KEMET Introduces KO-CAP Reliability Assessment Method First Reliability Testing Method Available for Polymer Electrolytic Capacitors

KEMET Corporation (NYSE: KEM), a leading global supplier of electronic components, introduced its new KO-CAP® Reliability Assessment method, the first of its kind for polymer electrolytic capacitors.

The T540 and T541 Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Series are the only polymer electrolytic capacitors available today with failure rate options defined by this innovative testing criteria. Developed as a result of over ten years of research, the Reliability Assessment method utilizes accelerated voltage and temperature conditions applied to board-mounted samples to assess long-term device reliability. The failure rates available are B (0.1% per 1,000 hours), C (0.01% per 1,000 hours) and D (0.001% per 1,000 hours).

This new Reliability Assessment method complements the successful T540 and T541 COTS Series KO-CAPs. These high performance capacitors are designed for decoupling and filtering applications that require very low equivalent series resistance (ESR). By utilizing an organic conductive polymer as the cathode plate of the capacitor, this technology results in low ESR, high ripple current capability and improved capacitance retention at high frequency. Such performance characteristics are ideal for various high reliability defense and aerospace applications such as radar, sonar, power supplies and guidance systems. KO-CAPs with the new Reliability Assessment method are available with rated voltages from 2.5 to 63 VDC, capacitances up to 1,500 µF, and ESR as low as 5 milliohms – all in surface mount packaging.

Design engineers can now match the reliability requirements of their project to the appropriate failure rate. Traditional Weibull methods of assessing reliability are not suitable for polymer electrolytic capacitors and fall short of properly assessing lot-to-lot reliability. Prior to this release, this capability was only available through source control drawings, but is now easy to design in by adding the desired failure rate to the 13th character of the part number.

T540 Polymer Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Series

The KEMET Organic Capacitor (KO-CAP) is a tantalum capacitor with a Ta anode and Ta2 O5 dielectric. 

A conductive organic polymer replaces the traditionally used MnO2 as the cathode plate of the capacitor. This results in very low ESR and improved capacitance retention at high frequency. 

The KO-CAP may also be operated at steady state voltages at up to 90% of rated voltage for part types with rated voltages of ≤ 10 volts and up to 80% of rated voltage for part types > 10 volts.

The T540 Series KO-CAP offers the same advantages as the T525 Series but is also designed for the Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) requirements of defense and aerospace applications. This surface mount product offers a tin lead (SnPb) leadframe finish,surge current testing options and standard or low ESR levels.

Benefits of T540 Polymer Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Series
• Polymer cathode technology
• 125°C maximum operating temperature
• High frequency capacitance retention
• Benign failure mode
• Capacitance: 6.8 µF to 680 µF
• Voltage: 2.5 V to 63 V
• Use at up to 90% of rated voltage (10% derating) for part types ≤ 10 V
• Use at up to 80% of rated voltage (20% derating) for part types > 10 V
• Surge current testing options
• Self-healing mechanism
• Volumetrically efficient
• Low ESR
• EIA standard case sizes

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