Temperature Sensors - NTC Thermistors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
CMFB4000473JNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 47KOHM 4000K 0805	3590
CMFB4000104JNT Cantherm	THERM NTC 100KOHM 4000K 0805	480
MF11-0330010 Cantherm	THERM NTC 3.3KOHM 3950K DISC	0
MF58503F3950 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 50KOHM 3950K BEAD	676
MF52C103F3380-G410 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	498
CWF1B103F3380 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	1585
CMFB4055333JNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 33KOHM 4055K 0805	0
CMFB4000473FNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 47KOHM 4000K 0805	0
MF58104F3950 Cantherm	THERM NTC 100KOHM 3950K BEAD	1774
MF11-0010005 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 100OHM 3000K DISC	0
MF11-0060010 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 600OHM 3600K DISC	0
MF52A682J3470 Cantherm	THERM NTC 6.8KOHM 3470K BEAD	256
MF11-0030010 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 300OHM 3600K DISC	0
MF52A2103J3470 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3470K BEAD	18252
CWF3AA503G3950-1000MM Cantherm	THERM NTC 50KOHM 3950K PROBE	635
MF11-0460010 Cantherm	THERM NTC 4.6KOHM 3950K DISC	0
MF11-0025005 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 250OHM 3600K DISC	0
CMFA3435103JNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3435K 0603	0
MF11-0060005 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 600OHM 3600K DISC	0
MF11-0004005 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 40OHM 2950K DISC	0

Temperature Sensors - NTC Thermistors

1. Overview

NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) thermistors are temperature-sensitive resistors whose resistance decreases with increasing temperature. This semiconductor ceramic device utilizes metal oxide materials to achieve precise temperature measurement and control. As a fundamental component in thermal management systems, NTC thermistors play critical roles in modern electronics, automotive engineering, and industrial automation due to their high sensitivity ( : 2000-5000 K) and accuracy ( 0.1 C to 5 C).

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Bead Thermistors	Small size ( 0.5-5mm), fast response (<50ms), glass-encapsulated	Medical probes, liquid temperature monitoring
Disk Thermistors	Higher power rating, epoxy-coated, axial leads	Power supply thermal protection, HVAC systems
Chip Thermistors	SMD packaging, low profile (0.6-3.2mm), RoHS compliant	Smartphone thermal management, wearable devices
Glass-Encapsulated	Hermetic seal, corrosion resistance, operating temp: -50 C to +300 C	Automotive battery monitoring, aerospace sensors

3. Structure and Composition

Typical NTC thermistor construction includes:

Semiconductive ceramic core (Mn-Ni-Co-Ox system)
Platinum alloy electrode layers (sintered or plated)
Protective epoxy/glass encapsulation (IP67 rated)
Lead wires (Cu/Ni alloy, 26-34 AWG)

Manufacturing process involves powder synthesis at 1500 C, isostatic pressing, and controlled atmosphere sintering to achieve desired R-T characteristics.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Significance
Rated Resistance (R25)	Resistance at 25 C (100 -10M range)	System compatibility, signal conditioning design
B-Value (K)	Material constant (2000-5000K)	Determines sensitivity across operating range
Tolerance	Resistance deviation ( 1% to 15%)	Affects measurement accuracy
Operating Temp Range	-100 C to +600 C (varies by type)	Environmental suitability
Dissipation Factor	mW/ C (self-heating coefficient)	Power consumption and stability considerations

5. Application Fields

Primary industries utilizing NTC thermistors:

Industrial: Process control ( 0.5 C accuracy), motor protection
Consumer Electronics: Battery management (Li-ion charging), smart thermostats
Medical: Patient monitoring (Class F accuracy), lab equipment
Automotive: Battery pack thermal monitoring (ISO 14001 compliance), ECU protection

Notable application example: Tesla Model S battery management system uses 48-channel NTC array for cell temperature monitoring ( 1 C accuracy).

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Key Products	Technical Highlights
Murata Electronics	NXFT Series	Automotive-grade (AEC-Q200), 0.5 C accuracy, -50 C to +150 C range
TE Connectivity	NTCLE Series	Medical certification (IEC 60601), 3.2mm chip format
Vishay Beyschlag	NTCAl Series	Aluminum housing, 50W power handling, IP68 rating

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations for NTC thermistor selection:

Resistance-Temperature curve matching application requirements
Environmental factors: humidity (IP rating), vibration (automotive shock specs)
Electrical parameters: operating current (self-heating effects)
Form factor constraints (SMD vs through-hole)
Calibration requirements (standard vs customized R-T tables)

Recommend verifying long-term stability (aging rate <0.2%/year) and RoHS compliance for production applications.

8. Industry Trends

Emerging developments include:

Micro-NTC fabrication (MEMS-based, <0.1mm chips)
High-temperature stability improvements (up to 600 C operation)
Integration with wireless sensor networks (Zigbee/LoRa compatibility)
AI-enhanced linearization algorithms (reducing external circuit complexity)

Market growth projected at 8.2% CAGR through 2027 driven by EV battery management demands.