The Construction, Types, and Applications of Ceramic Capacitors

A capacitor is a common form of electrical device, capable of storing energy as an electric field. With two metal plates separated with a dielectric or non-conducting substance, such components may either exhibit fixed or variable capacitance based on their type. Fixed capacitance variations are the most common, being further split into film capacitor, electrolytic capacitor, superconductor capacitor, and ceramic capacitor types. In this blog, we will be discussing the ceramic capacitor in particular, allowing you to better understand how such components function.

With a ceramic serving as the dielectric, ceramic capacitors are a non-polarity device. This means that they can be easily attached to a circuit board in any direction without affecting operations. As such, the ceramic capacitance unit exhibits less risk that other types such as the electrolytic type. Polarity is not entirely common, however, as other types such as the tantalum bead also lack polarity.

Ceramic capacitors can be separated into three major types, each differing in their construction and style. Leaded disc ceramic capacitors are well suited for through-hole mounting that is resin coated, while surface mount multilayer ceramic capacitors benefit alternative styles of attachment. Lastly, the special type microwave bare leadless disc ceramic capacitor is a capacitance unit that may be inserted into a slot located on the PCB.

Ceramic disc capacitors are constructed through the coating of a ceramic disk with silver contacts situated on each side. Such devices will feature capacitance values ranging between 10pF and 100μF, their voltage ratings ranging between 16V and 15 KV. If a higher capacitance value is desired, the capacitance unit may be fitted with multiple layers. Upon finalizing the layering process, the electrical device is heated while the mixture is sintered. As a result, the ceramic capacitor will contain multiple smaller capacitors placed in parallel, ensuring an increase of capacitance. The capacitor dielectric may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the most common compounds are titanium dioxide, Strontium Titanate, and Barium Titanate.

When purchasing ceramic capacitor components, one may notice that such parts are available in various classes. Class 1 ceramic capacitors are considered the most stable in regard to temperatures, featuring fairly linear characteristics. For their dielectrics, such devices utilize Magnesium Titanate for a positive coefficient while Calcium Titanate allows for a negative temperature coefficient. Class 2 ceramic capacitors exhibit increased performance for volumetric efficiency, all at the cost of lower accuracy and stability. Because of this, they are implemented in coupling, decoupling, and bypass applications where there is low concern for accuracy. Class 3 capacitors are known for their optimal volumetric efficiency, low dissipation factor, and poor accuracy. Additionally, they are unable to withstand high voltages. For their dielectric, such devices are constructed with Barium Titanate.

With their various classes and capabilities, ceramic capacitor components can serve a wide variety of applications. Generally, such devices are found within high voltage laser power supplies, transmitter stations, power circuit breakers, induction furnaces, and more. If you find yourself in need of various capacitors, circuit board components, or other electrical devices, there is no better alternative than Veritable Aerospace.

Veritable Aerospace is a leading parts distributor owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we are your sourcing solution for aircraft parts, ceramic & film capacitor components, capacitor fixed electrolytic products, and so much more. As you explore our robust part inventories, we invite you to fill out and submit an RFQ form as provided on our website in order to request quotes for your comparisons. Once received, a dedicated account manager will reach out to you in just 15 minutes or less to continue the procurement process. Get in contact with one of our representatives today and see how we can fulfill all your requirements with ease.