Technical Note 3 Capacitor Dielectric Comparison MLCC Characteristic Capacitance DF I.R. Voltage (VDC) Temperature Range T.C (∆C) Dielectric Absorption Max Frequency (MHz) Frequency response Features/ Application Remarks Ceramic Disc Aluminum Electrolytics Film capacitor Tantalum Mica Poly propylene 1pF100nF 0.1% 100pF100nF 0.35% Polyester Poly carbonate Poly styrene 1nF- 10nF 1nF- 10nF 100pF- 33nF 2.0% 1.0% 0.1% 100GΩ 1-10GΩ 10-100GΩ 100GΩ 50-500 50v-600v 50v-600v 50v-600v 16-600 -55ºC to 125ºC -55ºC to 125ºC -55ºC to 85ºC -55ºC to 125ºC -55ºC to 125ºC -55ºC to 70ºC ±10% ±8% <±2% ±1% ±12% ±2% ±8% Same as MLCC NA NA 0.5% 0.05% 0.5% 0.35% 0.05% 10 Same as MLCC NA 0.003 100 NA NA NA NA Good Good Poor Medium Good Good Good Good Good Coupling, Bypass, filtering, etc.. Hi voltage, Safety protection, Surge suppression, etc… Large Cap to volume ratio, smoothing in power supplies Smoothing and line filteration Inert material, good temp. stability AC application, Filtering, motor startup AC application, Filtering, DC blocking, motor startup AC application, Filtering, motor start up Low power RF and precision analog application Polarized, High Dielectric Leakage, High ESR/ESL Large Cap to volume ratio, smaller size and good stability, Fails quite violently Low moisture absorption, Self healing Smaller size and lower current capability Good moisture resistant Good moisture resistant X7R Y5V/ Y5U 1nF-10uF 1uF-100uF 1pF-100nF 0.5uF-1F 2.5% 5% 8% >100GΩ 500 Ω.F 500 Ω.F 0.1%-5% Same as MLCC 10nF-1000 uF 10%-20% 100 Ω.F 1GΩ 1GΩ 10v-5Kv 6.3v-5Kv 6.3-50 100v-1Kv 5-500 5-125 -55ºC to 125ºC -55ºC to 125ºC -30ºC to 85ºC Same as MLCC -40ºC to 85ºC ±0.3% ±15% 22 to -82% / 22 to -56% Same as MLCC 0.5% 2.5% NA 200 10 Excellent Good For TC stable applicati onTiming circuits, etc… Coupling, Bypass, Smoothin g, etc Low ESR & ESL Subject to Micropho nics (Piezoelec tric) NPO 1pF0.1uF 0.1% Smaller size Subject to Microphonic s www.holystonecaps.com Corona resistant, moisture resistant