Polymer chip caps target dc-dc converter apps with extended temperature and voltage range

AVX Corporation has extended and upgraded its TCR Series professional conductive polymer chip capacitors with new case sizes, capacitance values, and voltage ratings, a higher maximum operating temperature, enhanced performance capabilities in humid environments, MIL-STD-202 mechanical shock and vibration qualification, and improved reliability. Based on AVX’s robust conductive polymer electrode technology — the materials, construction, and processing of which has been optimized for utmost stability — TCR Series capacitors deliver reliable, long lifetime performance in DC/DC converter applications throughout the telecommunications, industrial, and avionics industries, and, under recommended use conditions, display a more benign failure mode than traditional SMD electrolytic capacitors.

“Our new and improved TCR Series conductive polymer chip capacitors provide design engineers with an even better and broader range of robust devices especially designed for long-term use in harsh environment applications that require low ESR and high reliability,” said Mitch Weaver, a member of the technical staff at AVX.

Now available in three case sizes, EIA Metrics 3528-21, 7343-31, and 7343-20, with a another case (3528-12) currently in development, TCR Series professional conductive polymer capacitors feature extended voltage ratings from 4V to 50V, with rated voltage up to 105°C, and capacitance values up to 220µF. The maximum operating temperature for the series was raised by 20 degrees, extending the allowable range from -55°C to +125°C, and humidity ratings were improved from 85°C/85%RH at rated voltage for 120 hours to 500 or 1,000 hours. Standard DCL for the series is 0.1CV, although values down to 0.05CV are now available on selected codes, and ESR values range from 40mΩ to 70mΩ.

Subjected to AVX’s patented Q-process, which combines maverick part control with statistical screening and process control enhancements to ensure the removal of any components that may experience parametric shifts through customer processing or display instability through operational lifetime, TCR Series capacitors also feature an improved base reliability of 0.5% per 1,000 hours at 85°C and rated voltage with 0.1Ω/V series impedance.

RoHS compliant and lead-free compatible, TCR Series capacitors are available on 7” and 13” reels with pure tin or tin-lead terminations, and lead-time for the series is currently 10 weeks.

For more information about AVX’s TCR Series professional polymer chip capacitors, please visit to access the product datasheet, relevant catalogs and technical papers, and modeling software.