Aluminum - Polymer Capacitors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
B40900B5477M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM 470UF 20% 25V SMD	201
B40920A5477M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALM POL HY 470UF 20% 25V SMD	485
B40940B8107M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM POL HY 100UF 20% 63V SM	0
B40940A8127M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM POL HY 120UF 20% 63V SM	0
B40900B5337M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM HYB 330UF 20% 25V SMD	2870
B40920A7337M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALM POL HY 330UF 20% 35V SMD	0
B40900B7367M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM 360UF 20% 35V SMD	0
B40900B7277M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM HYB 270UF 20% 35V SMD	123
B40940A8826M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM POL HY 82UF 20% 63V SMD	0
B40900B7337M000 TDK EPCOS	CAP ALUM 300UF 20% 35V SMD	4004
B40900X0031M731 TDK EPCOS	SMD-ELKO 470U/20%/25V/10X12.5	0

Aluminum - Polymer Capacitors

1. Overview

Aluminum polymer capacitors are a type of electrolytic capacitor utilizing conductive polymer materials as the cathode. Compared to traditional liquid electrolyte capacitors, they offer lower equivalent series resistance (ESR), longer operational lifespan, and improved stability. Their hybrid structure combining aluminum oxide dielectric and polymer electrolytes makes them critical components in modern electronics for power filtering, signal decoupling, and energy storage applications.

2. Main Types & Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
SMD Aluminum Polymer Capacitors	Surface-mount design with compact size and low profile	Smartphones, laptops, VR devices
Leaded Aluminum Polymer Capacitors	Radial/axial leads with high current handling capability	Power supplies, industrial inverters
High Voltage Polymer Capacitors	Rated voltage 100V with reinforced dielectric layers	Automotive ECUs, solar inverters
Low ESR Polymer Capacitors	ESR values < 10m for high-frequency filtering	Server motherboards, GPU power modules

3. Structure & Composition

The typical construction includes:

Anode: High-purity aluminum foil with etched surface for increased area
Dielectric: Thin aluminum oxide layer (Al O ) formed through electrochemical oxidation
Cathode: Conductive polymer (e.g., PEDOT:PSS) combined with graphite/carbon layer
Electrolyte: Solid polymer matrix with high ion conductivity
Encapsulation: Aluminum casing with rubber sealing for moisture protection

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Capacitance Range	Typically 10 F to 3300 F	Determines energy storage capacity
Rated Voltage	2.5V to 100V DC	Defines maximum operating voltage
ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance)	3m to 150m	Affects high-frequency filtering efficiency
Ripple Current	100mA to 5Arms	Crucial for power supply stability
Operating Temperature	-55 C to +105 C	Determines environmental durability
Lifetime	5000 to 15000 hours @ 105 C	Impacts product reliability

5. Application Fields

Consumer Electronics: Smartphones, gaming consoles, wearables
Automotive Systems: ADAS controllers, battery management systems
Industrial Equipment: CNC machines, servo drives, PLCs
Telecom Infrastructure: 5G base stations, optical network terminals
Medical Devices: MRI scanners, portable diagnostic equipment

6. Leading Manufacturers & Products

Manufacturer	Product Series	Key Features
Nichicon	UPW Series	105 C, 3000hrs, ultra-low ESR (5m )
Chemicon	SP-Cap	High ripple current: 2.5A@100kHz
Panasonic	FC-F Series	Conductive polymer hybrid technology
AVX	TACMicro	Military-grade reliability (MIL-STD-883)
Samsung Electro-Mechanics	CA Series	0805 case size with 220 F capacitance

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Capacitance & Voltage Margin: Select 20% higher than circuit requirements
ESR Requirements: Critical for switching power supplies (e.g., VRMs require <20m )
Thermal Management: Derate ripple current at temperatures >85 C
Package Constraints: SMD preferred for mobile devices, through-hole for high-current applications
Cost Optimization: Balance polymer content vs. performance needs

Case Study: Selecting a 470 F/16V capacitor for a GPU power circuit requires ESR <15m and 105 C rating.

8. Industry Trends

Development of nanocomposite polymers for ESR reduction to sub-5m levels
Miniturization: 0603 SMD case achieving 100 F+ capacitance
High-temperature tolerance: 125 C operational capability
Biodegradable polymer electrolytes for eco-friendly manufacturing
Embedded capacitor technology for 3D IC packaging
AI-driven lifetime prediction models for reliability optimization