Photovoltaic Industry – Silicone Product Application Solutions

作者 Gubang | Jul 24, 2026

Scope: PV modules, inverters, energy storage and mounting systems across the entire value chain

1. Industry Overview

1.1 Current State of the PV Industry

The global PV industry continues to grow rapidly, with new installed capacity exceeding 600 GW worldwide in 2025. China, the world's largest PV manufacturing and application market, has ranked first in new installations for many consecutive years and accounts for over 80% of global module output.

As the cost of PV power generation keeps falling, application scenarios continue to expand — from utility-scale ground-mounted plants to commercial and industrial distributed generation, residential PV and building-integrated photovoltaics. At the same time, rising module power density, ever higher inverter integration and energy storage becoming standard equipment place increasingly demanding requirements on electronic silicone materials for thermal management, sealing, potting and protection.

1.2 Core Value of Electronic Silicones in PV

Electronic silicone materials play an irreplaceable role throughout the entire PV value chain:

Value Dimension

Function

Impact

Thermal Management

Thermal grease and thermally conductive potting compounds lower power device temperatures

Longer service life and higher generation efficiency

Protective Sealing

Silicone sealants and conformal coatings deliver IP67+ protection

Withstands 25+ years of outdoor ageing

Electrical Insulation

Potting compounds and conformal coatings provide insulation protection

Prevents short circuits and creepage

Vibration Damping

Flexible potting compounds absorb vibration and shock

Safeguards transport and operational reliability

Process Optimization

Fast-curing products raise production line throughput

Lower manufacturing cost

1.3 PV Value Chain and Silicone Demand Mapping

Polysilicon → Wafer → Cell → PV Module (frame sealant, junction box potting compound, busbar conformal coating)
→ Inverter / Combiner Box (thermal grease, thermally conductive potting compound, PCB conformal coating, enclosure sealant)
→ Energy Storage System (battery pack potting compound, BMS conformal coating, thermal pad)
→ Mounting / Tracker System (bearing silicone grease, rotary joint sealant)

2. Product Portfolio Overview

2.1 Core Product Series

Product Series

Product Name

Typical Model

Key Features

Thermal Grease

High-conductivity thermal grease

MT-3203 / 3205

Thermal conductivity 1.0~4.6 W/m·K, low thermal resistance, low oil bleed

Thermally Conductive Potting Compound

Two-component addition-cure potting compound

MT-2804 / 2806/2808

Thermal conductivity 0.5~2.0 W/m·K, UL94 V-0

Silicone Sealant

Neutral-cure silicone structural sealant

MT-704A

High bond strength, UV resistant, high and low temperature resistant

Conformal Coating

Silicone conformal coating

Moisture, salt spray and mould resistant; thin-film cure

Thermal Pad

Highly compressible thermal pad

Soft and compressible, adhesive backing, 0.5~10mm thickness

Butyl Tape

Self-amalgamating butyl tape

Self-amalgamating bond, cold application, permanently non-curing

Silicone Lubricating Grease

Bearing-grade silicone grease

Waterproof and corrosion resistant, wide range -50℃ to 250℃

2.2 Technical Advantages

Fully in-house formulation: key raw materials are synthesised in-house for controllable quality and high batch-to-batch consistency

Customization: viscosity, cure speed and thermal conductivity adjusted to the customer's process conditions and performance requirements

Environmental compliance: all products are RoHS and REACH certified and aligned with dual-carbon requirements

Weather resistance validated: 3000 hours QUV ageing and 1000 hours salt spray testing

Fast response: samples within 24 hours, custom adjustments completed within 7 days

3. PV Module Solutions

Figure 3-1 IGBT Thermal Management Solution for PV Inverters

Figure 3-3 Distribution of Silicone Application Points in a PV Plant

Figure 3-2 Cross-Section of PV Module Encapsulation Structure

3.1 Application Map

In a typical PV module, electronic silicones are applied at the following key locations:

Between the aluminium frame and the laminate → frame sealant (MT-704A / 705A)

Junction box interior → junction box potting compound (MT-2804)

Backsheet bonding and reinforcement → silicone structural adhesive (MT-704A)

3.2 Frame Sealing Solution

Application: sealing the gap between the aluminium frame and the laminate

Recommended product: MT-704A/705A neutral-cure silicone structural sealant

Parameter

Requirement

MT-704A

SI-B150

Tensile Strength

≥1.2 MPa

1.5 MPa ✓

—

Elongation

≥200%

350% ✓

—

Temperature Range

-40℃~150℃

-50℃~200℃ ✓

-40℃~130℃ ✓

UV Ageing

3000h with no cracking

5000h ✓

3000h ✓

Application Method

Automated dispensing

Supported ✓

Cold application ✓

Cure Mechanism

Room-temperature cure

Moisture cure ✓

No cure required ✓

Recommended process:

Clean the frame channel: wipe with isopropyl alcohol to ensure it is free of oil and dust
Dispensing: automated dispensing equipment, bead controlled to 3~5mm wide and 2~3mm high
Frame insertion: press the laminate in at a constant speed to avoid air entrapment
Cure: 23±2℃ and 50±10%RH; handling strength reached within 24 hours

3.3 Junction Box Potting Solution

Application: filling the junction box interior, encapsulating bypass diodes and busbar connection points

Recommended product: MT-2804 two-component addition-cure thermally conductive potting compound

Parameter

Requirement

MT-2804

Thermal Conductivity

≥0.5 W/m·K

0.8 W/m·K ✓

Flame Rating

UL94 V-0

V-0 ✓

CTI (Comparative Tracking Index)

≥600V

650V ✓

Hardness (Shore A)

30-50

40 ✓

Temperature Range

-40℃~150℃

-50℃~200℃ ✓

Mix Ratio

1:1

1:1 ✓

Working Time (25℃)

≥20min

30min ✓

Cure Time

≤2h（80℃）

1h ✓

Potting process highlights:

Preparation: clean the junction box interior and remove burrs and dust
Priming: for demanding substrates (PPO, PA) a primer is recommended to enhance adhesion
Mixing: combine parts A and B at an exact 1:1 ratio and stir thoroughly
Degassing: vacuum degas for 3-5min (or let stand for 10min)
Potting: fill in a single pour, leaving 2-3mm between the liquid level and the junction box rim
Cure: 80℃ × 1h or 25℃ × 6h

3.4 Busbar Protection Solution

Application: busbar-to-cell solder joints and busbar cross-over and overlap areas

4. PV Inverter Solutions

4.1 Internal Heat Sources and Cooling Requirements

Heat Source

Operating Temperature

Cooling Requirement

4.2 IGBT / Power Module Thermal Solution

Application: interface between the IGBT module baseplate and the heat sink

Recommended product: MT-3204 high-conductivity thermal grease

Parameter

MT-3204

Thermal Conductivity

3.7 W/m·K

Thermal Resistance (@100psi)

0.05 ℃·in²/W

Viscosity

280,000 cP

Oil Bleed (200℃/24h)

<0.5%

Operating Temperature

-50℃~250℃

Dielectric Strength

>5 kV/mm

Application process highlights:

Cleaning: clean the mating surfaces with isopropyl alcohol; no grease or oxide layer
Application: screen printing or automated dispensing, thickness controlled to 100~200μm
Assembly: tighten screws in a diagonal sequence, in stages, to the specified torque
Verification: thermal resistance testing to confirm good contact

Thermal performance:

With MT-3204 thermal grease, IGBT junction temperature drops by 15~25℃ and the inverter's rated power can be increased by 10~15%.

4.3 PCB Conformal Coating Solution

Application: inverter main control board, communication board and power board

Protection levels:

Moisture resistance: 85℃/85%RH, 1000h, insulation resistance ≥100MΩ
Salt spray resistance: 96h neutral salt spray, no corrosion in appearance
Mould resistance: ASTM G21, rating 0

Recommended coating methods: selective spraying (high precision), dipping (suited to high volume), brushing (suited to rework)

4.4 Enclosure Sealing Solution

Application: mating surfaces of the upper and lower inverter housings and cable entry points

Recommended product: MT-704A neutral-cure silicone sealant

Key requirements:

Ingress protection: IP67 (1m immersion for 30min)
UV resistance: no cracking under long-term outdoor exposure
Compression set resistance: long-term elasticity retention >80%

5. Energy Storage System Solutions

5.1 Battery Pack Potting Solution

Application: inside lithium battery modules and packs, in the gaps between cells

Recommended product: MT-2806 high-conductivity flame-retardant potting compound

Function

Mechanism

Benefit

Thermal Uniformity

Thermally conductive potting compound fills the inter-cell gaps

Reduces cell-to-cell temperature difference to within 3℃

Structural Reinforcement

Cures into an elastomer that damps vibration

Meets GB/T 31467.3 vibration testing

Fire Safety

UL94 V-0 flame retardant, self-extinguishing

Slows thermal runaway propagation

Water and Dust Protection

Completely fills the internal cavity

Achieves IP67 protection

Technical data:

Parameter

MT-2806

Thermal Conductivity

1.2 W/m·K

Flame Rating

UL94 V-0（3mm）

Density

1.85 g/cm³

Hardness (Shore A)

Tensile Strength

2.0 MPa

Dielectric Strength

18 kV/mm

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Potting process parameters:

Mix ratio: A:B = 10:1
Working time (25℃): 40 minutes
Cure schedule: 24h at room temperature or 70℃ × 2h
Recommended layer thickness: ≤30mm per pour (greater with multiple pours)

5.2 BMS Protection Solution

5.3 PCS Power Module Thermal Management

Application: IGBT and power units of the energy storage converter

Recommended product: MT-3204 high-conductivity thermal grease (same as the inverter solution)

6. PV Mounting and Tracker System Solutions

6.1 Application Overview

Application Point

6.2 Mounting and Tracker Lubrication Solution

Parameter

Base Oil

Polydimethylsiloxane fluid

Thickener

PTFE micropowder

Operating Temperature

-50℃~250℃

Drop Point

None

Water Resistance

Excellent

Service Life

3 years or 10,000 cycles

7. Selection Guide and Technical Data Comparison

7.1 Quick Selection Matrix

Application

Primary Requirement

8. Competitive Advantages

8.1 Technical Advantages

In-house R&D: core silicone base polymers are synthesised in-house, giving flexible, fully controlled formulations

Customization capability: viscosity, cure speed, colour and thermal conductivity tailored to the customer's line and process

End-to-end testing: our in-house laboratory covers six test modules — QUV, salt spray, thermal cycling, vibration, flammability and electrical performance

8.2 Quality Advantages

Dimension

Industry Standard

Maxtor Control Level

Batch-to-Batch Consistency

Cpk ≥ 1.33

Cpk ≥ 1.67

Appearance Consistency

No visible colour variation

ΔE ≤ 1.0

Viscosity Tolerance

±20%

±10%

Hardness Tolerance

±10

±5

Thermal Conductivity Tolerance

±0.2 W/m·K

±0.15 W/m·K

8.3 Service Advantages

Free samples: dispatched for trial within 24 hours

On-site support: dispensing equipment set-up, process optimization and troubleshooting

Joint development: new applications co-developed with customers using dedicated formulations

Fast delivery: standard products shipped within 3~5 business days

9. Representative Case Studies

Case 1: Junction Box Potting for a Leading Module Manufacturer

Customer background:

A global top-5 PV module manufacturer with 50GW annual capacity

Requirement:

The junction box potting compound had to meet UL94 V-0, thermal conductivity ≥0.6 W/m·K and fast cure (80℃/1h)

Solution:

A custom MT-2804 formulation with working time adjusted to 25 minutes and optimised cure speed

Results:

Yield increased 2.3%; void defect rate reduced from 3.1% to 0.8%
Line takt time improved 15% (cure time shortened 20%)
Approximately RMB 1.8 million saved per year

Case 2: Thermal Management Upgrade for an Inverter Manufacturer

Customer background:

A top-three domestic string inverter manufacturer

Requirement:

Resolve the IGBT thermal bottleneck in a 150kW string inverter; junction temperature had to be reduced by more than 15℃

Solution:

MT-3204 high-conductivity thermal grease replaced the incumbent benchmark product

Results:

IGBT junction temperature reduced by 18℃
Rated power output increased 12%
Improved thermal cycling reliability (thermal resistance rose only 3% after 3000 cycles)
In-warranty repair rate down 40%

Case 3: Flame-Retardant Potting for an Energy Storage System

Customer background:

An energy storage system integrator producing commercial and industrial storage cabinets

Requirement:

The battery pack potting compound had to meet GB/T 36276, UL94 V-0 flame retardancy and thermal conductivity above 1.0 W/m·K

Solution:

A custom MT-2806 formulation (flame-retardant system reworked to improve cost-performance)

Results:

Cell-to-cell temperature difference reduced from 6℃ to 2.5℃
Passed the GB/T 36276 nail penetration safety requirement
Passed 1500V system withstand voltage testing

10. Technical Service System

10.1 Pre-Sales Services

Service

Description

Response Time

Technical Consultation

Product selection and application solution design

Within 4 hours

Free Samples

Trial samples matched to customer requirements

Within 24 hours

Application Testing

Trial runs and testing on customer parts

Within 3 business days

Solution Design

Preparation of a tailored application process plan

Within 5 business days

10.2 Services During Delivery

Pilot production support: on-site technical assistance and process parameter tuning
Operator training: instruction on correct material handling and use
Equipment integration: dispensing parameter packages for automated dispensing equipment

10.3 After-Sales Services

Regular reviews: quarterly quality follow-up visits
Batch traceability: production records traceable for every batch
Failure analysis: 24-hour response with a formal failure analysis report
Technical upgrades: ongoing product improvement proposals

We are committed to providing the entire PV value chain with professional, end-to-end thermal, sealing and potting solutions

Photovoltaic Industry – Silicone Product Application Solutions

Table of Contents

1. Industry Overview

1.1 Current State of the PV Industry

1.2 Core Value of Electronic Silicones in PV

1.3 PV Value Chain and Silicone Demand Mapping

2. Product Portfolio Overview

2.1 Core Product Series

2.2 Technical Advantages

3. PV Module Solutions

3.1 Application Map

3.2 Frame Sealing Solution

1.5 MPa ✓

3.3 Junction Box Potting Solution

0.8 W/m·K ✓

3.4 Busbar Protection Solution

4. PV Inverter Solutions

4.1 Internal Heat Sources and Cooling Requirements

4.2 IGBT / Power Module Thermal Solution

3.7 W/m·K

0.05 ℃·in²/W

4.3 PCB Conformal Coating Solution

4.4 Enclosure Sealing Solution

5. Energy Storage System Solutions

5.1 Battery Pack Potting Solution

5.2 BMS Protection Solution

5.3 PCS Power Module Thermal Management

6. PV Mounting and Tracker System Solutions

6.1 Application Overview

6.2 Mounting and Tracker Lubrication Solution

7. Selection Guide and Technical Data Comparison

7.1 Quick Selection Matrix

8. Competitive Advantages

8.1 Technical Advantages

8.2 Quality Advantages

8.3 Service Advantages

9. Representative Case Studies

10. Technical Service System

10.1 Pre-Sales Services

10.2 Services During Delivery

10.3 After-Sales Services