Ceramic capacitor

A typical ceramic through-hole capacitor

A ceramic capacitor is a fixed-value capacitor where the ceramic material acts as the dielectric. It is constructed of two or more alternating layers of ceramic and a metal layer acting as the electrodes. The composition of the ceramic material defines the electrical behavior and therefore applications. Ceramic capacitors are divided into two application classes:

• Class 1 ceramic capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.
• Class 2 ceramic capacitors offer high volumetric efficiency for buffer, by-pass, and coupling applications.

Ceramic capacitors, especially multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), are the most produced and used capacitors in electronic equipment that incorporate approximately one trillion (10¹²) pieces per year.

Ceramic capacitors of special shapes and styles are used as capacitors for RFI/EMI suppression, as feed-through capacitors and in larger dimensions as power capacitors for transmitters.

History

A selection of ceramic capacitors: fixed leaded disc capacitors on the left and right; multilayer ceramic chip capacitors (MLCC) in the middle

Since the beginning of the study of electricity non-conductive materials such as glass, porcelain, paper and mica have been used as insulators. These materials some decades later were also well-suited for further use as the dielectric for the first capacitors.

Even in the early years of Marconi's wireless transmitting apparatus, porcelain capacitors were used for high voltage and high frequency application in the transmitters. On the receiver side, the smaller mica capacitors were used for resonant circuits. Mica dielectric capacitors were invented in 1909 by William Dubilier. Prior to World War II, mica was the most common dielectric for capacitors in the United States.

Mica is a natural material and not available in unlimited quantities. So in the mid-1920s the deficiency of mica in Germany and the experience in porcelain—a special class of ceramic—led in Germany to the first capacitors using ceramic as dielectric, founding a new family of ceramic capacitors. Paraelectric titanium dioxide (rutile) was used as the first ceramic dielectric because it had a linear temperature dependence of capacitance for temperature compensation of resonant circuits and can replace mica capacitors. In 1926 these ceramic capacitors were produced in small quantities with increasing quantities in the 1940s. The style of these early ceramics was a disc with metallization on both sides contacted with tinned wires. This style predates the transistor and was used extensively in vacuum-tube equipment (e.g., radio receivers) from about 1930 through the 1950s.

But this paraelectric dielectric had relatively low permittivity so that only small capacitance values could be realized. The expanding market of radios in the 1930s and 1940s create a demand for higher capacitance values but below electrolytic capacitors for HF decoupling applications. Discovered in 1921, the ferroelectric ceramic material barium titanate with a permittivity in the range of 1,000, about ten times greater than titanium dioxide or mica, began to play a much larger role in electronic applications.

The higher permittivity resulted in much higher capacitance values, but this was coupled with relatively unstable electrical parameters. Therefore, these ceramic capacitors only could replace the commonly used mica capacitors for applications where stability was less important. Smaller dimensions, as compared to the mica capacitors, lower production costs and independence from mica availability accelerated their acceptance.

Ceramic tube capacitor, the typical style of ceramic capacitors in the 1950s and 1970s

The fast-growing broadcasting industry after the Second World War drove deeper understanding of the crystallography, phase transitions and the chemical and mechanical optimization of the ceramic materials. Through the complex mixture of different basic materials, the electrical properties of ceramic capacitors can be precisely adjusted. To distinguish the electrical properties of ceramic capacitors, standardization defined several different application classes (Class 1, Class 2, Class 3). It is remarkable that the separate development during the War and the time afterwards in the US and the European market had led to different definitions of these classes (EIA vs IEC), and only recently (since 2010) has a worldwide harmonization to the IEC standardization taken place.

The typical style for ceramic capacitors beneath the disc (at that time called condensers) in radio applications at the time after the War from the 1950s through the 1970s was a ceramic tube covered with tin or silver on both the inside and outside surface. It included relatively long terminals forming, together with resistors and other components, a tangle of open circuit wiring.

The easy-to-mold ceramic material facilitated the development of special and large styles of ceramic capacitors for high-voltage, high-frequency (RF) and power applications.

MLCCs as decoupling capacitors around a microprocessor

With the development of semiconductor technology in the 1950s, barrier layer capacitors, or IEC class 3/EIA class IV capacitors, were developed using doped ferroelectric ceramics. Because this doped material was not suitable to produce multilayers, they were replaced decades later by Y5V class 2 capacitors.

The early style of the ceramic disc capacitor could be more cheaply produced than the common ceramic tube capacitors in the 1950s and 1970s. An American company in the midst of the Apollo program, launched in 1961, pioneered the stacking of multiple discs to create a monolithic block. This "multi-layer ceramic capacitor" (MLCC) was compact and offered high-capacitance capacitors. The production of these capacitors using the tape casting and ceramic-electrode cofiring processes was a great manufacturing challenge. MLCCs expanded the range of applications to those requiring larger capacitance values in smaller cases. These ceramic chip capacitors were the driving force behind the conversion of electronic devices from through-hole mounting to surface-mount technology in the 1980s. Polarized electrolytic capacitors could be replaced by non-polarized ceramic capacitors, simplifying the mounting.

In 1993, TDK Corporation succeeded in displacing palladium bearing electrodes with much cheaper nickel electrodes, significantly reducing production costs and enabling mass production of MLCCs.

As of 2012, more than 10¹² MLCCs are manufactured each year. Along with the style of ceramic chip capacitors, ceramic disc capacitors are often used as safety capacitors in electromagnetic interference suppression applications. Besides these, large ceramic power capacitors for high voltage or high frequency transmitter applications are also to be found.

New developments in ceramic materials have been made with anti-ferroelectric ceramics. This material has a nonlinear antiferroelectric/ferroelectric phase change that allows increased energy storage with higher volumetric efficiency. They are used for energy storage (for example, in detonators).

Application classes, definitions

The different ceramic materials used for ceramic capacitors, paraelectric or ferroelectric ceramics, influences the electrical characteristics of the capacitors. Using mixtures of paraelectric substances based on titanium dioxide results in very stable and linear behavior of the capacitance value within a specified temperature range and low losses at high frequencies. But these mixtures have a relatively low permittivity so that the capacitance values of these capacitors are relatively small.

Higher capacitance values for ceramic capacitors can be attained by using mixtures of ferroelectric materials like barium titanate together with specific oxides. These dielectric materials have much higher permittivities, but at the same time their capacitance value are more or less nonlinear over the temperature range, and losses at high frequencies are much higher. These different electrical characteristics of ceramic capacitors requires to group them into "application classes". The definition of the application classes comes from the standardization. As of 2013, two sets of standards were in use, one from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the other from the now-defunct Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA).

The definitions of the application classes given in the two standards are different. The following table shows the different definitions of the application classes for ceramic capacitors:

Different definitions of application classes for ceramic capacitors

Definition regarding to IEC/EN 60384-1 and IEC/EN 60384-8/9/21/22	Definition regarding to EIA RS-198
Class 1 ceramic capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.	Class I (or written class 1) ceramic capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit application
Class 2 ceramic capacitors offer high volumetric efficiency for smoothing, by-pass, coupling and decoupling applications	Class II (or written class 2) ceramic capacitors offer high volumetric efficiency with change of capacitance lower than −15% to +15% and a temperature range greater than −55 °C to +125 °C, for smoothing, by-pass, coupling and decoupling applications
Class 3 ceramic capacitors are barrier layer capacitors which are not standardized anymore	Class III (or written class 3) ceramic capacitors offer higher volumetric efficiency than EIA class II and typical change of capacitance by −22% to +56% over a lower temperature range of 10 °C to 55 °C. They can be substituted with EIA class 2- Y5U/Y5V or Z5U/Z5V capacitors
–	Class IV (or written class 4) ceramic capacitors are barrier layer capacitors which are not standardized anymore

Manufacturers, especially in the US, preferred Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) standards. In many parts very similar to the IEC standard, the EIA RS-198 defines four application classes for ceramic capacitors.

The different class numbers within both standards are the reason for a lot of misunderstandings interpreting the class descriptions in the datasheets of many manufacturers. The EIA ceased operations on February 11, 2011, but the former sectors continue to serve international standardization organizations.

In the following, the definitions of the IEC standard will be preferred and in important cases compared with the definitions of the EIA standard.

Class 1 ceramic capacitors

Class 1 ceramic capacitors are accurate, temperature-compensating capacitors. They offer the most stable voltage, temperature, and to some extent, frequency. They have the lowest losses and therefore are especially suited for resonant circuit applications where stability is essential or where a precisely defined temperature coefficient is required, for example in compensating temperature effects for a circuit. The basic materials of class 1 ceramic capacitors are composed of a mixture of finely ground granules of paraelectric materials such as titanium dioxide (TiO
₂), modified by additives of zinc, zirconium, niobium, magnesium, tantalum, cobalt and strontium, which are necessary to achieve the capacitor's desired linear characteristics.

The general capacitance temperature behavior of class 1 capacitors depends on the basic paraelectric material, for example TiO
₂. The additives of the chemical composition are used to adjust precisely the desired temperature characteristic. Class 1 ceramic capacitors have the lowest volumetric efficiency among ceramic capacitors. This is the result of the relatively low permittivity (6 to 200) of the paraelectric materials. Therefore, class 1 capacitors have capacitance values in the lower range.

Ceramic materials for class 1 ceramic capacitors

Chemical- formula	Relative permittivity ε	Temperature- coefficient α 10−6/K
MgNb2O6	21	−70
ZnNb2O6	25	−56
MgTa2O6	28	18
ZnTa2O6	38	9
(ZnMg)TiO3	32	5
(ZrSn)TiO4	37	0
Ba2Ti9O20	40	2

Class 1 capacitors have a temperature coefficient that is typically fairly linear with temperature. These capacitors have very low electrical losses with a dissipation factor of approximately 0.15%. They undergo no significant aging processes and the capacitance value is nearly independent of the applied voltage. These characteristics allow applications for high Q filters, in resonant circuits and oscillators (for example, in phase-locked loop circuits).

The EIA RS-198 standard codes ceramic class 1 capacitors with a three character code that indicates temperature coefficient. The first letter gives the significant figure of the change in capacitance over temperature (temperature coefficient α) in ppm/K. The second character gives the multiplier of the temperature coefficient. The third letter gives the maximum tolerance from that in ppm/K. All ratings are from 25 to 85 °C:

Class 1-ceramic capacitors
letter codes for temperature coefficients α referring to EIA-RS-198

Temperature coefficient α 10−6/K Letter code	Multiplier of the temperature coefficient Number code	Tolerance ppm/K of the temperature coefficient Letter code
C: 0.0	0: −1	G: ±30
B: 0.3	1: −10	H: ±60
L: 0.8	2: −100	J: ±120
A: 0.9	3: −1000	K: ±250
M: 1.0	5: +1	L: ±500
P: 1.5	6: +10	M: ±1000
R: 2.2	7: +100	N: ±2500
S: 3.3	8: +1000
T: 4.7
V: 5.6
U: 7.5

In addition to the EIA code, the temperature coefficient of the capacitance dependence of class 1 ceramic capacitors is commonly expressed in ceramic names like "NP0", "N220" etc. These names include the temperature coefficient (α). In the IEC/EN 60384-8/21 standard, the temperature coefficient and tolerance are replaced by a two digit letter code (see table) in which the corresponding EIA code is added.

Class 1-ceramic capacitors
Ceramic names, temperature coefficients α, α tolerances and letter codes for α
referring to IEC/EN 60384-8/21 and EIA-RS-198

Ceramic names	Temperature coefficient α 10−6 /K	α-Tolerance 10−6 /K	Sub- class	IEC/ EN- letter code	EIA letter code
P100	100	±30	1B	AG	M7G
NP0	0	±30	1B	CG	C0G
N33	−33	±30	1B	HG	H2G
N75	−75	±30	1B	LG	L2G
N150	−150	±60	1B	PH	P2H
N220	−220	±60	1B	RH	R2H
N330	−330	±60	1B	SH	S2H
N470	−470	±60	1B	TH	T2H
N750	−750	±120	1B	UJ	U2J
N1000	−1000	±250	1F	QK	Q3K
N1500	−1500	±250	1F	VK	P3K

For instance, an "NP0" capacitor with EIA code "C0G" will have 0 drift, with a tolerance of ±30 ppm/K, while an "N1500" with the code "P3K" will have −1500 ppm/K drift, with a maximum tolerance of ±250 ppm/°C. Note that the IEC and EIA capacitor codes are industry capacitor codes and not the same as military capacitor codes.

Class 1 capacitors include capacitors with different temperature coefficients α. Especially, NP0/CG/C0G capacitors with an α ±0•10⁻⁶ /K and an α tolerance of 30 ppm are technically of great interest. These capacitors have a capacitance variation dC/C of ±0.54% within the temperature range −55 to +125 °C. This enables accurate frequency response over a wide temperature range (in, for example, resonant circuits). The other materials with their special temperature behavior are used to compensate a counter temperature run of parallel connected components like coils in oscillator circuits. Class 1 capacitors exhibit very small tolerances of the rated capacitance.

• Idealized curves of different class 1 ceramic capacitors and representation of the tolerance range of temperature coefficient α
• 
  Idealized curves of different class 1 ceramic capacitors
• 
  representation of the tolerance range of temperature coefficient α

Class 2 ceramic capacitors

Class 2 ceramic capacitors with their typical tolerances of the temperature dependent capacitance (colored areas)

Class 2 ceramic capacitors have a dielectric with a high permittivity and therefore a better volumetric efficiency than class 1 capacitors, but lower accuracy and stability. The ceramic dielectric is characterized by a nonlinear change of capacitance over the temperature range. The capacitance value also depends on the applied voltage. They are suitable for bypass, coupling and decoupling applications or for frequency discriminating circuits where low losses and high stability of capacitance are less important. They typically exhibit microphony.

Class 2 capacitors are made of ferroelectric materials such as barium titanate (BaTiO
₃) and suitable additives such as aluminium silicate, magnesium silicate and aluminium oxide. These ceramics have very high permittivity (200 to 14,000), allowing an extreme electric field and therefore capacitance within relatively small packages — class 2 capacitors are significantly smaller than comparable class 1 capacitors. However, the permittivity is nonlinear with respect to field strength, meaning the capacitance varies significantly as the voltage across the terminals increases. Class 2 capacitors also exhibit poor temperature stability and age over time.

Due to these traits, class 2 capacitors are typically used in applications where only a minimum value of capacitance (as opposed to an accurate value) is required, such as the buffering/filtering of inputs and outputs of power supplies, and the coupling of electric signals.

Class 2 capacitors are labeled according to the change in capacitance over the temperature range. The most widely used classification is based on the EIA RS-198 standard and uses a three-digit code. The first character, a letter, denotes the coldest operating temperature; the second character, a numeral, denotes the hottest temperature; and the third character, another letter, denotes the maximum allowed capacitance change over the capacitor's entire specified temperature range:

Class 2 ceramic capacitors
Code system regarding to EIA RS-198 for some temperature ranges and inherent change of capacitance

Letter code low temperature	Number code upper temperature	Letter code change of capacitance over the temperature range
X = −55 °C (−67 °F)	4 = +65 °C (+149 °F)	P = ±10%
Y = −30 °C (−22 °F)	5 = +85 °C (+185 °F)	R = ±15%
Z = +10 °C (+50 °F)	6 = +105 °C (+221 °F)	L = ±15%, +15/-40% above 125 °C
	7 = +125 °C (+257 °F)	S = ±22%
	8 = +150 °C (+302 °F)	T = +22/−33%
	9 = +200 °C (+392 °F)	U = +22/−56%
		V = +22/−82%

For instance, a Z5U capacitor will operate from +10 °C to +85 °C with a capacitance change of at most +22% to −56%. An X7R capacitor will operate from −55 °C to +125 °C with a capacitance change of at most ±15%.

Some commonly used class 2 ceramic capacitor materials are listed below:

• X8R (−55/+150, ΔC/C₀ = ±15%),
• X7R (−55/+125 °C, ΔC/C₀ = ±15%),
• X6R (−55/+105 °C, ΔC/C₀ = ±15%),
• X5R (−55/+85 °C, ΔC/C₀ = ±15%),
• X7S (−55/+125, ΔC/C₀ = ±22%),
• Z5U (+10/+85 °C, ΔC/C₀ = +22/−56%),
• Y5V (−30/+85 °C, ΔC/C₀ = +22/−82%),

The IEC/EN 60384 -9/22 standard uses another two-digit-code.

Code system regarding to IEC/EN 60384-9/22 for some temperature ranges and inherent change of capacitance

Code for capacitance change	Max. capacitance change ΔC/C0 at U = 0	Max. capacitance change ΔC/C0 at U = UN	Code for temperature range	Temperature range
2B	±10%	+10/−15%	1	−55 … +125 °C
2C	±20%	+20/−30%	2	−55 … +85 °C
2D	+20/−30%	+20/−40%	3	−40 … +85 °C
2E	+22/−56%	+22/−70%	4	−25 … +85 °C
2F	+30/−80%	+30/−90%	5	(−10 … +70) °C
2R	±15%	−	6	+10 … +85 °C
2X	±15%	+15/−25%	–	–

In most cases it is possible to translate the EIA code into the IEC/EN code. Slight translation errors occur, but normally are tolerable.

• X7R correlates with 2X1
• Z5U correlates with 2E6
• Y5V similar to 2F4, aberration: ΔC/C₀ = +30/−80% instead of +30/−82%
• X7S similar to 2C1, aberration: ΔC/C₀ = ±20% instead of ±22%
• X8R no IEC/EN code available

Because class 2 ceramic capacitors have lower capacitance accuracy and stability, they require higher tolerance.

For military types the class 2 dielectrics specify temperature characteristic (TC) but not temperature-voltage characteristic (TVC). Similar to X7R, military type BX cannot vary more than 15% over temperature, and in addition, must remain within +15%/-25 % at maximum rated voltage. Type BR has a TVC limit of +15%/-40%.

Class 3 ceramic capacitors

Class 3 barrier layer or semiconductive ceramic capacitors have very high permittivity, up to 50,000 and therefore a better volumetric efficiency than class 2 capacitors. However, these capacitors have worse electrical characteristics, including lower accuracy and stability. The dielectric is characterized by very high nonlinear change of capacitance over the temperature range. The capacitance value additionally depends on the voltage applied. As well, they have very high losses and age over time.

Barrier layer ceramic capacitors are made of doped ferroelectric materials such as barium titanate (BaTiO
₃). As this ceramic technology improved in the mid-1980s, barrier layer capacitors became available in values of up to 100 μF, and at that time it seemed that they could substitute for smaller electrolytic capacitors.

Design and functional principle of a barrier layer capacitor

Because it is not possible to build multilayer capacitors with this material, only leaded single layer types are offered in the market.

Due to advancements in multilayer ceramic capacitors enabling superior performance in a smaller package, barrier layer capacitors as a technology are now considered obsolete and no longer standardized by the IEC.

Construction and styles

• Basic structure of ceramic capacitors
• 
  Construction of a multilayer ceramic chip capacitor (MLCC), 1 = Metallic electrodes, 2 = Dielectric ceramic, 3 = Connecting terminals
• 
  Construction of a ceramic disc capacitor

Further information: Tape casting

Ceramic capacitors are composed of a mixture of finely ground granules of paraelectric or ferroelectric materials, appropriately mixed with other materials to achieve the desired characteristics. From these powder mixtures, the ceramic is sintered at high temperatures. The ceramic forms the dielectric and serves as a carrier for the metallic electrodes. The minimum thickness of the dielectric layer, which today (2013) for low voltage capacitors is in the size range of 0.5 micrometers is limited downwards by the grain size of the ceramic powder. The thickness of the dielectric for capacitors with higher voltages is determined by the dielectric strength of the desired capacitor.

The electrodes of the capacitor are deposited on the ceramic layer by metallization. For MLCCs alternating metallized ceramic layers are stacked one above the other. The outstanding metallization of the electrodes at both sides of the body are connected with the contacting terminal. A lacquer or ceramic coating protects the capacitor against moisture and other ambient influences.

Ceramic capacitors come in various shapes and styles. Some of the most common are:

• Multilayer ceramic chip capacitor (MLCC), rectangular block, for surface mounting
• Ceramic disc capacitor, single layer disc, resin coated, with through-hole leads
• Feedthrough ceramic capacitor, used for bypass purposes in high-frequency circuits. Tube shape, inner metallization contacted with a lead, outer metallization for soldering
• Ceramic power capacitors, larger ceramic bodies in different shapes for high voltage applications

• Some different styles of ceramic capacitors for use in electronic equipment
• 
  Multilayer ceramic chip capacitor (MLCC)
• 
  Ceramic disc capacitor (single layer)
• 
  Feedthrough ceramic capacitor
• 
  High voltage ceramic power capacitor

Multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC)

Manufacturing

• Multi-layer ceramic chip capacitors
• 
  Detailed construction of a multilayer ceramic chip capacitor (MLCC).

  1. Ceramic dielectric
  2. Ceramic or lacquered coating
  3. Metallized electrode
  4. Connecting terminals
• 
  Samples of multilayer ceramic chip capacitors

An MLCC can be thought of as consisting of many single-layer capacitors stacked together into a single package. The starting material for all MLCC chips is a mixture of finely ground granules of paraelectric or ferroelectric raw materials, modified by accurately determined additives. The composition of the mixture and the size of the powder particles, as small as 10 nm, reflect the manufacturer's expertise.

A thin ceramic foil is cast from a suspension of the powder with a suitable binder. Rolls of foil are cut into equal-sized sheets, which are screen printed with a metal paste layer, which will become the electrodes. In an automated process, these sheets are stacked in the required number of layers and solidified by pressure. Besides the relative permittivity, the size and number of layers determines the later capacitance value. The electrodes are stacked in an alternating arrangement slightly offset from the adjoining layers so that they each can later be connected on the offset side, one left, one right. The layered stack is pressed and then cut into individual components. High mechanical precision is required, for example, to produce a 500 or more layer stack of size "0201" (0.5 mm × 0.3 mm).

After cutting, the binder is burnt out of the stack. This is followed by sintering at temperatures between 1,200 and 1,450 °C producing the final, mainly crystalline, structure. This burning process creates the desired dielectric properties. Burning is followed by cleaning and then metallization of both end surfaces. Through the metallization, the ends and the inner electrodes are connected in parallel and the capacitor gets its terminals. Finally, each capacitor is electrically tested to ensure functionality and adequate performance, and packaged in a tape reel.

Simplified representation of the manufacturing process for the production of multilayer ceramic chip capacitors

Miniaturizing

The capacitance formula (C) of a MLCC capacitor is based on the formula for a plate capacitor enhanced with the number of layers:
$C=\varepsilon \cdot {{n\cdot A} \over {d}}$
where ε stands for dielectric permittivity; A for electrode surface area; n for the number of layers; and d for the distance between the electrodes.

Miniaturizing of MLCC chip capacitors during 1995 to 2005

A thinner dielectric or a larger electrode area each increase the capacitance value, as will a dielectric material of higher permittivity.

With the progressive miniaturization of digital electronics in recent decades, the components on the periphery of the integrated logic circuits have been scaled down as well. Shrinking an MLCC involves reducing the dielectric thickness and increasing the number of layers. Both options require huge efforts and are connected with a lot of expertise.

In 1995 the minimum thickness of the dielectric was 4 μm. By 2005 some manufacturers produced MLCC chips with layer thicknesses of 1 μm. As of 2010, the minimum thickness is about 0.5 μm. The field strength in the dielectric increased to 35 V/μm.

The size reduction of these capacitors is achieved reducing powder grain size, the assumption to make the ceramic layers thinner. In addition, the manufacturing process became more precisely controlled, so that more and more layers can be stacked.

Between 1995 and 2005, the capacitance of a Y5V MLCC capacitor of size 1206 was increased from 4.7 μF to 100 μF. Meanwhile, (2013) a lot of producers can deliver class 2 MLCC capacitors with a capacitance value of 100 μF in the chip-size 0805.

MLCC case sizes

MLCCs don't have leads, and as a result they are usually smaller than their counterparts with leads. They don't require through-hole access in a PCB to mount and are designed to be handled by machines rather than by humans. As a result, surface-mount components like MLCCs are typically cheaper.

MLCCs are manufactured in standardized shapes and sizes for comparable handling. Because the early standardization was dominated by American EIA standards the dimensions of the MLCC chips were standardized by EIA in units of inches. A rectangular chip with the dimensions of 0.06-inch length and 0.03-inch width is coded as "0603". This code is international and in common use. JEDEC (IEC/EN), devised a second, metric code. The EIA code and the metric equivalent of the common sizes of multilayer ceramic chip capacitors, and the dimensions in mm are shown in the following table. Missing from the table is the measure of the height "H". This is generally not listed, because the height of MLCC chips depends on the number of layers and thus on the capacitance. Normally, however, the height H does not exceed the width W.

Table of the dimension codes and the corresponding dimensions of MLCC chip capacitors

Drawing	EIA inch code	Dimensions L × W inch × inch	IEC/EN metric code	Dimensions L × W mm × mm		EIA inch code	Dimensions LxW inch × inch	IEC/EN metric code	Dimensions L × W mm × mm
Dimensions L×W×H of the multi-layer ceramic chip capacitors	01005	0.016 × 0.0079	0402	0.4 × 0.2		1806	0.18 × 0.063	4516	4.5 × 1.6
	015015	0.016 × 0.016	0404	0.4 × 0.4		1808	0.18 × 0.079	4520	4.5 × 2.0
	0201	0.024 × 0.012	0603	0.6 × 0.3		1812	0.18 × 0.13	4532	4.5 × 3.2
	0202	0.02 × 0.02	0505	0.5 × 0.5		1825	0.18 × 0.25	4564	4.5 × 6.4
	0302	0.03 × 0.02	0805	0.8 × 0.5		2010	0.20 × 0.098	5025	5.0 × 2.5
	0303	0.03 × 0.03	0808	0.8 × 0.8		2020	0.20 × 0.20	5050	5.08 × 5.08
	0504	0.05 × 0.04	1310	1.3 × 1.0		2220	0.225 × 0.197	5750	5.7 × 5.0
	0402	0.039 × 0.020	1005	1.0 × 0.5		2225	0.225 × 0.25	5664/5764	5.7 × 6.4
	0603	0.063 × 0.031	1608	1.6 × 0.8		2512	0.25 × 0.13	6432	6.4 × 3.2
	0805	0.079 × 0.049	2012	2.0 × 1.25		2520	0.25 × 0.197	6450	6.4 × 5.0
	1008	0.098 × 0.079	2520	2.5 × 2.0		2920	0.29 × 0.197	7450	7.4 × 5.0
	1111	0.11 × 0.11	2828	2.8 × 2.8		3333	0.33 × 0.33	8484	8.38 × 8.38
	1206	0.126 × 0.063	3216	3.2 × 1.6		3640	0.36 × 0.40	9210	9.2 × 10.16
	1210	0.126 × 0.10	3225	3.2 × 2.5		4040	0.4 × 0.4	100100	10.2 × 10.2
	1410	0.14 × 0.10	3625	3.6 × 2.5		5550	0.55 × 0.5	140127	14.0 × 12.7
	1515	0.15 × 0.15	3838	3.81 × 3.81		8060	0.8 × 0.6	203153	20.3 × 15.3

NME and BME metallization

• Influence of the metallization on the voltage dependence of X7R ceramic multilayer chip capacitors
• 
  Structure of the electrodes and the NME respectively BME metallization of the terminals of MLCC cchips
• 
  Influence of the NME respectively BME metallization for class 2 X7R MLCC chips on the voltage dependence of capacitance.

Originally, MLCC electrodes were constructed out of noble metals such as silver and palladium which can withstand high sintering temperatures of 1200 to 1400 °C without readily oxidizing. These noble metal electrode (NME) capacitors offered very good electrical properties.

However, a surge in prices of noble metals in the late 1990s greatly increased manufacturing costs; these pressures resulted in the development of capacitors that used cheaper metals like copper and nickel. These base metal electrode (BME) capacitors possessed poorer electrical characteristics; exhibiting greater shrinkage of capacitance at higher voltages and increased loss factor.

The disadvantages of BME were deemed acceptable for class 2 capacitors, which are primarily used in accuracy-insensitive, low-cost applications such as power supplies. NME still sees use in class 1 capacitors where conformance to specifications are critical and cost is less of a concern.

MLCC capacitance ranges

Maximal available capacitance values of MLCC Chips in case size 2012. (Status April 2017)

Capacitance of MLCC chips depends on the dielectric, the size and the required voltage (rated voltage). Capacitance values start at about 1pF. The maximum capacitance value is determined by the production technique. For X7R that is 47 μF, for Y5V: 100 μF.

The picture right shows the maximum capacitance for class 1 and class 2 multilayer ceramic chip capacitors. The following two tables, for ceramics NP0/C0G and X7R each, list for each common case size the maximum available capacitance value and rated voltage of the leading manufacturers Murata, TDK, KEMET, AVX. (Status April 2017)

Maximum capacitance values of class 1 NP0/C0G MLCC chips

Rated- voltage	Case size, EIA Code
	01005	0201	0402	0603	0805	1206	1210	1812	2220
	Dimensions in mm
	0.4×0.2	0.6×0.3	1.0×0.5	1.6×0.8	2.0×1.25	3.2×1.6	3.2×2.5	4.5×3.2	5.7×5.0
	Max. capacitance
6.3 V	220 pF	–	–	33 nF	–	–	–	–	–
10 V	220 pF	–	4.7 nF	33 nF	100 nF	100 nF	220 nF	–	–
16 V	220 pF	–	2.2 nF	15 nF	47 nF	120 nF	220 nF	–	–
25 V	220 pF	1.0 nF	2.2 nF	47 nF	47 nF	120 nF	220 nF	–	–
50 V	100 pF	220 pF	1.5 nF	10 nF	47 nF	100 nF	150 nF	220 nF	470 nF
100 V	–	100 pF	1.0 nF	4.7 nF	22 nF	100 nF	100 nF	150 nF	330 nF
250 V	–	–	330 pF	2.2 nF	8.2 nF	22 nF	47 nF	100 nF	–
500 V	–	–	–	–	820 pF	4.7 nF	10 nF	22 nF	47 nF
630 V	–	–	–	–	1.2 nF	4.7 nF	15 nF	22 nF	47 nF
1000 V	–	–	–	–	270 pF	1.0 nF	2.7 nF	5.6 nF	12 nF
2000 V	–	–	–	–	–	270 pf	680 pF	1.5 nF	3.9 nF
3000 V	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	390 pF	1.0 nF

Maximum capacitance values of class 2 X7R MLCC chips

Rated- voltage	Case size, EIA Code
	01005	0201	0402	0603	0805	1206	1210	1812	2220
	Dimensions in mm
	0.4×0.2	0.6×0.3	1.0×0.5	1.6×0.8	2.0×1.25	3.2×1.6	3.2×2.5	4.5×3.2	5.7×5.0
	Max. capacitance
4 V	–	–	2.2 μF	22 μF	22 μF	100 μF	100 μF	–	–
6.3 V	–	0.1 μF	2.2 μF	10 μF	22 μF	47 μF	100 μF	–	–
10 V	1.0 nF	0.1 μF	2.2 .μF	10 μF	22 μF	22 μF	47 μF	–	–
16 V	1.0 nF	0.1 μF	2.2 μF	4.7 μF	10 μF	22 μF	22 μF	–	–
25 V	–	10 nF	0.1 μF	2.2 μF	10 μF	10 μF	22 μF	–	22 μF
50 V	–	1.5 nF	0.1 μF	0.47 μF	4.7 μF	4.7 μF	10 μF	–	10 μF
100 V	–	–	4.7 nF	0.1 μF	0.1 μF	4.7 μF	10 μF	3.3 μF	10 μF
200 V	–	–	–	10 nF	56 nF	0.15 μF	0.22 μF	1.0 μF	1.0 μF
250 V	–	–	–	2.2 nF	22 nF	0.1 μF	0.22 μF	0.47 μF	1.0 μF
500 V	–	–	–	3.9 nF	22 nF	68 nF	0.1 μF	0.22 μF	0.47 μF
630 V	–	–	–	1.5 nF	12 nF	33 nF	0.1 μF	0.15 μF	0.33 μF
1000 V	–	–	–	1.0 nF	4.7 nF	22 nF	68 nF	0.1 μF	0.12 μF
2000 V	–	–	–	–	–	2.2 nF	6.8 nF	10 nF	22 nF
3000 V	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.2 nF	15 nF

Low-ESL styles

• Comparison of different MLCC designs
• 
  Standard MLCC chip design
• 
  Low-ESL design of an MLCC chip
• 
  MLCC chip array

In the region of its resonance frequency, a capacitor has the best decoupling properties for noise or electromagnetic interference. The resonance frequency of a capacitor is determined by the inductance of the component. The inductive parts of a capacitor are summarized in the equivalent series inductance, or ESL. (Note that L is the electrical symbol for inductance.) The smaller the inductance, the higher the resonance frequency.

Because, especially in digital signal processing, switching frequencies have continued to rise, the demand for high frequency decoupling or filter capacitors increases. With a simple design change the ESL of an MLCC chip can be reduced. Therefore, the stacked electrodes are connected on the longitudinal side with the connecting terminations. This reduces the distance that the charge carriers flow over the electrodes, which reduces inductance of the component.

For example, an 0.1 μF X7R MLCC in a 0805 package resonates at 16 MHz. The same capacitor with leads on its long sides (i.e. an 0508) has a resonance frequency of 22 MHz.

Another possibility is to form the device as an array of capacitors. Here, several individual capacitors are built in a common housing. Connecting them in parallel, the resulting ESL as well as ESR values of the components are reduced.

X2Y decoupling capacitor

• X2Y decoupling capacitor
• 
  X2Y decoupling capacitors with different case sizes
• 
  Inner construction of a X2Y capacitor
• 
  Circuit diagram of a X2Y capacitor in a decoupling circuit

A standard multi-layer ceramic capacitor has many opposing electrode layers stacked inside connected with two outer terminations. The X2Y ceramic chip capacitor however is a 4 terminal chip device. It is constructed like a standard two-terminal MLCC out of the stacked ceramic layers with an additional third set of shield electrodes incorporated in the chip. These shield electrodes surround each existing electrode within the stack of the capacitor plates and are low ohmic contacted with two additional side terminations across to the capacitor terminations. The X2Y construction results in a three-node capacitive circuit that provides simultaneous line-to-line and line-to-ground filtering.

Capable of replacing 2 or more conventional devices, the X2Y ceramic capacitors are ideal for high frequency filtering or noise suppression of supply voltages in digital circuits, and can prove invaluable in meeting stringent EMC demands in dc motors, in automotive, audio, sensor and other applications.

The X2Y footprint results in lower mounted inductance. This is particularly of interest for use in high-speed digital circuits with clock rates of several 100 MHz and upwards. There the decoupling of the individual supply voltages on the circuit board is difficult to realize due to parasitic inductances of the supply lines. A standard solution with conventional ceramic capacitors requires the parallel use of many conventional MLCC chips with different capacitance values. Here X2Y capacitors are able to replace up to five equal-sized ceramic capacitors on the PCB. However, this particular type of ceramic capacitor is patented, so these components are still comparatively expensive.

An alternative to X2Y capacitors may be a three-terminal capacitor.

Mechanical susceptibility

Ceramics are brittle, and MLCC chips surface-mount soldered to a circuit board are often vulnerable to cracking from thermal expansion or mechanical stresses like depanelization, more so than leaded through-hole components. The cracks can come from automated machine assembly line, or from high current in the circuit.

Vibration and shock forces on the circuit board are more or less transmitted undampened to the MLCC and its solder joints; excessive force may cause the capacitor to crack (flex crack). Excess solder in the joints are undesirable as they may magnify the forces that the capacitor is subject to.

• MLCC chips – correct mounted – cracked chip – substrate bending test
• 
  Correct mounted and soldered MLCC chip on a PCB
• 
  Micrograph of broken ceramic in a MLCC chip
• 
  Simplified figure of a bending test for soldered MLCC

The capability of MLCC chips to withstand mechanical stress is tested by a so-called substrate bending test, where a PCB with a soldered MLCC is bent by a punch by 1 to 3 mm. Failure occurs if the MLCC becomes a short-circuit or significantly changes in capacitance.

Bending strengths of MLCC chips differ by the ceramic material, the size of the chip, and the physical construction of the capacitors. Without special mitigation, NP0/C0G class 1 ceramic MLCC chips reach a typical bending strength of 2 mm while larger types of X7R, Y5V class 2 ceramic chips achieved only a bending strength of approximately 1 mm. Smaller chips, such as the size of 0402, reached in all types of ceramics larger bending strength values.

With special design features, particularly at the electrodes and terminations, the bending strength can be improved. For example, an internal short circuit arises by the contact of two electrodes with opposite polarity, which will be produced at the break of the ceramic in the region of the terminations. This can be prevented when the overlap surfaces of the electrodes are reduced. This is achieved e.g. by an "Open Mode Design" (OMD). Here a break in the region of the terminations only reduce the capacitance value a little bit (AVX, KEMET).

• Different MLCC constructions to minimize mechanical stress
• 
  Standard MLCC chip, short circuit possible if ceramic breaks due to mechanical stress
• 
  „Open-Mode-Design" MLCC chip, a break only reduces the capacitance value
• 
  "Floating-Electrode-Design"-MLCC, a break only reduces the capacitance value
• 
  "Flex-Termination" - MLCC chips, a flexible contact layer prevents breaking of the ceramic.

With a similar construction called "Floating Electrode Design" (FED) or "Multi-layer Serial Capacitors" (MLSC), also, only capacitance reduction results if parts of the capacitor body break. This construction works with floating electrodes without any conductive connection to the termination. A break doesn't lead to a short, only to capacitance reduction. However, both structures lead to larger designs with respect to a standard MLCC version with the same capacitance value.

The same volume with respect to standard MLCCs is achieved by the introduction of a flexible intermediate layer of a conductive polymer between the electrodes and the termination called "Flexible Terminations" (FT-Cap) or "Soft Terminations". In this construction, the rigid metallic soldering connection can move against the flexible polymer layer, and thus can absorb the bending forces, without resulting in a break in the ceramic. Some automotive capacitors are specified to adhere to AEC-Q200 and/or VW 80808.

RFI/EMI suppression with X- and Y capacitors

Suppression capacitors are effective interference reduction components because their electrical impedance decreases with increasing frequency, such that at higher frequencies they appear as short circuits to high-frequency electrical noise and transients between the lines, or to ground. They therefore prevent equipment and machinery (including motors, inverters, and electronic ballasts, as well as solid-state relay snubbers and spark quenchers) from sending and receiving electromagnetic and radio frequency interference as well as transients in across-the-line (X capacitors) and line-to-ground (Y capacitors) connections. X capacitors effectively absorb symmetrical, balanced, or differential interference. Y capacitors are connected in a line bypass between a line phase and a point of zero potential, to absorb asymmetrical, unbalanced, or common-mode interference.

• RFI/EMI suppression with X- and Y-capacitors for equipment without and with additional safety insulation
• 
  Appliance Class I capacitor connection
• 
  Appliance Class II capacitor connection

EMI/RFI suppression capacitors are designed so that any remaining interference or electrical noise does not exceed the limits of EMC directive EN 50081. Suppression components are connected directly to mains voltage for 10 to 20 years or more and are therefore exposed to potentially damaging overvoltages and transients. For this reason, suppression capacitors must comply with the safety and non-flammability requirements of international safety standards such as

• Europe: EN 60384-14,
• USA: UL 1414, UL 1283
• Canada: CSA C22.2, No.1, CSA C22.2, No.8
• China: CQC (GB/T 14472-1998)

RFI capacitors that fulfill all specified requirements are imprinted with the certification mark of various national safety standards agencies. For power line applications, special requirements are placed on the non-flammability of the coating and the epoxy resin impregnating or coating the capacitor body. To receive safety approvals, X and Y powerline-rated capacitors are destructively tested to the point of failure. Even when exposed to large overvoltage surges, these safety-rated capacitors must fail in a fail-safe manner that does not endanger personnel or property.

As of 2012 most ceramic capacitors used for EMI/RFI suppression were leaded ones for through-hole mounting on a PCB, the surface-mount technique is becoming more and more important. For this reason, in recent years a lot of MLCC chips for EMI/RFI suppression from different manufacturers have received approvals and fulfill all requirements given in the applicable standards.

Ceramic power capacitors

• Different styles of ceramic capacitors for power electronic
• 
  Doorknob style high voltage ceramic capacitor
• 
  Disc style power ceramic capacitor
• 
  Tubular or pot style power ceramic capacitor

Although the materials used for large power ceramic capacitors mostly are very similar to those used for smaller ones, ceramic capacitors with high to very high power or voltage ratings for applications in power systems, transmitters and electrical installations are often classified separately, for historical reasons. The standardization of ceramic capacitors for lower power is oriented toward electrical and mechanical parameters as components for use in electronic equipment. The standardization of power capacitors, contrary to that, is strongly focused on protecting personnel and equipment, given by the local regulating authority.

Power ceramic capacitors in a radio-frequency transmitter station

As modern electronic equipment gained the ability to handle power levels that were previously the exclusive domain of "electrical power" components, the distinction between the "electronic" and "electrical" power ratings has become less distinct. In the past, the boundary between these two families was approximately at a reactive power of 200 volt-amps, but modern power electronics can handle increasing amounts of power.

Power ceramic capacitors are mostly specified for much higher than 200 volt-amps. The great plasticity of ceramic raw material and the high dielectric strength of ceramics deliver solutions for many applications and are the reasons for the enormous diversity of styles within the family of power ceramic capacitors. These power capacitors have been on the market for decades. They are produced according to the requirements as class 1 power ceramic capacitors with high stability and low losses or class 2 power ceramic capacitors with high volumetric efficiency.

Class 1 power ceramic capacitors are used for resonant circuit application in transmitter stations. Class 2 power ceramic capacitors are used for circuit breakers, for power distribution lines, for high voltage power supplies in laser-applications, for induction furnaces and in voltage-doubling circuits. Power ceramic capacitors can be supplied with high rated voltages in the range of 2 kV up to 100 kV.

The dimensions of these power ceramic capacitors can be very large. At high power applications the losses of these capacitors can generate a lot of heat. For this reason some special styles of power ceramic capacitors have pipes for water-cooling.

Electrical characteristics

Series-equivalent circuit

Series-equivalent circuit model of a ceramic capacitor

All electrical characteristics of ceramic capacitors can be defined and specified by a series equivalent circuit composed out of an idealized capacitance and additional electrical components, which model all losses and inductive parameters of a capacitor. In this series-equivalent circuit the electrical characteristics of a capacitors is defined by

• C, the capacitance of the capacitor,
• R_insul, the insulation resistance of the dielectric, not to be confused with the insulation of the housing
• R_ESR, the equivalent series resistance, which summarizes all ohmic losses of the capacitor, usually abbreviated as "ESR".
• L_ESL, the equivalent series inductance, which is the effective self-inductance of the capacitor, usually abbreviated as "ESL".

The use of a series equivalent circuit instead of a parallel equivalent circuit is defined in IEC/EN 60384-1.

Capacitance standard values and tolerances

The "rated capacitance" C_R or "nominal capacitance" C_N is the value for which the capacitor has been designed. The actual capacitance depends on the measuring frequency and the ambient temperature. Standardized conditions for capacitors are a low-voltage AC measuring method at a temperature of 20 °C with frequencies of

• Class 1 ceramic capacitors
  • C_R ≤ 100 pF at 1 MHz, measuring voltage 5 V
  • C_R > 100 pF at 1 kHz, measuring voltage 5 V
• Class 2 ceramic capacitors
  • C_R ≤ 100 pF at 1 MHz, measuring voltage 1 V
  • 100 pF < C_R ≤ 10 μF at 1 kHz, measuring voltage 1 V
  • C_R > 10 μF at 100/120 Hz, measuring voltage 0.5 V

Capacitors are available in different, geometrically increasing preferred values as specified in the E series standards specified in IEC/EN 60063. According to the number of values per decade, these were called the E3, E6, E12, E24, etc. series. The units used to specify capacitor values includes everything from picofarad (pF), nanofarad (nF), microfarad (μF) and farad (F).

The percentage of allowed deviation of the capacitance from the rated value is called capacitance tolerance. The actual capacitance value must be within the tolerance limits, or the capacitor is out of specification. For abbreviated marking in tight spaces, a letter code for each tolerance is specified in IEC/EN 60062.

Tolerances of capacitors and their letter codes

E series	Tolerance
	CR > 10 pF	Letter code	CR < 10 pF	Letter code
E96	1%	F	0.1 pF	B
E48	2%	G	0.25 pF	C
E24	5%	J	0.5 pF	D
E12	10%	K	1 pF	F
E6	20%	M	2 pF	G
E3	−20/+50%	S	-	-
	−20/+80%	Z	-	-

The required capacitance tolerance is determined by the particular application. The narrow tolerances of E24 to E96 will be used for high-quality class 1 capacitors in circuits such as precision oscillators and timers. For applications such as non-critical filtering or coupling circuits, for class 2 capacitors the tolerance series E12 down to E3 are sufficient.

Temperature dependence of capacitance

Capacitance of ceramic capacitors varies with temperature. The different dielectrics of the many capacitor types show great differences in temperature dependence. The temperature coefficient is expressed in parts per million (ppm) per degree Celsius for class 1 ceramic capacitors or in percent (%) over the total temperature range for class 2 capacitors.

Temperature coefficients of some often used capacitors

Type of capacitor, dielectric material	Temperature coefficient C/C0	Application temperature range
Ceramic capacitors class 1 paraelectric NP0	±30 ppm/K (±0.5%)	−55…+125 °C
Ceramic capacitors class 2, ferroelectric X7R	±15%	−55…+125 °C
Ceramic capacitors class 2, ferroelectric Y5V	+22% / −82%	−30…+85 °C

Frequency dependence of capacitance

Frequency dependence of capacitance for ceramic X7R and Y5V class 2 capacitors (curve of NP0 class 1 for comparisation)

Most discrete capacitor types have greater or smaller capacitance changes with increasing frequencies. The dielectric strength of class 2 ceramic and plastic film diminishes with rising frequency. Therefore, their capacitance value decreases with increasing frequency. This phenomenon is related to the dielectric relaxation in which the time constant of the electrical dipoles is the reason for the frequency dependence of permittivity. The graph on the right hand side shows typical frequency behavior for class 2 vs class 1 capacitors.

Voltage dependence of capacitance

DC Bias characteristic of ferroelectrics ceramic materials

Capacitance of ceramic capacitors may also change with applied voltage. This effect is more prevalent in class 2 ceramic capacitors. The ferroelectric material depends on the applied voltage. The higher the applied voltage, the lower the permittivity. Capacitance measured or applied with higher voltage can drop to values of −80% of the value measured with the standardized measuring voltage of 0.5 or 1.0 V. This behavior is a small source of nonlinearity in low-distortion filters and other analog applications. In audio applications this can be the reason for harmonic distortions.

• Voltage dependence of capacitance for some different class 2 ceramic capacitors
• 
  Simplified diagram of the change in capacitance as a function of the applied voltage for 25-V capacitors in different kind of ceramic grades
• 
  Simplified diagram of the change in capacitance as a function of applied voltage for X7R ceramics with different rated voltages

The voltage dependence of capacitance in the two diagrams above shows curves from ceramic capacitors with NME metallization. For capacitors with BME metallization the voltage dependence of capacitance increased significantly.

Voltage proof

For most capacitors, a physically conditioned dielectric strength or a breakdown voltage usually could be specified for each dielectric material and thickness. This is not possible with ceramic capacitors. The breakdown voltage of a ceramic dielectric layer may vary depending on the electrode material and the sintering conditions of the ceramic up to a factor of 10. A high degree of precision and control of process parameters is necessary to keep the scattering of electrical properties for today's very thin ceramic layers within specified limits.

The voltage proof of ceramic capacitors is specified as rated voltage (UR). This is the maximum DC voltage that may be continuously applied to the capacitor up to the upper temperature limit. This guaranteed voltage proof is tested according to the voltages shown in the adjacent table.

Furthermore, in periodic life time tests (endurance tests) the voltage proof of ceramic capacitors is tested with increased test voltage (120 to 150% of U_R) to ensure safe construction.

Test voltages related to IEC 60384-8/21/9/22
to test safe construction

Style	Rated voltage	Test voltage
Ceramic- multilayer chip capacitors (MLCC)	UR ≤ 100 V	2.5 UR
	100 V < UR ≤ 200 V	1.5 UR + 100 V
	200 V < UR ≤ 500 V	1.3 UR + 100 V
	500 V < UR	1.3 UR
Single layer- ceramic capacitors	UR ≤ 500 V	2.5 UR
	UR > 500 V	1.5 UR + 500 V

Impedance

Simplified series-equivalent circuit of a capacitor for higher frequencies (above); vector diagram with electrical reactances X_ESL and X_C and resistance ESR and for illustration the impedance Z and dissipation factor tan δ

The frequency dependent AC resistance of a capacitor is called impedance $Z$ and is a complex ratio of voltage to current in an AC circuit. Impedance extends the concept of Ohm's law to AC circuits, and possesses both magnitude and phase at a particular frequency, unlike resistance, which has only magnitude.

Impedance is a measure of the ability of the capacitor to pass alternating currents. In this sense impedance can be used like Ohms law

$Z={\frac {\hat {u}}{\hat {\imath }}}={\frac {U_{\mathrm {AC} }}{I_{\mathrm {AC} }}}.$

to calculate either the peak or the effective value of the current or the voltage.

As shown in the series-equivalent circuit of a capacitor, the real-world component includes an ideal capacitor $C$, an inductance $L$ and a resistor $R$.

To calculate the impedance $Z$ the resistance and then both reactances have to be added geometrically

$Z={\sqrt {{ESR}^{2}+(X_{\mathrm {C} }+(-X_{\mathrm {L} }))^{2}}}$

wherein the capacitive reactance (Capacitance) is

$X_{C}=-{\frac {1}{\omega C}}$

and an inductive reactance (Inductance) is

$X_{L}=\omega L_{\mathrm {ESL} }$.

In the special case of resonance, in which both reactive resistances have the same value ($X_{C}=X_{L}$), then the impedance will only be determined by ${ESR}$.

Typical curves of the impedance of X7R and NP0-MLCC-Chips

Data sheets of ceramic capacitors only specify the impedance magnitude $Z$. The typical impedance curve shows that with increasing frequency, impedance decreases, down to a minimum. The lower the impedance, the more easily alternating currents can pass through the capacitor. At the minimum point of the curve, the point of resonance, where X_C has the same value as X_L, the capacitor exhibits its lowest impedance value. Here only the ohmic ESR determines the impedance. With frequencies above the resonance, impedance increases again due to the ESL.

ESR, dissipation factor, and quality factor

The summarized losses in ceramic capacitors are ohmic AC losses. DC losses are specified as "leakage current" or "insulating resistance" and are negligible for an AC specification. These AC losses are nonlinear and may depend on frequency, temperature, age, and for some special types, on humidity. The losses result from two physical conditions,

• line losses with internal supply line resistances, the contact resistance of the electrode contact, the line resistance of the electrodes
• the dielectric losses out of the dielectric polarization

The largest share of these losses in larger capacitors is usually the frequency dependent ohmic dielectric losses. Regarding the IEC 60384-1 standard, the ohmic losses of capacitors are measured at the same frequency used to measure capacitance. These are:

• 100 kHz, 1 MHz (preferred) or 10 MHz for ceramic capacitors with C_R ≤ 1 nF:
• 1 kHz or 10 kHz for ceramic capacitors with 1 nF < C_R ≤ 10 μF
• 50/60 Hz or 100/120 Hz for ceramic capacitors with C_R > 10 μF

Results of the summarized resistive losses of a capacitor may be specified either as equivalent series resistance (ESR), as dissipation factor (DF, tan δ), or as quality factor (Q), depending on the application requirements.

Class 2 capacitors are mostly specified with the dissipation factor, tan δ. The dissipation factor is determined as the tangent of the reactance $X_{C}$ – $X_{L}$ and the ESR, and can be shown as the angle δ between the imaginary and impedance axes in the above vector diagram, see paragraph "Impedance".

If the inductance $ESL$ is small, the dissipation factor can be approximated as:

$\tan \delta =ESR\cdot \omega C$

Class 1 capacitors with very low losses are specified with a dissipation factor and often with a quality factor (Q). The quality factor is defined as the reciprocal of the dissipation factor.

$Q={\frac {1}{\tan \delta }}={\frac {f_{0}}{B}}\$

The Q factor represents the effect of electrical resistance, and characterizes a resonator's bandwidth $B$ relative to its center or resonant frequency $f_{0}$. A high Q value is a mark of the quality of the resonance for resonant circuits.

In accordance with IEC 60384-8/-21/-9/-22 ceramic capacitors may not exceed the following dissipation factors:

Dissipation factor tan δ
for class 1ceramic capacitors
with C_R ≥ 50 pF

Temperature coefficient of the ceramic	Maximum dissipation factor
100 ≥ α > −750	tan δ ≤ 15 • 10−4
−750 ≥ α > −1500	tan δ ≤ 20 • 10−4
−1500 ≥ α > −3300	tan δ ≤ 30 • 10−4
−3300 ≥ α > −5600	tan δ ≤ 40 • 10−4
≤ −5600	tan δ ≤ 50 • 10−4
For capacitance values < 50 pF the dissipation factor may be larger

Dissipation factor tan δ
for class 2 ceramic capacitors
with C_R ≥ 50 pF

Rated voltage of the capacitor	maximum dissipation factor
≥ 10 V	tan δ ≤ 350 • 10−4
For capacitance values < 50 pF the dissipation factor may be larger

The ohmic losses of ceramic capacitors are frequency, temperature and voltage dependent. Additionally, class 2 capacitor measurements change because of aging. Different ceramic materials have differing losses over the temperature range and the operating frequency. The changes in class 1 capacitors are in the single-digit range while class 2 capacitors have much higher changes.

HF use, inductance (ESL) and self-resonant frequency

Electrical resonance occurs in a ceramic capacitor at a particular resonance frequency where the imaginary parts of the capacitor impedance and admittances cancel each other. This frequency where X_C is as high as X_L is called the self-resonant frequency and can be calculated with:

$\omega ={\frac {1}{\sqrt {LC}}}$

where ω = 2πf, in which f is the resonance frequency in Hertz, L is the inductance in henries, and C is the capacitance in farads.

The smaller the capacitance C and the inductance L the higher is the resonance frequency. The self-resonant frequency is the lowest frequency at which impedance passes through a minimum. For any AC application the self-resonant frequency is the highest frequency at which a capacitor can be used as a capacitive component. At frequencies above the resonance, the impedance increases again due to ESL: the capacitor becomes an inductor with inductance equal to capacitor's ESL, and resistance equal to ESR at the given frequency.

ESL in industrial capacitors is mainly caused by the leads and internal connections used to connect the plates to the outside world. Larger capacitors tend to higher ESL than small ones, because the distances to the plate are longer and every millimeter increases inductance.

Ceramic capacitors, which are available in the range of very small capacitance values (pF and higher) are already out of their smaller capacitance values suitable for higher frequencies up to several 100 MHz (see formula above). Due to the absence of leads and proximity to the electrodes, MLCC chips have significantly lower parasitic inductance than f. e. leaded types, which makes them suitable for higher frequency applications. A further reduction of parasitic inductance is achieved by contacting the electrodes on the longitudinal side of the chip instead of the lateral side.

Sample self-resonant frequencies for one set of NP0/C0G and one set of X7R ceramic capacitors are:

	10 pF	100 pF	1 nF	10 nF	100 nF	1 μF
C0G (Class 1)	1550 MHz	460 MHz	160 MHz	55 MHz
X7R (Class 2)			190 MHz	56 MHz	22 MHz	10 MHz

Note that X7Rs have better frequency response than C0Gs. It makes sense, however, since class 2 capacitors are much smaller than class 1, so they ought to have lower parasitic inductance.

Aging

Aging of different Class 2 ceramic capacitors compared with NP0-Class 1 ceramic capacitor

In ferroelectric class 2 ceramic capacitors capacitance decreases over time. This behavior is called "aging". Aging occurs in ferroelectric dielectrics, where domains of polarization in the dielectric contribute to total polarization. Degradation of the polarized domains in the dielectric decreases permittivity over time so that the capacitance of class 2 ceramic capacitors decreases as the component ages.

The aging follows a logarithmic law. This law defines the decrease of capacitance as a percentage for a time decade after the soldering recovery time at a defined temperature, for example, in the period from 1 to 10 hours at 20 °C. As the law is logarithmic, the percentage loss of capacitance will twice between 1 h and 100 h and 3 times between 1 h and 1000 h and so on. So aging is fastest near the beginning, and the capacitance value effectively stabilizes over time.

The rate of aging of class 2 capacitors mainly depends on the materials used. A rule of thumb is, the higher the temperature dependence of the ceramic, the higher the aging percentage. The typical aging of X7R ceramic capacitors is about 2.5% per decade The aging rate of Z5U ceramic capacitors is significantly higher and can be up to 7% per decade.

The aging process of class 2 capacitors may be reversed by heating the component above the Curie point.

Class 1 capacitors do not experience ferroelectric aging like Class 2's. But environmental influences such as higher temperature, high humidity and mechanical stress can, over a longer period of time, lead to a small irreversible decline in capacitance, sometimes also called aging. The change of capacitance for P 100 and N 470 Class 1's is lower than 1%, for capacitors with N 750 to N 1500 ceramics it is ≤ 2%.

Insulation resistance and self-discharge constant

The resistance of the dielectric is never infinite, leading to some level of DC "leakage current", which contributes to self-discharge. For ceramic capacitors this resistance, placed in parallel with the capacitor in the series-equivalent circuit of capacitors, is called "insulation resistance R_ins". The insulation resistance must not be confused with the outer isolation with respect to the environment.

The rate of self-discharge with decreasing capacitor voltage follows the formula

$u(t)=U_{0}\cdot \mathrm {e} ^{-t/\tau _{\mathrm {s} }},$

With the stored DC voltage $U_{0}$ and the self-discharge constant

$\tau _{\mathrm {s} }=R_{\mathrm {ins} }\cdot C$

That means, after $\tau _{\mathrm {s} }\,$ capacitor voltage $U_{0}$ dropped to 37% of the initial value.

The insulation resistance given in the unit MΩ (10⁶ Ohm) as well as the self-discharge constant in seconds is an important parameter for the quality of the dielectric insulation. These time values are important, for example, when a capacitor is used as timing component for relays or for storing a voltage value as in a sample and hold circuits or operational amplifiers.

In accordance with the applicable standards, Class 1 ceramic capacitors have an R_ins ≥ 10,000 MΩ for capacitors with C_R ≤ 10 nF or τ_s ≥ 100 s for capacitors with C_R > 10 nF. Class 2 ceramic capacitors have an R_ins ≥ 4,000 MΩ for capacitors with C_R ≤ 25 nF or τ_s ≥ 100 s for capacitors with C_R > 25 nF.

Insulation resistance and thus the self-discharge time rate are temperature dependent and decrease with increasing temperature at about 1 MΩ per 60 °C.

Dielectric absorption (soakage)

Main article: Dielectric absorption

Dielectric absorption is the name given to the effect by which a capacitor, which has been charged for a long time, discharges only incompletely. Although an ideal capacitor remains at zero volts after discharge, real capacitors will develop a small voltage coming from time-delayed dipole discharging, a phenomenon that is also called dielectric relaxation, "soakage" or "battery action".

Values of dielectric absorption for some often used capacitors

Type of capacitor	Dielectric Absorption
Class-1 ceramic capacitors, NP0	0.3 to 0.6%
Class-2 ceramic capacitors, X7R	2.0 to 2.5%

In many applications of capacitors dielectric absorption is not a problem but in some applications, such as long-time-constant integrators, sample-and-hold circuits, switched-capacitor analog-to-digital converters and very low-distortion filters, it is important that the capacitor does not recover a residual charge after full discharge, and capacitors with low absorption are specified. The voltage at the terminals generated by dielectric absorption may in some cases possibly cause problems in the function of an electronic circuit or can be a safety risk to personnel. To prevent shocks, most very large capacitors like power capacitors are shipped with shorting wires that are removed before use.

Microphony

All class 2 ceramic capacitors using ferroelectric ceramics exhibit piezoelectricity, and have a piezoelectric effect called microphonics, microphony or in audio applications squealing. Microphony describes the phenomenon wherein electronic components transform mechanical vibrations into an electrical signal which in many cases is undesired noise. Sensitive electronic preamplifiers generally use class 1 ceramic and film capacitors to avoid this effect.

In the reverse microphonic effect, the varying electric field between the capacitor plates exerts a physical force, moving them as a speaker. High current impulse loads or high ripple currents can generate audible acoustic sound coming from the capacitor, but discharges the capacitor and stresses the dielectric.

Soldering

Ceramic capacitors may experience changes to their electrical parameters due to soldering stress. The heat of the solder bath, especially for SMD styles, can cause changes of contact resistance between terminals and electrodes. For ferroelectric class 2 ceramic capacitors, the soldering temperature is above the Curie point. The polarized domains in the dielectric are going back and the aging process of class 2 ceramic capacitors is starting again.

Hence after soldering a recovery time of approximately 24 hours is necessary. After recovery some electrical parameters like capacitance value, ESR, leakage currents are changed irreversibly. The changes are in the lower percentage range depending on the style of capacitor.

Additional information

Standardization

The standardization for all electrical, electronic components and related technologies follows the rules given by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization.

The definition of the characteristics and the procedure of the test methods for capacitors for use in electronic equipment are set out in the generic specification:

• IEC 60384-1, Fixed capacitors for use in electronic equipment – Part 1: Generic specification

The tests and requirements to be met by ceramic capacitors for use in electronic equipment for approval as standardized types are set out in the following sectional specifications:

• IEC 60384-8, Fixed capacitors of ceramic dielectric, Class 1
• IEC 60384-9, Fixed capacitors of ceramic dielectric, Class 2
• IEC 60384-21, Fixed surface mount multilayer capacitors of ceramic dielectric, Class 1
• IEC 60384-22, Fixed surface mount multilayer capacitors of ceramic dielectric, Class 2

Tantalum capacitor replacement

Multilayer ceramic capacitors are increasingly used to replace tantalum and low capacitance aluminium electrolytic capacitors in applications such as bypass or high frequency switched-mode power supplies as their cost, reliability and size becomes competitive. In many applications, their low ESR allows the use of a lower nominal capacitance value.

Features and disadvantages of ceramic capacitors

For features and disadvantages of ceramic capacitors see main article Capacitor types#Comparison of types

Marking

See also: Preferred number § E series

Ceramic disc capacitance markings

Imprinted markings

If space permits ceramic capacitors, like most other electronic components, have imprinted markings to indicate the manufacturer, the type, their electrical and thermal characteristics and their date of manufacture. In the ideal case, if they are large enough, the capacitor will be marked with:

• manufacturer's name or trademark;
• manufacturer's type designation;
• rated capacitance;
• tolerance on rated capacitance
• rated voltage and nature of supply (AC or DC)
• climatic category or rated temperature;
• year and month (or week) of manufacture;
• certification marks of safety standards (for safety EMI/RFI suppression capacitors)

Smaller capacitors use a shorthand notation, to display all the relevant information in the limited space. The most commonly used format is: XYZ J/K/M VOLTS V, where XYZ represents the capacitance (calculated as XY × 10^Z pF), the letters J, K or M indicate the tolerance (±5%, ±10% and ±20% respectively) and VOLTS V represents the working voltage.

Examples

• A capacitor with the following text on its body: 105K 330V has a capacitance of 10 × 10⁵ pF = 1 μF (K = ±10%) with a working voltage of 330 V.
• A capacitor with the following text: 473M 100V has a capacitance of 47 × 10³ pF = 47 nF (M = ±20%) with a working voltage of 100 V.

Capacitance, tolerance and date of manufacture can be identified with a short code according to IEC/EN 60062. Examples of short-marking of the rated capacitance (microfarads):

• μ47 = 0.47 μF
• 4μ7 = 4.7 μF
• 47μ = 47 μF

The date of manufacture is often printed in accordance with international standards.

• Version 1: coding with year/week numeral code, "1208" is "2012, week number 8".
• Version 2: coding with year code/month code,

Year code: "R" = 2003, "S"= 2004, "T" = 2005, "U" = 2006, "V" = 2007, "W" = 2008, "X" = 2009, "A" = 2010, "B" = 2011, "C" = 2012, "D" = 2013 etc.

Month code: "1" to "9" = Jan. to Sept., "O" = October, "N" = November, "D" = December

"X5" is then "2009, May"

For very small capacitors like MLCC chips no marking is possible. Here only the traceability of the manufacturers can ensure the identification of a type.

Colour coding

Main article: Electronic color code

The identification of modern capacitors has no detailed color coding.

See also

• Decoupling capacitor
• List of capacitor manufacturers
• Tape casting
• Types of capacitor