陶氏化學公司2010年第四季度在美國俄亥俄州芬德利開始規模化生產密封膠薄膜材料組件，這一生產線將會滿足在多晶硅和薄膜太陽能電池板上對薄膜密封膠的需求。

該公司表示，這條商業規模的生產線，被稱為光線，將在2010年第四季度開始在芬德利線生產，并把該生產線作為公司計劃產品升級和增加產能方面的一部分，去滿足全球對密封膠和不同種類密封膠的需求。

公司聲稱，新密封劑能提高光伏組件生產效率，降低轉換損耗，以及給組件提供更大的穩定性和與EVA的傳統的密封材料比能提高模塊的電氣性能，從而增強其可靠性和延長模塊的使用壽命。

Dow Chemical is ramping production of a new polyolefin-based PV module encapsulant film at its  manufacturing plant in Findlay, OH, where a state-of-the-art production line has been added to address the growing demand for specialty films for use in crystalline-silicon and thin-film solar panels.

The company said that commercial-scale manufacturing of the new UL-listed film, called Enlight, will begin on the Findlay line in the fourth quarter of 2010, as part of a phase-in plan to upgrade production and increase capacity across the globe to address increasing demand for this and other differentiated encapsulants.

Dow claims the new encapsulants can enhance efficiencies in PV module production and lead to lower conversion costs, as well as offer greater module stability and improved electrical performance compared to EVA-based traditional encapsulant, thus improving the reliability and extending the service life of modules.

“Customers have found the films reduce cycle times up to 30% and that the lamination temperature windows can be extended," said Brij Sinha, global business development leader for Dow’s specialty packaging and films business. "The physical properties virtually eliminate bubbles, which leads to fewer rejects. Damage to equipment and modules is also markedly reduced because the process does not produce acetic acid.”