Ta Polymer Capacitors Claim Highest Energy per Volume

AVX Corporation has released a new series of tantalum polymer capacitors designed to provide small, high-energy, low-profile solutions for demanding solid-state drive (SSD) applications. Exhibiting low ESR and the highest energy per volume (Joules/cc) of any comparable SMT capacitor currently available on the market, the new J-CAP Series solid tantalum electrolytic chip capacitors feature conductive polymer electrodes, which exhibit a benign failure mode under recommended use conditions, and undertab terminations, which enable high volumetric efficiency in small, low profile case sizes and, subsequently, close positioning for efficient, high density PCB layouts.

Combined, these attributes reduce both cost and footprint in multilevel cell (MLC), single-level cell (SLC), enterprise flash drive (EFD), and PCI Express (PCIe) SSDs, in addition to memory cards, battery-powered portable electronic equipment, industrial alarms, smart power meters, and mobile devices, such as cell phones, tablets, and wearable electronics.

“The small footprint of the new, high energy J-CAP Series capacitors, combined with their undertab terminations, which enable industry-leading profiles as low as 1mm, solve SSD designers’ footprint issues, especially in small form factor SSDs,” said Mitch Weaver, member of the technical staff at AVX. “Additionally, their ability to provide the highest energy per volume of any comparable SMT capacitor currently available — up to an industry-leading 32.7mJ/cc — allows SSD designers to take full advantage of the latest voltage regulators.”

Featuring capacitance values spanning 4.7µF to 1,500µF and a ±20% capacitance tolerance, J-CAP Series polymer capacitors are rated for operating temperatures spanning -55 to +105 degrees C, and are currently available with four voltage ratings: 6.3-, 16-, 25-, and 35-V; however, a fifth (50-V) is currently in development. Recommended derating for parts rated for ≤10V to 16V and operating at 85 degrees C, as well as those rated for ≤10V operating at 105 degrees C, is 90%. Recommended derating for parts rated for 16V to ≥20V operating at 105 degrees C, as well as those rated for ≥20V operating at 85 degrees C, is 80%.

The series is also currently available in four case sizes, the EIA Metric and AVX code for which follow: 3528-10 (L), 3528-12 (T), 7343-15 (X), and 7361-20 (4). A fifth, 7361-15 (3), is currently in development. Additionally, at present, the maximum energy per case size is as follows: L = 3.3mJ, T = 4.7mJ, X = 14.9mJ, and 4 = 32.7mJ; however, AVX is actively developing even higher maximum energy ratings for each case size. RoHS compliant and lead-free compatible, J-CAP Series capacitors feature pure tin-plated terminations and are shipped on 7” and 13" reels. Lead time for the series is 8–12 weeks.