Temperature Sensors - NTC Thermistors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MF11-0200010 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 2KOHM 3950K DISC	0
CWF1B103H3380 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	1603
CMFB3970104HNT Cantherm	THERM NTC 100KOHM 3970K 0805	0
MF11-0002005 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 20OHM 2950K DISC	0
MF11-3300010 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 33KOHM DISC	0
MF52A1103F3380 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	1258
MF52A472J3470 Cantherm	THERM NTC 4.7KOHM 3470K BEAD	0
CMFX3435103JNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3435K 0402	2223
MF52A1103G3380 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	4797
CMFB3200202JNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 2KOHM 3200K 0805	0
CWF1B104J3950 Cantherm	THERM NTC 100KOHM 3950K BEAD	0
CWF3AA503G3950 Cantherm	THERM NTC 50KOHM 3950K PROBE	293
MF51E103E3950 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM BEAD	5139
MF52F103F3380 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	0
MF58103F3380 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	5738
CMFA3970103JNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3970K 0603	5476
MF52A1104H4150 Cantherm	THERM NTC 100KOHM 4150K BEAD	10324
CWF1B103G3380 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3380K BEAD	689
MF11-0025010 Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 250OHM 3600K DISC	0
CMFB3900223JNT Cantherm	THERMISTOR NTC 22KOHM 3900K 0805	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.