Ceramic capacitor: The ceramic capacitor is a type of capacitor that is used in many applications

from audio to RF. Values range from a few picofarads to around 0.1 microfarads. Ceramic capacitor
types are by far the most commonly used type of capacitor being cheap and reliable and their loss
factor is particularly low although this is dependent on the exact dielectric in use. In view of their
constructional properties, these capacitors are widely used both in leaded and surface mount
formats eramic capacitors are one of the most widely used forms of capacitor used in electronics
equipment these days.
Ceramic capacitors have also been used for many years, being found in valve or tube circuits dating
from the 1930s.
Today ceramic capacitors area available in a variety of formats ranging from leaded components to
surface mount technology, SMT varieties. As leaded versions disc ceramic capacitors are widely
available, and as SMT devices, multilayer ceramic capacitors or MLCCs are available in all the
common formats. As such these ceramic capacitors are used in virtually every type of electronics
equipment.

The actual performance of the ceramic capacitors is highly dependent upon the dielectric used. Using
modern dielectrics, very high values are available, but it is also necessary to check parameters such
as the temperature coefficient and tolerance. Different levels of performance are often governed by
the dielectric used, and therefore it is necessary to choose the type of dielectric in the ceramic
capacitor.
Ceramic capacitors range in value from figures as low as a few picofarads to around 0.1 microfarads.
In view of the wide range and suitability for RF applications they are used for coupling and decoupling
applications in particular. Here they are by far the most commonly used type being cheap and reliable
and the loss factor is particularly low although this is dependent on the exact dielectric in use.

Electrolytic capacitor: Electrolytic capacitors are a type of capacitor that is polarised. They are able
to offer high capacitance values - typically above 1μF, and are most widely used for low frequency
applications - power supplies, decoupling and audio coupling applications as they have a frequency
limit if around 100 kHz. Today electrolytic capacitors or as they are more correctly termed, aluminum
electrolytic capacitors are used in huge quantities.
They are very cost effective and able to provide a larger capacitance per volume than other types of
capacitor. This gives them very many uses in circuits where high currents or low frequencies are
involved. Aluminium electrolytic capacitors are typically used most in applications such as audio
amplifiers of all types (hi-fi to mobile phones) and in power supply circuits.
Like any other capacitor, it is necessary to understand the advantages and limitations of these
capacitors to enable them to be used most effectively.
Tantalum capacitor: Like electrolytic capacitors, tantalum capacitors are also polarised and offer a
very high capacitance level for their volume. However this type of capacitor is very intolerant of being
reverse biased, often exploding when placed under stress. This type of capacitor must also not be
subject to high ripple currents or voltages above their working voltage. They are available in both
leaded and surface mount formats. Tantalum capacitors are widely used in electronics design these
days. Tantalum capacitors offer a form of capacitor that provides a very high capacity density.
As a result this form of capacitor has found widespread use in many areas of electronics. In view of
its size and the attainable levels of capacitance, these capacitors are widely used in many mass
produced items of electronics equipment.
The tantalum capacitor is similar to the electrolytic capacitor, but using tantalum within the construction
of the capacitor it is able to offer extremely high levels of capacitance for any given volume.

As such tantalum capacitors are widely used in electronics equipment where there is a need for small
size and a high level of capacitance. In view of its advantages, the tantalum capacitor is used in large
volumes within the electronics manufacturing industry.
Silver Mica Capacitor: Silver mica capacitors are not as widely used these days, but they
still offer very high levels of stability, low loss and accuracy where space is not an issue.
They are primarily used for RF applications and and they are limited to maximum values of
1000 pF or so.
Silver mica capacitors have been widely used as high performance capacitors over the years. Although
silver mica capacitors are not as widely used, these days, nevertheless they are still available and
used in a variety of applications where their particular properties are needed.
Two main reason for the decline in the use of silver mica capacitors is their size, resulting from the
materials used and their construction. The cost of silver mica capacitors is higher than many other
types that can often be used these days.

Polystyrene Film Capacitor: Polystyrene capacitors are a relatively cheap form of capacitor but
offer a close tolerance capacitor where needed. They are tubular in shape resulting from the fact that
the plate / dielectric sandwich is rolled together, but this adds inductance limiting their frequency
response to a few hundred kHz. They are generally only available as leaded electronics components.
Polyester Film Capacitor: Polyester film capacitors are used where cost is a consideration as they
do not offer a high tolerance. Many polyester film capacitors have a tolerance of 5% or 10%, which is
adequate for many applications. They are generally only available as leaded electronics
components. The polyester uses a polyester film for its dielectric which sits between the two capacitor
plates.
It is the properties of this dielectric that gives the polyester capacitor its unique properties.
These capacitors also are known by the trade name Mylar capacitors as this is a trade name for the
polyester dielectric film used. Also the capacitors may be referred to as PET because the synthetic
polyester material used goes by this abbreviation.

 Metallised Polyester Film Capacitor: This type of capacitor is a essentially a form of

polyester film capacitor where the polyester films themselves are metallised. The advantage
of using this process is that because their electrodes are thin, the overall capacitor can be
contained within a relatively small package. The metallised polyester film capacitors are
generally only available as leaded electronics components.
Polycarbonate capacitor: The polycarbonate capacitors has been used in applications where
reliability and performance are critical. The polycarbonate film is very stable and enables high
tolerance capacitors to be made which will hold their capacitance value over time. In addition they
have a low dissipation factor, and they remain stable over a wide temperature range, many being
specified from -55°C to +125°C. However the manufacture of polycarbonate dielectric has ceased and
their production is now very limited. The polycarbonate capacitor has been available for many years.
The polycarbonate dielectric material is very stable having a high tolerance and can operate over a
temperature of range of typically -55°C to +125°C without de-rating. Additionally the insulation
resistance and dissipation factor are good and the dielectric constant means that polycarbonate
capacitors are a reasonable size for their capacitance.
While polycarbonate capacitors have been widely used within many electronics circuits and found
favour with many electronics design centres, they are not as widely used these days. The Bayer
Corporation which manufactures the majority of polycarbonate announced in 2000 that it was to
discontinue production of the dielectric film used in these capacitors.
Although many saw this as the end of polycarbonate capacitors, there are still some smaller sources
of the dielectric material and some capacitors are still made.
However many are cautious about using polycarbonate capacitors in new electronics designs as there
are fewer suppliers, and relying on a single source for the long term supply of an electronics
component is not wise.
Polypropylene Capacitor: The polypropylene capacitor is sometimes used when a higher tolerance
type of capacitor is necessary than polyester capacitors offer. As the name implies, this capacitor uses
a polypropylene film for the dielectric. One of the advantages of the capacitor is that there is very little
change of capacitance with time and voltage applied. This type of capacitor is also used for low
frequencies, with 100 kHz or so being the upper limit. They are generally only available as leaded
electronics components. The polycarbonate capacitor has been available for many years. The
polycarbonate dielectric material is very stable having a high tolerance and can operate over a
temperature of range of typically -55°C to +125°C without de-rating. Additionally the insulation
resistance and dissipation factor are good and the dielectric constant means that polycarbonate
capacitors are a reasonable size for their capacitance.
While polycarbonate capacitors have been widely used within many electronics circuits and found
favour with many electronics design centres, they are not as widely used these days. The Bayer
Corporation which manufactures the majority of polycarbonate announced in 2000 that it was to
discontinue production of the dielectric film used in these capacitors.
Although many saw this as the end of polycarbonate capacitors, there are still some smaller sources
of the dielectric material and some capacitors are still made.
However many are cautious about using polycarbonate capacitors in new electronics designs as there
are fewer suppliers, and relying on a single source for the long term supply of an electronics
component is not wise.

Polypropylene is what is termed an addition polymer which is made from the monomer propylene. It
is rugged and unusually resistant to many chemical solvents, bases and acids, making it ideal for
many of its uses.
Glass capacitors: As the name implies, this capacitor type uses glass as the dielectric. Although
expensive, these capacitors offer very high levels or performance in terms of extremely low loss, high
RF current capability, no piezo-electric noise and other features making them ideal for many
performance RF applications. Glass capacitors are used where the ultimate performance is required
for RF circuits. Glass dielectric capacitors offer very high levels of performance, although their cost is
high when compared to many other forms of capacitor. Typically a glass capacitor will have a relatively
low capacitance value. The values of glass capacitors may range between a fraction of a picofarad up
to two to here thousand picofarads. As such these capacitors are used mainly in radio frequency circuit
design.
While the performance of glass capacitors is exceedingly high, this is also usually reflected in the cost
- it can run into many pounds or dollars for each component. As such glass dielectric capacitors are
reserved only for the most exacting RF requirements, often on low volume products where cost is not
such an issues as it is in high volume products. The supply of glass capacitors is also limited to a small
number of manufacturers and suppliers, and the capacitors may not be available ex-stock.

Supercap: Also known as a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor, as the name implies these capacitors
have very large values of capacitance, of up to several thousand Farads. They find uses for providing
a memory hold-up supply and also within automotive applications. As the name indicates, the
supercapacitor is a specialised form of capacitor with an exceedingly high level of capacitance.
These devices which are also known as supercaps or ultracapacitors may have capacitance levels up
to several thousand farads and as a result they are half way between a capacitor and a battery. These
capacitors may also be known as double-layer capacitors as a result of the way in which they are
constructed.