Capacitor Review Q1 - 2011 Capacitance Offering by Technology 1.0uF ~ 1000uF Common SMT Requirements Ceramic (MLCCs) dominate lower range of capacitance values (0.5pF ~ 10uF) High Capacitance X5R MLCCs (Cap 10uF ~ 100uF) Film capacitors cover moderate cap range with increasing sizes with capacitance & voltage rating Tantalum capacitors cover 0.1uF up to 1000uF in low VDC ratings Aluminum E-Caps cover wide capacitance value range and supports higher VDC ratings. Double layer capacitors (Farad values) in use for back-up and short term power applications 1uF ~ 2200uF / 2.5VDC ~ 100VDC SMT Capacitor Offering by Technology Capacitance Voltage Range Comparison ‐ SMT Capacitors (1uF ~ 2200uF / 2.5VDC ~ 100VDC ) Voltage 100VDC 80VDC ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ 63VDC 50VDC 35VDC 25VDC 16VDC 12.5VDC ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ 10VDC 8VDC ↑ ↑ 6.3VDC 4VDC 2.5VDC ↑ ↑ Capacitance 1.0uF Icon ↑ ↑ 2.2uF 3.3uF ↑ 4.7uF 10uF 22uF 33uF 47uF 100uF 150uF 220uF 330uF 470uF 1000uF 2200uF Component Image Type Format Tantalum Electrolytic SMT Flat Chip Ceramic Chip ‐ MLCC SMT Flat Chip Use NIC QuickBUILDER Tool to easily select & compare capacitors Aluminum Electrolytic SMT V‐Chip Î www.niccomp.com/quickbuilder/qb_capacitor.php Solid Aluminum Electrolytic SMT Flat Chip SMT Capacitor Technology Comparison SMT Flat-Chip Solid Aluminum Electrolytic SMT V-Chip Aluminum Electrolytic SMT Tantalum Electrolytic SMT MLCC Ceramic Ï Ï Ï Ð Ð Ð Lowest Cost High WVDC Stability Over Voltage Higher ESR Wear-out (time & temperature) Tallest – Largest Size SMT V-Chip Aluminum Electrolytic Ï Smallest Foot Print Ï Non-Polarized Ï Lowest ESR Ð Ð Ð Ð Unstable over Voltage (VDC) Unstable over Time (Aging) Cracking = Short Failure Mode Higher Cost – High CV SMT MLCC Ceramic Ï Ï Ï Ð Ð Small Size Stability Over Voltage Stable over Time Higher Cost Shorting Failure Mode SMT Tantalum Electrolytic Ï Ï Ï Ð Ð Low ESR - High RCR Stability Over Voltage Stable over Time Higher Cost Shorting Failure Mode SMT Flat-Chip Solid Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Technology Comparison Capacitor Type Ceramic Film Aluminum Electrolytic Tantalum Electrolytic Derating Voltage None None None Yes Advantage Weakness Temp Pros Cons None ; ; ; ; None ; Non-Polarized ; Transient Resistant ; Stability: Voltage & Temp None ; ; ; ; ; ; Yes Non-Polarized Small Size Transient Resistant Low Cost High Cap & High VDC Surge VDC Resistant Self Healing Open failure mode (Typ) Low Cost Stability: Voltage ; Long Lifetime ; Small Sizes ; Stability: Voltage & Temp : Large Voltage Coefficient & Aging (X7R, X5R, Y5V) : Limited cap range : Short failure mode (Typ) : Large Size : Higher Cost : Limited Soldering Heat : Polarized : Limited Lifetime : Large Size : : : : Polarized Low VDC Limited surge resistance Short failure mode (Typ) Capacitor Use Comparison Capacitor Type Ceramic Film Aluminum Electrolytic Tantalum Electrolytic Sweet Spots Reasons Where most commonly used Why preferred Capacitance values up to 10uF Coupling, filtering and bypass High Voltage (low cap values) High Frequency (low ESL) Small hand-held DC-DC High power applications AC Line Motor start Impedance matching A to D conversion Audiophile, Test & Inst Applications Not suggested : AC Line Lowest Cost (C<10uF) (Limited to safety agency certified versions) Lowest ESL Low ESR Smallest size : X7R, X5R & Y5V: Circuits requiring stability over VDC, temp or time : A to D conversion : Audiophile, Test & Inst High power capabilities Self healing of metallized types : Cost factor prohibits use of film capacitors from use in many applications Capacitance values above 1uF Linear & HV Power Supplies Bulk storage Filtering & Bypass Lowest Cost Capacitance values above 1uF Small Hand-Held Filtering & Bypass Small size No wear out Low Cost (C>10uF, V>16VDC) Tolerance to surges : : : : Timing Applications VAC applications Avionics Harsh Environments : Input circuits of power supplies (AC-DC & DC-DC) : Timing Applications : VAC applications SMT Capacitor Sweet Spots Sweet Spots: Case Sizes & Tolerances: Device SMT Capacitors Sweet Spot Package Sweet Spot Tolerances MLCC 0402 0201 Ï 0603 ≥ 0805 Ð NPO = 5% (J) X7R = 10% (K) High Cap X5R = 10% (K) & 20% (M) Y5V = +80%/-20% (Z) X5R (1uF ~ 100uF) X7R (0.01uF ~ 1uF) Y5V for non critical applications Film 0805 & 1206 2% (G) & 5% (J) PPS film best choice for SAC Alloy reflow soldering Alum E-cap 5x5.5 6.3x6.3 6.3x8 20% is suggested tolerance Long LT on larger sizes (>8mm diameter) limited global capacity Tant E-cap J, P, A, A2 reduced sizes 10% (K) & 20% (M) High Cap >10uF Lower profile and stability over MLCCs Type Notes Trends - Suggestions X5R dominates ≥1uF, X7R limited to higher VDC ratings Avoid use of tolerances tighter than shown above Use Alum E-caps over Tant E-caps in higher voltage (and transient risky) applications Use film caps only when performance requirements warrant Material Costs Trend: Tantalum E-Caps 300 Tantalum Material Cost >200% increase over last 12 months 240 250 216 200 Price Index 166 150 121 100 97 100 100 97 97 101 108 100 50 2009 0 2010 Capacitor Options Suggestions to Mitigate Potential Tantalum Capacitor Issues: … Price Increases and , or Shortages: • Plan and purchase as early as possible • Consider switch to reduced case size tantalum electrolytic capacitors as less price increase expected & larger production capacity in smaller case sizes • Consider use of liquid electrolyte aluminum electrolytic capacitors for high capacitance & high voltage (VDC) replacements; “V-Chip” • For large (D-V-E case sizes; 7343 size*) consider use of solid polymer aluminum electrolytic capacitors in same case size (* fit same PCB foot print & land pads) • Consider use of MLCCs (X5R) for low capacitance & low voltage replacements • Contact NIC to review your requirements [ NIC technical support [email protected] ] MLCCs replacements For SMT Tantalum Capacitors ÎSMT Tantalum Cap Specifications: www.niccomp.com/catalog/ntct.pdf Î X7R MLCC Cap Specifications: www.niccomp.com/catalog/nmc2.pdf Please Note The Following: Î High capacitance MLCCs (such as those listed below) will exhibit capacitance change with applied voltage, over temperature, over time and may exhibit piezoelectric properties not seen with tantalum electrolytic capacitors. Î Please review your application with NIC technical support @ [email protected] Common 1.0uF C-V Sizes Cap Code Cap Voltage Size Code Size English Size Metric 105 1.0uF 10VDC P 0805 2012 NTC-T105K10TRPF NMC0805X7R105K10TRPF Same Size, Same CV 105 1.0uF 10VDC A2 1206 3216 NTC-T105M10TRA2F NMC1206X7R105K16TRPF Same Size, Higher VDC 105 1.0uF 16VDC J 0603 1608 NTC-T105M16TRJF NMC0603X7R105K16TRPF Same Size, Same CV 105 1.0uF 16VDC A 1206 3216 NTC-T105K16TRAF NMC1206X7R105K16TRPF Same Size, Same CV 105 1.0uF 20VDC A 1206 3216 NTC-T105K20TRAF NMC1206X7R105K25TRPLP3KF Same Size, Higher VDC 105 1.0uF 25VDC A 1206 3216 NTC-T105K25TRAF NMC1206X7R105K25TRPLP3KF Same Size, Same CV 105 1.0uF 35VDC A 1206 3216 NTC-T105K35TRAF NMC1206X7R105K50TRPLPF Same Size, Higher VDC 105 1.0uF 35VDC B 1411 3528 NTC-T105K35TRBF NMC1210X7R105K100TRPLP1K Smaller Size, Higher VDC 105 1.0uF 50VDC C 2412 6032 NTC-T105K50TRCF NMC1210X7R105K100TRPLP1K Smaller Size, Higher VDC NIC TANTALUM PN Alternative NIC MLCC PN SMT MLCC Ceramic SMT Tantalum Electrolytic Replace With Notes Compare Capacitors Î www.niccomp.com/quickbuilder/qb_capacitor.php NIC QuickBUILDER Component selection and comparison tool / Provides comparison of different type capacitors Such as comparing tantalum electrolytic to aluminum electrolytic, or MLCC ceramic capacitors Example below shows 47uF, 10VDC comparison; MnO2 cathode tantalum, Polymer cathode tantalum & X5R ceramic MLCC Need Help? Contact NIC to review your requirements [ NIC technical support [email protected] ]