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tantalum and aluminum capacitor

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vaf20

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reverse voltage on aluminum capacitors

hi all
what's difference between these two cap.?
tnx in advance
 

dry aluminiun capacitor

Aluminum capacitor has large leakage and much less reliable than tantalum. Another thing aluminum capacitor has polarity so you must consider that when connect it.
 

Yes, tantalum also has polarity like aluminum. You can also get unipolar aluminum capacitors which are used in cross-over networks in loudspeakers.

Tantalum have better specs than aluminum capacitors (lower ESR and leakage I think).
But tantalum are also more expensive tha aluminum capacitors.
 

Aluminum capacitors are made by separating an inner and outer aluminum electrode by a layer of electrolyte paste contained in a porous spacer. When a voltage is presented across the plates, a chemical reaction occurs at the surface of the aluminum, forming an Aluminum Oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum plate. The Aluminum Oxide is a dielectric, and the layer is relatively thin. Two conductors separated by a dielectric make a capacitor.

When the paste dries out, the capacitor is no more. If you reverse the voltage, the dielectric layer breaks down rapidly, gases can form, and the capacitor will go "pop" (or sometimes "boom").

Tantalum capacitors are made by forming powdered tantalum around tantalum wire. The sintered pellet is dunked in an acid bath and DC is applied across the pellet. Current flow causes Ta2O5 oxide to form on the surface. A maganese oxide layer is formed over the pellet by dipping it into Mn(NO3)2 solution and then heating. A wire is then bonded to the outside of the pellet. A tantalum capacitor has extremely thin dielectric, resulting in easily obtained high capacitance values.

Unlike the aluminum capacitor, there is no electrolyte to dry out. Since it is dry, its lifetime is much longer, and it also has a lower leakage current. Tantalum capacitors can also handle some reverse voltage without failing - but not much. Because of their smaller physical size, the voltage rating of tantalum capacitors is lower than aluminum capacitors.
 

House_Cat said:
Unlike the aluminum capacitor, there is no electrolyte to dry out. Since it is dry, its lifetime is much longer, and it also has a lower leakage current. Tantalum capacitors can also handle some reverse voltage without failing - but not much. Because of their smaller physical size, the voltage rating of tantalum capacitors is lower than aluminum capacitors.
Does Tantalum capacitors have a lower ESR in general than Alu?
 

tantalum capacitor can not use in military project
 

tryagain said:
tantalum capacitor can not use in military project
Why?
Because of the temprature range or what?
 

Does Tantalum capacitors have a lower ESR in general than Alu?

Yes - in general the ESR of a tantalum capacitor is lower than an aluminum capacitor.

tantalum capacitor can not use in military project

Tantalum capacitors CAN be used in military equipment. The problem with early tantalum capacitors was reliability. You must meet the latest reliability specifications to use them in new military design. Look at the following references (there are many, many, more than just these!):

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Browse through more on the five pages of capacitor references at:
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