front and back (outer surfaces) of the substrates 16 and 18. The seal 10 also covers the outer edge portions of the substrates 16 and 18. When the outer legs of the seal 10 extend to the same width as the internal edge seal 30, the seal 10 at least doubles the length of the path that moisture must pass through before entering the module 14. For example, if the width of the internal edge seal 30 is 5 mm (the dimension from left to right in FIG. 2), the legs of the outer peripheral edge seal 10 extend 5 mm on the front and back (outer surface) surfaces of the substrates 16 and 18. Therefore, the path for entering the interior of the module is increased by 10 mm in addition to the thickness of the thin substrate 16 or 18 by using the outer peripheral edge seal 10. The film 20 prevents moisture from entering the adhesive 22 except at the uncovered adhesive ends.

[0032] In the configuration of FIG. 4, the effective area of the module 14 is enlarged. FIG. 4 shows a configuration in which the width of the internal edge seal 30 is halved (for example, 2.5 mm in the above example), the length of the drying path is maintained by adding a drying adhesive leg with a width of 2.5 mm to the outer surfaces of the substrates 16 and 18, the total path length is at least 5 mm, and the usable area of the item 19 is increased.

[0033] In FIGS. 3, 6, and 8, since the internal edge seal 30 is not used, examples are shown in which the outer peripheral edge seal 10 is used to provide the entire drying edge seal of the module 14. The module 14 in FIG. 6 is a thin and flexible photovoltaic module.

[0034] In the arrangements of FIGS. 5 and 7, the outer peripheral edge seal 10 is applied only to the outer edges of the module 14 and does not wrap around the front or back surfaces of the substrates 16 and 18. In this arrangement, the moisture path is increased by only the thickness of the thin substrates 16 and 18. This configuration is useful for the arrangement when the module 14 is attached to the frame 40, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0035] FIGS. 6 and 7 show arrangements using the frame 40 with the outer peripheral edge seal 10. In both arrangements, the frame 40 can be placed on top of the outer peripheral edge seal 10, or the outer peripheral edge seal 10 can be attached inside the frame 40 and the frame 40 and the outer peripheral edge seal 10 can be applied integrally.

[0036] The outer edge seal 10 can be added to the module together with the inner edge seal 30 after the module is manufactured. If the inner edge seal 30 cannot be applied to the entire circumference during the manufacturing process of the module 14, the outer edge seal 10 can be used to provide an edge seal for the module 14. If the module 14 is manufactured in a continuous non-stop moving process and the inner edge seal 30 is not added to the module 14, the outer edge seal 10 can be attached after the module 14 is cut and removed from the production line. This removes the edge sealing process from the main module production line and moves it to another downstream work station. In another configuration, while the module 14 is moving along the assembly conveyor, a part of the outer edge seal 10 is attached to the edge of the module 14 parallel to the conveyor direction, and after the module 14 is cut and removed from the conveyor, the outer edge seal 10 is attached to the edge perpendicular to the conveyor. In yet another configuration, when the module 14 moves along the assembly conveyor, a sealant is injected between the substrates 16 and 18 at the edge of the module 14 parallel to the conveyor direction, and the inner edge seal 30 is formed along the edge in the machine direction. After the module 14 is cut and removed from the conveyor, the outer edge seal 10 is supplied to the edge perpendicular to the conveyor. As described above, the outer edge seal 10 can be manufactured on demand at the manufacturing site. The lamination and sealing of the outer edge seal 10 to the module 14 can be performed using various techniques such as nip rolls and solar laminators.

[0037] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for the sake of brevity, clarity, and understanding. These terms are used for illustrative purposes and are intended to be broadly construed so as not to imply any unnecessary limitations beyond the requirements of the prior art. Further, the description and illustration of the invention are examples, and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Modifications and variations of these embodiments will be apparent to those who read and understand this general description. The present disclosure should be construed to include all modifications and variations as long as they are within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprising" and variations of these words are not intended to exclude additives, components, integers, or steps.

Claims

1. A hermetic module comprising the following: A first substrate having an outer surface and an outer edge, A second substrate having an outer surface and an outer edge, A photovoltaic material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, The first substrate is spaced apart from the second substrate, An outer peripheral edge seal having a barrier film and a dry adhesive carried by the barrier film, The dry adhesive of the outer peripheral edge seal extends around the outer edge portions of the first substrate and the second substrate, and the dry adhesive engages a portion of the outer surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate, The dry adhesive of the outer peripheral edge seal increases the time it takes for moisture to penetrate the module and reach the photovoltaic material.

2. The module according to claim 1, further comprising an inner edge seal between the first substrate and the second substrate.

3. The module according to claim 2, wherein the inner edge seal is dried.

4. The module according to claim 1, wherein the barrier film has a very low MVTR.

5. The module according to claim 1, wherein the dry adhesive comprises an isobutylene-based polymer and a desiccant at a concentration of less than 20 weight percent.

6. The module according to claim 5, wherein the desiccant is a zeolite molecular sieve.

7. An outer peripheral edge seal for sealing the outer edge of the module, the outer peripheral edge seal comprising: A barrier film; and A dry adhesive carried by the barrier film.

8. The outer peripheral edge seal according to claim 7, wherein the barrier film has a low or very low water vapor transmission rate.

9. The outer peripheral edge seal according to claim 8, wherein the film is one of a metal foil, a metallized material, and a plastic.

10. The outer peripheral edge seal according to claim 7, wherein the adhesive comprises an olefin-based polymer.

11. The outer peripheral edge seal according to claim 10, wherein the adhesive comprises a desiccant of about 2 weight percent - 80 weight percent.

12. The outer peripheral edge seal according to claim 7, wherein the dry adhesive has a moisture permeation time T10 of more than 4 hours at 85 °C / 100% relative humidity (RH) when tested at a thickness of 1 mm.

13. A module assembly sealed with the outer peripheral edge seal according to claim 12, the module assembly further comprising: A first substrate having an outer surface and an outer edge, A second substrate having an outer surface and an outer edge, A dry adhesive extending around the outer edges of the first and second substrates, the adhesive engaging a portion of the outer surfaces of the first and second substrates. **Claim 14** The assembly of claim 13, further comprising an internal edge seal between the first substrate and the second substrate. **Claim 15** The assembly of claim 14, wherein the internal edge seal includes a desiccant.

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