Patent ID: 7943845

Claim:
A solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 40° C. to about 60° C., is positioned next to the light-receiving or the back side of the solar cell component and comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition consisting essentially of (a) poly(vinyl butyral), (b) about 10 to about 18 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition, and (c) optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bleaching compounds, adhesion control additives, surface tension controlling agents, processing aides, flow enhancing additives, lubricants, pigments, dyes, flame retardants, impact modifiers, nucleating agents, anti-blocking agents, thermal stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV stabilizers, dispersants, surfactants, chelating agents, adhesives, primers, reinforcement additives and fillers.