STANDARDS

Classification standards for capacitor ceramics

The different ceramic materials used for ceramic capacitors, or ceramics, influences the electrical characteristics of the capacitors. Using mixtures of paraelectric substances based on titanium dioxide results in very stable and linear behavior of the capacitance value within a specified temperature range and low losses at high frequencies. But these mixtures hav. There are two standards that classify commonly available dielectric materials: the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). [pdf]

FAQS about Classification standards for capacitor ceramics

What are the different types of ceramic capacitors?

Ceramic capacitors are divided into two application classes: Class 1 ceramic capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications. Class 2 ceramic capacitors offer high volumetric efficiency for buffer, by-pass, and coupling applications.

What are the characteristics of a Class I ceramic capacitor?

Class I ceramic capacitors are characterized by high stability, low losses, and minimal variation in capacitance over various environmental conditions. The most common example of Class I ceramic capacitors are C0G (NP0) and U2J capacitors. Here are the key characteristics of Class I ceramic capacitors, particularly C0G:

What is the difference between Class 1 and 2 ceramic capacitors?

Class 2 ceramic capacitors have a dielectric with a high permittivity and therefore a better volumetric efficiency than class 1 capacitors, but lower accuracy and stability. The ceramic dielectric is characterized by a nonlinear change of capacitance over the temperature range. The capacitance value also depends on the applied voltage.

What is a Class III ceramic capacitor?

Class III ceramic capacitors, like Z5U, offer high capacitance but struggle with temperature stability. The diversity in the characteristics of these capacitors makes them a suitable choice for a variety of applications, establishing them as the most used capacitors in today’s circuits.

What is the temperature coefficient of a Class 1 ceramic capacitor?

All ratings are from 25 to 85 °C: In addition to the EIA code, the temperature coefficient of the capacitance dependence of class 1 ceramic capacitors is commonly expressed in ceramic names like "NP0", "N220" etc. These names include the temperature coefficient (α).

What are fixed ceramic dielectric capacitors?

Components herein standardized are fixed ceramic dielectric capacitors of a type specifically suited for use in electronic circuits for bypass, decoupling or other applications in which dielectric losses, high insulation resistance and capacitance stability are not of major consideration.