What Are Ceramic Capacitors?

A capacitor is a type of component that is capable of storing electrical energy within an electric field, and ceramic capacitors are a widely used variation. With a ceramic material as the dielectric of the device, such capacitors are regularly found within many modern electronics to provide high frequency responses and low parasitic effects. To have a better understanding of ceramic capacitors and their uses, we will discuss them in more detail.

When procuring ceramic capacitors for an application, it is important to note that such devices come in two classes. Class 1 ceramic capacitors are those that are highly accurate with a stable capacitance value in regard to temperatures, frequencies, and voltages. As such, they are commonly used for applications that require low losses and high amounts of stability. For their tolerance, class 1 ceramic capacitors typically have a capacitance value as low as 1%. For class 2 capacitors, on the other hand, high capacitance per volume is achievable while presenting nominal value tolerances of 20%. With their particular characteristics, class 2 ceramic capacitors are best for applications with low sensitivity.

Ceramic capacitors may also be classified as either ceramic multilayer chip capacitors (MLCC) or ceramic disc capacitors. The MLCC variation in particular is often advantageous for high density packings, benefiting many modern PCBs. While compact, such devices can contain more than 500 layers of ceramics and metals. MLCCs are generally constructed through the mixing of paraelectric and ferroelectric granules with metal contacts. By sintering the layered mixture under high heat, a ceramic material may be created.

For ceramic disc capacitors, construction consists of coating a ceramic disc with silver contacts on each side. If there is a need for higher capacitance values, multiple layers may be added during construction. While such components are less likely to be used as compared to MLCCs in this day and age, they are still utilized as through-hole components in many settings. For their capacitance values, ceramic disc capacitors feature a value of 10pF to 100μF while operating on a voltage range of 16 V to 15 kV.

When an application demands a component that can withstand high voltage and power, ceramic capacitors are built to be physically larger. Known as power ceramic capacitors, such components have a greater size as compared to typical PCB capacitors and facilitate safe attachment to a supply with their unique terminals. As power ceramic capacitors are specifically designed for high voltage applications, they function on a range of 2kV up to 100 kV.

With the use of MLCCs and other ceramic capacitors, countless electronic devices and applications may benefit from their characteristics. With class 2 high-power capacitors, applications such as power circuit breakers, high voltage laser power supplies, and induction furnaces may all have their operations accommodated. Meanwhile, small-form surface mount device capacitors are often found on a number of printed circuit boards in a wide variety of electronics. Ceramic capacitors may also serve as general purpose capacitors due to their non-polarization and wide variety of characteristics.

ASAP 360 Unlimited is a premier purchasing platform for top quality capacitors, and all of our offered items have been sourced from top global manufacturers that we trust. To guarantee the quality of our offerings, we ensure that each and every component has undergone rigorous steps to screen for issues or defects prior to shipment. We are also the only independent distributor with a strict no China sourcing pledge, meaning that every item is sent out with its qualifying certifications or manufacturing trace documentation. As a result of our various efforts, we proudly operate with AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B certification and accreditation. Get started on the purchasing process today and see how ASAP 360 Unlimited can fulfill all your operational needs with ease.