Aluminum - Polymer Capacitors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
875075855002 Würth Elektronik Midcom	WCAP-PSLC ALUMINUM POLYMER CAP	0
875115152007 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 680UF 20% 6.3V SMD	458
875015019003 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 180UF 20% 4V SMD	1180
870055975004 Würth Elektronik Midcom	WCAP-PTHR ALUMINUM POLYMER CAP	446
875105345011 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 150UF 20% 16V SMD	5968
870055674007 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 68UF 20% 35V T/H	67
875076155002 Würth Elektronik Midcom	WCAP-PSLC ALUMINUM POLYMER CAP	0
875075155009 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 820UF 20% 6.3V SMD	300
875046219001 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 330UF 20% 2V SMD	0
875105445007 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 56UF 20% 20V SMD	205
875105444003 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 22UF 20% 20V SMD	824
875075155006 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 470UF 20% 6.3V SMD	270
875115644009 Würth Elektronik Midcom	WCAP-PSHP ALUMINUM POLYMER CAP	540
870055674003 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 33UF 20% 35V T/H	59
875115150005 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 470UF 20% 6.3V SMD	743
870025374007 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 470UF 20% 16V T/H	792
870055875005 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 47UF 20% 63V T/H	66
870025575006 Würth Elektronik Midcom	CAP ALUM POLY 180UF 20% 25V T/H	180
870135675003 Würth Elektronik Midcom	WCAP-PTHT ALUMINUM POLYMER CAP	0
875075661008 Würth Elektronik Midcom	WCAP-PSLC ALUMINUM POLYMER CAP	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