Solutia said Wednesday it plans to once again expand its operations at its plant in Suzhou, China, to meet growing demand for solar panel parts.
The company said it would add production lines for its Vistasolar ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulants by late 2011. The encapsulants are made to protect solar panels in harsh outdoor environments, including rain and humidity, which can reduce solar panel efficiency or shorten their life spans, according to Solutia. Encapsulants also are used in laminated glass in automotive and architectural applications.