M39003/03-2020

Tantalum capacitors have been gaining popularity in the field of electronics as they offer higher capacitance ratings per unit volume and superior electrical characteristics compared to their aluminum and ceramic counterparts. The M39003/03-2020 is a popular and highly reliable moulded diamond-shaped tantalum capacitor. It is available in sixteen different sizes and has a wide range of working voltage, capacitance and temperature ratings. The M39003/03-2020 is a high temperature, lower equivalent series inductance (ESL) type tantalum capacitor with a wide thermal range.

Application Field

Tantalum capacitors are increasingly being used for a wide range of applications due to their reliability and relatively low cost. These applications include filtering, decoupling, transient suppression, energy storage, and signal conditioning. The M39003/03-2020 is well suited to many of these applications as it is small, lightweight, and operates over a wide temperature range. It is often used in high-frequency applications and power supplies for its high capacitance ratings per unit volume and its low equivalent series inductance (ESL). Additionally, its diamond shape enables the capacitor to be easily mounted on Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) making it an ideal choice for high-power applications.

Working Principle

The M39003/03-2020 consists of a solid manganese dioxide (MnO2) pellet, which is the dielectric material insulated from two parallel plates of sintered tantalum. An oxide layer is formed on the tantalum plates by a process called anodic oxidation and this layer acts as the primary dielectric material. Oxide layer thickness is dependent upon the anodic voltage applied during the charging and conditioning of the capacitor and its thickness increases with increase in charge. The lower the charge the thinner the oxide layer, consequently reducing the capacitance rating of the capacitor. As the capacitor ages, the oxide layer losses its properties and becomes more resistive and the capacitance decreases.

The MnO2 pellet has a high equivalent series resistance (ESR) even at high frequencies and therefore, it is used to absorb any noise or ripples from the DC current passing through the capacitor. This helps the overall performance of the capacitor as it prevents any interference from the ripple currents. The current passing through the capacitor is largely blocked by the MnO2 pellets, thus protecting it from any possible damages.

The M39003/03-2020 operates at a wide range of temperatures from -55°C to +125°C in most applications. It is very well suited for applications that require high-temperature operation as its performance remains unaffected in temperatures up to +125°C. Additionally, the capacitor’s small size and light weight facilitates its use in portable and mounted applications. Overall, M39003/03-2020 is a reliable and cost-effective solution for a wide range of capacitor applications including, filtering, decoupling, transient suppression, energy storage, and signal conditioning.