Capacitor Types | Different Types of Capacitors | Radio-Electronics.

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Capacitor Types
- each of the different types of capacitors has its own performance parameters and can be
used in differnet applications. Check out our list to see the best capacitor type for a given
application.

CAPACITOR TUTORIAL INCLUDES

Capacitor types overview (capacitor_types.php) Uses and applications (applications-uses-usage.php)

Electrolytic capacitor (electrolytic-capacitor.php) Ceramic capacitor (ceramic-capacitor.php)
Tantalum capacitor (tantalum-capacitor.php) Polycarbonate capacitor (polycarbonate-capacitors.php)
Polyester capacitor (polyester-capacitor.php) Silver mica capacitor (silver-mica-capacitor.php)
Glass dielectric capacitor (glass-dielectric-capacitors.php)
Polypropylene capacitor (polypropylene-film-capacitor.php)
Polystyrene capacitor (polystyrene-film-capacitor.php) Supercap (supercapacitors.php)
Capacitor codes (capacitor-markings.php)

Electronic capacitors are one of the most widely used forms of electronics components. However there are many
different types of capacitor including electrolytic, ceramic, tantalum, plastic, sliver mica, and many more. Each
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capacitor type has its own advantages and disadvantages can be used in different applications.
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The choice of the correct capacitor type is of great importance because it can have a major impact on any circuit.
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The differences between the different types of capacitor can mean that the circuit may not work correctly if the
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correct type of capacitor is not used.
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Accordingly a summary of the different types of capacitor is given below, and further descriptions of a variety of First profile 35b bonding CPE released
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menu. 35b-bonding-cpe-released-9131)
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There are many different types of capacitor, but they all conform to the same basic physical laws. These determine
the basic way the capacitor operates, its value, i.e. the amount of charge it will hold and hence its capacitance.
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In order to understand some of the reasons why various forms of capacitor are used, it is necessary to look at the
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basic theory behind capacitance.
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Capacitor Types | Different Types of Capacitors | Radio-Electronics.com 06/02/2018, 01)38

https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2017/dec/
Note on Capacitance: and-apply-the-right-low-power-
microcontroller-for-the-iot)
All capacitors conform to the same basic laws. Regardless of the dielectrics and many other new developments made, the same
laws apply.
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More Focus on Wireless (/tech-

zone/digikey/)
The main element of the capacitor that gives rise to the different properties of the different types of capacitor is the
dielectric - the material between the two plates. Its dielectric constant will alter the level of capacitance that can be
achieved within a certain volume. FOCUS ON TEST (/TECH-
ZONE/FOCUS_ON_TEST/)
Some types of capacitor may be polarised, i.e. they only tolerate voltages across them in one direction. Other
capacitor types are non-polarised and can have voltages of either polarity across them. Pre-5G-NR Signal Generation and Analysis
(https://www.rohde-
Typically the different types of capacitor are named after the type of dielectric they contain. This gives a good schwarz.com/applications/pre-5g-nr-
indication of the general properties they will exhibit and for what circuit functions they can be used. signal-generation-and-analysis-
application-note_56280-493057.html?
Overview of different capacitor types WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_141_re_17-
18__1ma308_ros_text-link___)
There are many different types of capacitor that can be used - most of the major types are outlined below:
Characterization of SIGFOX Devices
Ceramic capacitor: The ceramic capacitor is a type of capacitor that is used in many applications from (https://www.rohde-
audio to RF. Values range from a few picofarads to around 0.1 microfarads. Ceramic capacitor types are by far schwarz.com/applications/characterization-
the most commonly used type of capacitor being cheap and reliable and their loss factor is particularly low of-sigfox-devices-from-lab-to-production-
although this is dependent on the exact dielectric in use. In view of their constructional properties, these line-application-note_56280-
capacitors are widely used both in leaded and surface mount formats Read more about the ceramic 502083.html?
WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-
capacitor (ceramic-capacitor.php)
18__1ma294_ros_text-link___)
Electrolytic capacitor: Electrolytic capacitors are a type of capacitor that is polarised. They are able to offer
Increase the IP connection security of
high capacitance values - typically above 1μF, and are most widely used for low frequency applications -
your IoT device (https://www.rohde-
power supplies, decoupling and audio coupling applications as they have a frequency limit if around 100 kHz. schwarz.com/applications/increase-the-
Read more about the electrolytic capacitor (electrolytic-capacitor.php) ip-connection-security-of-your-iot-device-
Tantalum capacitor: Like electrolytic capacitors, tantalum capacitors are also polarised and offer a very application-card_56279-391458.html?
high capacitance level for their volume. However this type of capacitor is very intolerant of being reverse WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-18__ip-
biased, often exploding when placed under stress. This type of capacitor must also not be subject to high connection-security-appcard_ros_text-
link___)
ripple currents or voltages above their working voltage. They are available in both leaded and surface mount
formats. Read more about the tantalum capacitor (tantalum-capacitor.php) Characterization of LoRa Devices
(https://www.rohde-
Silver Mica Capacitor: Silver mica capacitors are not as widely used these days, but they still offer very high schwarz.com/applications/characterization-
levels of stability, low loss and accuracy where space is not an issue. They are primarily used for RF of-lora-devices-application-note_56280-
applications and and they are limited to maximum values of 1000 pF or so. Read more about the silver 507458.html?
mica capacitor (silver-mica-capacitor.php) WT.mc_id=site_com_mc_143_re_17-
Polystyrene Film Capacitor: Polystyrene capacitors are a relatively cheap form of capacitor but offer a 18__1ma295_ros_text-link___)
close tolerance capacitor where needed. They are tubular in shape resulting from the fact that the plate / More Focus on Test (/tech-
dielectric sandwich is rolled together, but this adds inductance limiting their frequency response to a few zone/focus_on_test/)
hundred kHz. They are generally only available as leaded electronics components.

Polyester Film Capacitor: Polyester film capacitors are used where cost is a consideration as they do not
INDUSTRY CURRENTS BLOG (/INDUSTRY-
offer a high tolerance. Many polyester film capacitors have a tolerance of 5% or 10%, which is adequate for
CURRENTS/)
many applications. They are generally only available as leaded electronics components. Read more about
the polyester capacitor (polyester-capacitor.php)
Metallised Polyester Film Capacitor: This type of capacitor is a essentially a form of polyester film
capacitor where the polyester films themselves are metallised. The advantage of using this process is that
because their electrodes are thin, the overall capacitor can be contained within a relatively small package.
The metallised polyester film capacitors are generally only available as leaded electronics components.

Polycarbonate capacitor: The polycarbonate capacitors has been used in applications where reliability and
performance are critical. The polycarbonate film is very stable and enables high tolerance capacitors to be
made which will hold their capacitance value over time. In addition they have a low dissipation factor, and Andrew Adams | ETAL Group

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Capacitor Types | Different Types of Capacitors | Radio-Electronics.com 06/02/2018, 01)38

they remain stable over a wide temperature range, many being specified from -55°C to +125°C. However the A little thought on magnetics can save a
manufacture of polycarbonate dielectric has ceased and their production is now very limited. Read more lot of energy (/industry-
about the polycarbonate capacitor (polycarbonate-capacitors.php) currents/posts/a-little-thought-on-
magnetics-can-save-a-lot-of-energy)
Polypropylene Capacitor: The polypropylene capacitor is sometimes used when a higher tolerance type of
Electromagnetic components like
capacitor is necessary than polyester capacitors offer. As the name implies, this capacitor uses a
transformers and chokes are considered
polypropylene film for the dielectric. One of the advantages of the capacitor is that there is very little change
unglamorous, so frequently insufficient
of capacitance with time and voltage applied. This type of capacitor is also used for low frequencies, with 100
thought is given to their selection.
kHz or so being the upper limit. They are generally only available as leaded electronics components. Read
Engineers will often simply re-use a device
more about the polypropylene capacitor (polypropylene-film-capacitor.php)
or even a power supply from a previous
Glass capacitors: As the name implies, this capacitor type uses glass as the dielectric. Although expensive, project, ignoring the fact that new and
these capacitors offer very high levels or performance in terms of extremely low loss, high RF current better components are available, allowing
capability, no piezo-electric noise and other features making them ideal for many performance RF them to save weight, improve efficiency or
applications. Read more about the glass dielectric capacitor (glass-dielectric-capacitors.php) reduce size. This article reviews some
Supercap: Also known as a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor, as the name implies these capacitors have very recent developments that are creating new
large values of capacitance, of up to several thousand Farads. They find uses for providing a memory hold-up optimised solutions across a range of
supply and also within automotive applications. Read more about the supercapacitor. applications.
(supercapacitors.php)

These capacitors include some of the main capacitor types, although there are other types that are used for more TRAINING COURSES (/LEARNING-TRAINING-
specialist applications. COURSES/)

Many of these capacitors have their values and other details about them marked on the cases so that they can be Online - Fundamentals
easily identified. Codes are often used for these markings to enable the parameters to be dsiplayed in a compact of Modern RF and
manner. Read more about capacitor markings & codes. (capacitor-markings.php) Wireless
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