13008-060MESB

Tantalum Capacitors

Tantalum capacitors are one type of electrolytic capacitor, commonly used and easily recognized by its “can”-shaped housing. They have excellent performance characteristics, including a very high volumetric efficiency, excellent pulse current handling capability, low equivalent series resistance (ESR), and very low leakage current. The 13008-060MESB is a widely used, surface-mount, Voltage-Dependant, and Non-Polarized type of tantalum capacitor.

The 13008-060MESB is unique from other tantalum capacitors because it is a voltage-dependant type, in which the breakdown voltage increases linearly with its temperature. This increases its reliability compared to other capacitors, especially in applications where both high temperature and high voltage are used. It is also convection cooled and non-polar, meaning it can be used in virtually any circuit without having to worry about polarity.

Application Field

The 13008-060MESB is commonly used in a wide range of applications including motor control circuits, power distribution and power electronics. It is also often used in the automotive industry, owing to its high voltage dependability, and its ability to handle high pulse currents. Its low leakage current makes it suitable for applications in critical safety systems and medical electronics.

The capacitor is often used in switching power supply circuits, due to its ability to both reduce peak currents and to provide bypassing. It is also used as part of an automatic reset circuit, where current limitation is required. The 13008-060MESB can also be used for limiting peak currents in CCFLs and LED backlights, as well as in the filtering of timing and control signals.

Working Principle

The 13008-060MESB is constructed of an anode, typically made of metallic tantalum powder compressed into a sintered anode-body, and an electrolytic oxide film which serves as the dielectric. The oxide used for this specific capacitor is MnO2, with its characteristics optimized for long term reliability and high temperature operation. The cathode, which is also typically made from metallic tantalum, is connected to the circuit ground and used for bypassing.

The capacitor works by using two distinct paths of current, the lead-to-dielectric current, which is the current discharged from the capacitor as it is energized, and the lead-to-lead current which is the current discharged as charge is transferred between terminals. As the capacitor is charged, electrons migrate through the oxide dielectric, allowing the capacitor to store an electrical charge. The capacitor’s capacitance is dictated by its surface area and its thickness. When the capacitor is discharged, current transfers back across the dielectric.