Temperature Sensors - NTC Thermistors

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
ACW006 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 50KOHM 4201K BEAD	0
ACC003 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 5KOHM 3934K BEAD	234
1DC502J-EC Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 5KOHM 3934K DISC	1
ACC013 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 5KOHM 3934K BEAD	0
ACM011 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3475K BEAD	75
ACC024 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3934K BEAD	195
DG103350 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3475K BEAD	109
ACW007 Ametherm	THERM NTC 100KOHM 4201K BEAD	162
PANR103338-490 Ametherm	THERM NTC 10KOHM 3380K RING LUG	0
1DC103J-EC Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3934K DISC	79
DG103395 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3934K BEAD	207
DG503410 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 50KOHM 4201K BEAD	106
PANW 103395 Ametherm	THERM NTC 10KOHM 3934K PROBE	34
SM06 103370 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3782K 0603	0
ACC023 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 5KOHM 3934K BEAD	0
NT05 15291-A Ametherm	THERM NTC 1.5KOHM 3934K RADIAL	0
ACC004 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3934K BEAD	105
PANW103395-395 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 10KOHM 3950K STUD	362
ACW025 Ametherm	THERMISTOR NTC 30KOHM 4201K BEAD	0
ACC001 Ametherm	THERM NTC 2.252KOHM 3934K BEAD	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.