Sutnan Capacitor Information

Tantalum capacitor is a form of electrolytic capacitor. However, some forms of them are non-polar, containing two capacitors connected in series (negative to negative). In comparison with aluminium electrolytic capacitors, they are for similar capacitance and volume ratings generally more expensive, with lower effective series resistance. They usually have longer life, especially at moderately elevated temperatures. For surface mount devices, they are generally smaller.

Tantalums exploit the tendency of tantalum to form a protective oxide surface layer. They use tantalum powder, pressed into a pellet shape, as one “plate” of the capacitor with the oxide as the dielectric, and an electrolytic solution or conductive solid as the other “plate”. Because the dielectric layer can be very thin (thinner than the similar layer in, for instance, an aluminium electrolytic capacitor), a high capacitance can be achieved in a small volume. Because of the size and weight advantages, Tantalum capacitors are useful in portable telephones, pagers, personal computers, and automotive electronics.

A ceramic capacitor is a capacitor constructed of alternating layers of metal and ceramic, with the ceramic material acting as the dielectric. Depending on the dielectric, whether Class 1 or Class 2, the degree of temperature/capacity dependence varies. A ceramic capacitor often has (especially the class 2) high dissipation factor, high frequency coefficient of dissipation.

A ceramic capacitor is a two-terminal, non-polar device. The classical ceramic capacitor is the “disc capacitor”. This device pre-dates the transistor and was used extensively in vacuum-tube equipment (e.g., radio receivers) from c.a 1930 through the 1950s, and in discrete transistor equipment from the 1950s through the 1980s. As of 2007, ceramic disc capacitors are in widespread use in electronic equipment, providing high capacity & small size at low price compared to other low value capacitor types.