NIPPON CHEMI-CON CORPORATION

Some characteristics of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor are temperature-dependent. The higher the temperature is, the more deteriorated the capacitor will be. An increase in temperature accelerates the increase in leakage current and tanδ and the decrease in capacitance. Leaving a capacitor exposed to high humidity for long hours may lead to discoloration of the lead wires and terminals, and poor solderability. To store aluminum electrolytic capacitors, keep them at normal temperature and humidity without exposure to direct sunlight.

Leaving them exposed to high temperatures (higher than the normal ambient temperature) for long periods of time may lead to chemical reactions between the anode oxide layer and electrolyte, which drop the withstanding voltage and increase leakage current. If this is the case, applying the rated voltage to the capacitor will lead to dielectric breakdown due to the heat produced with the large leakage current, which finally causes the pressure relief vent to open.

should be subjected to a voltage treatment process (see Note 1) which will reform the dielectric (AI2O3) by electrolyte and return the leakage current to the initial level. Leakage current increase during storage will vary with the withstanding voltage of a capacitor. In general, the higher the rated voltage, the larger increased the leakage current tends to be. Also, since storing for long period of time may shorten the lifetime of the capacitors, consider storage conditions according to the requirements of device life expectancy.

(Note 1) In the voltage treatment process, connecting resistor (around 1kΩ) in series with the capacitor, applied the rated voltage and then be kept the rated voltage for 30 to 60 minutes.