Flexibility Helps Move Flex Cracks into Safe Zone
GREENVILLE, S.C., Nov. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Always looking toward
the future for capacitance solutions, KEMET Corporation (NYSE: KEM) today
announces a new MLCC capacitor that utilizes a soft termination to help
decrease the chances of board flex cracking. This innovative capacitor will
be available first quarter 2007.
MLCC cracking due to board assembly and handling has been an industry-
wide issue for some time. Thanks to KEMET's innovation, these capacitors will
be able to withstand flexing: Soft termination adds pliability to the end
termination, shifting any flex crack that may occur into the termination
area -- and away from active layers. This can reduce the risk of capacitor
failure due to an electrical short.
"KEMET now offers a complete portfolio of products designed to mitigate
the effects of board-induced flex cracks," says John Prymak, Applications
Manager. "This is especially important on power or battery lines where short-
circuit failures cannot be tolerated."
In addition to soft termination on the MLCCs, KEMET is currently
developing the following products to further diminish cracking instances:
-- "Clip-on Lead Frame" MLCCs, which will not crack from any board
flexing: This is an industry first
-- "Extended Termination" MLCCs; these will be designed to simultaneously
improve flex robustness while providing lower inductance
Prymak went on to say, "By choosing the correct KEMET product, designers
now have the option to find the capacitor that best meets their needs. Flex
crack may be controlled to change the short-circuit failure to a benign open-
circuit failure, or the occurrence of the crack may be moved to a higher flex
level, or it may be eliminated altogether."
KEMET's release of these products -- in addition to their current
offerings, such as the Open-Mode MLCC -- allows designers a wider variety of
choices and solutions for all available capacitance values. The chart below
showcases the full line of KEMET capacitors that address flex-cracking issues.
Samples are now available.
Moves Out
Point of
Failure Eliminates
During Board Catastrophic Eliminates
Solution Type Status Flex Failure Mode Flex
Cracks
Soft Samples X
Termination MLCC Available
Now
Extended
Termination MLCC Under X
Development
Open Mode MLCC Available X
Now
Floating
Electrode MLCC Available X
Now
Ta SMD Ta &
AO Available X
Now
Leaded Ta &
MLCC Available X
Now
Clip-on
Lead Frame MLCC Samples X
Available
Now
KEMET Corporation provides industry-leading, high-performance capacitance
solutions, including the world's most complete line of surface-mount
capacitor technologies across tantalum, ceramic and solid aluminum
dielectrics -- along with the world's best quality, delivery and service.
KEMET's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol KEM. KEMET is an ISO 9001:2000 and ISO/TS 16949:2002 certified
company.