bobsun
Full Member level 2
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Hello,
I would like to ask a question on tantalum capacitor.
I have heard that electrolytic capacitors could sometimes break, such as from this Wikipedia paragraph:
Electrolytic capacitor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Purely electrolytic capacitors could possibly explode; however, for tantalum type polarized capacitor, does it belong to electrolytic type? Can it possible explode?
Bob
I would like to ask a question on tantalum capacitor.
I have heard that electrolytic capacitors could sometimes break, such as from this Wikipedia paragraph:
Electrolytic capacitor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Most electrolytic capacitors are polarized and require one of the electrodes to be positive relative to the other; they may catastrophically fail if voltage is reversed. This is because a reverse-bias voltage above 1 to 1.5 V[2][3][4] will destroy the center layer of dielectric material via electrochemical reduction (see redox reactions). Following the loss of the dielectric material, the capacitor will short circuit, and with sufficient short circuit current, the electrolyte will rapidly heat up and either leak or cause the capacitor to burst, often in spectacularly dramatic fashion.
...
Modern capacitors have a safety valve, typically either a scored section of the can, or a specially designed end seal to vent the hot gas/liquid, but ruptures can still be dramatic. An electrolytic can withstand a reverse bias for a short period, but will conduct significant current and not act as a very good capacitor. Most will survive with no reverse DC bias or with only AC voltage, but circuits should be designed so that there is not a constant reverse bias for any significant amount of time.
...
Modern capacitors have a safety valve, typically either a scored section of the can, or a specially designed end seal to vent the hot gas/liquid, but ruptures can still be dramatic. An electrolytic can withstand a reverse bias for a short period, but will conduct significant current and not act as a very good capacitor. Most will survive with no reverse DC bias or with only AC voltage, but circuits should be designed so that there is not a constant reverse bias for any significant amount of time.
Purely electrolytic capacitors could possibly explode; however, for tantalum type polarized capacitor, does it belong to electrolytic type? Can it possible explode?
Bob