Are aluminum electrolytic capacitors a good choice?

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are an attractive solution for applications requiring high voltage ratings, large capacitance, and high ripple current capabilities. They can fulfill key requirements such as high voltage ratings of up to 500 V, large capacitance of up to 820 µF, and an operating temperature range of -40 °C to 105 °C.

What is the international standard for aluminum electrolytic capacitors?

The international standard for aluminum electrolytic capacitors is IEC 60384-4. The sectional specification mentioned above is complemented by a set of detail specifications that applies to specific design types (e.g. electrolytic capacitors with axial wire leads).

How does an aluminum electrolytic capacitor form?

The dielectric layer of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is created by anodic oxidation (forming) to build up an aluminum oxide layer on the foil. The layer thickness increases in proportion to the forming voltage at a rate of approximately 1.2 nm/V.

What is the anode of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor?

The anode of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is an aluminum foil of extreme purity. The effective surface area of this foil is greatly enlarged (by a factor of up to 200) by electrochemical etching in order to achieve the maximum possible capacitance values.

What is a cathode in an aluminum electrolytic capacitor?

In contrast to other capacitors, the counter electrode (the cathode) of aluminum electrolytic capacitors is a conductive liquid, the operating electrolyte. A second aluminum foil, the so-called cathode foil, serves as a large-surfaced contact area for passing current to the operating electrolyte.

Can aluminum electrolytic capacitors be stored voltage-free?

Our aluminum electrolytic capacitors can be stored voltage-free at the upper category temperature for a period of 1000 h. After preconditioning according to the procedure described in chapter "General technical information, 3.7.6 Reforming" on page 17, the capacitors will fulfill the following requirements at 20 °C: |C/C| ≤ 10% of initial values