Summary of Capacitor Types

jb Summary of Capacitor Types

0 comments 2010-11-22 14:56:55 views

The table below gives and overview of the main characteristics of the various types of capacitor.

Capacitor types	Capacitance range	Accuracy	Temperature stability	Leakage	Comments
Electrolytic	0.1 µF - ~1 F	V poor	V poor	Poor	Polarised capacitor - widely used in power supplies for smoothing, and bypass where accuracy, etc is not required.
Ceramic	10 pF - 1 µF	Variable	Variable	Average	Exact performanceof capacitor depends to a large extent on the ceramic used.
Tantalum	0.1 µF - 500 µF	Poor	Poor	Poor	Polarised capacitor - very high capacitance density.
Silver mica	1 pF - 3000 pF	Good	Good	Good	Rather expensive and large - not widely used these days except when small value accurate capacitors are needed.
Polyester (Mylar)	0.001 µF - 50 µF	Good	Poor	Good	Inexpensive, and popular for non-demanding applications.
Polystyrene	10 pF - 1 µF	V good	Good	V good	High quality, often used in filters and the like where accuracy is needed.
Polycarbonate	100 pF - 20 µF	V good	V good	Good	Used in many high tolerance and hash environmental conditions. Supply now restricted.
Polypropylene	100pF - 50 µF	V good	Good	V good	High performance and low dielectric absorption.
Teflon	100 pF - 1 µF	V good	V v good	V v good	High performance - lowest dielectric absorption.
Glass	10 pF - 1000 pF	Good	Good	V good	Excellent for very harsh environments while offering good stability. Very expensive.
Porcelain	100 pF - 0.1 µF	Good	Good	Good	Good long term stability
Vacuum and air	1 pF - 10 000 pF				Often used as variable capacitors in transmitters as a result of their very high voltage capability.