Water repellent coating improves capacitor reliability

Murata has developed a water-repellent coating that it claims will increase the reliability of multi-layer ceramic capacitors.

At issue is condensation – not just between the PCB and he capacitor, but on any capacitor surface that can gather condensation.

When water wets the surface of the caoacitor – top diagram – electromigration of electrode metals can occur which can eventually grow into a short circuit between the capacitor electrodes.

With the anti-wetting coating, which is permamantly applied, water droplets can not bridge from electrode to electrode and the scope for electromigration is significantly reduced – middle diagram.

Diagram shows the ceramic die, electrodes, and coating

“This capacitor has applications particularly in navigation systems, body control electronic control units [ECUs], air conditioner ECUs, meter ECUs and engine ECUs,” said Murata.

Sample shipments have begun and mass production is scheduled within a year.

steve bush

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via Yuichun