The automotive demand is not just for ICs like processors, memories, power, sensors…, passive components such as capacitors are needed to ensure high stability and interference-free designs
Within the electrostatic capacitor family we can distinguish two groups: the organic film capacitors and capacitors with inorganic dielectrics. Capacitors with ceramic materials belong to inorganic dielectrics family
Kemet Application Intelligence Center KAIC lab released a video that demonstrates how four different capacitor types affect the ripple voltage on a boost or buck regulator
Let’s all get to the same baseline. KO-CAP is KEMET’s tantalum-based polymer electrolytic capacitor. Like any other tantalum capacitor, it is a slug of sintered tantalum powder that has a tantalum pentoxide layer grown on it, with a layer of conductive polymer acting as the cathode. This conductive polymer gives the capacitor much lower ESR than “traditional” tantalum capacitors. That’s all I have to say about that.
High capacitance base metal electrode multilayered ceramic chip capacitors (MLCC) has been the focal point of electrostatic capacitor technology for more than 25 years. The stacking of advanced dielectric materials and nickel electrode powders in the finished MLCC creates a component with an extremely high capacitance that extends the product offering well into the higher priced electrolytic range.
Limited capacity expansion in the MLCC industry, specifically the ability to stack ceramic layers (limited capex in three-dimensional stacking capacity for barium titanate dielectric composition and nickel electrode paste) will extend shortages of MLCC to 2020 and beyond.
MLCC capacitor market is currently going through a tough supply time period. MLCC manufacturers are leaving their low margin, high volume, consumer segment and concentrating on supply of higher added value parts. This is resulting in a considerable MLCC shortage that may take several years to be resolved.
There are two primary capacitor technologies that are most often considered for surface-mount applications: electrostatic and electrolytic. The most common electrostatic types are MLCCs and film capacitors. Due to current bottlenecks in the procurement of surface-mount ceramic capacitors, however, designers are looking for substitutes to keep their production lines running smoothly, and to find long term replacements for hard to find ratings.
For many high power RF applications, the ‘Q factor’ of embedded capacitors is one of the most important characteristics in the design of circuits. This includes products such as cellular/telecom equipment, MRI coils, plasma generators, lasers and other medical, military and industrial electronics.