Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. has announced a water-repellent monolithic ceramic capacitor developed by applying an innovative surface treatment. Electronic devices are becoming ever more compact and densely packed with components, with this comes an increase in the possibility of malfunctions influencing circuit operation due to ion migration. This capacitor has applications particularly in navigation systems, body control electronic control units (ECUs), air conditioner ECUs, meter ECUs and engine ECUs, etc. Sample shipments have already begun and the capacitor is scheduled to enter mass production within the year.
Ion migration may occur when voltage is applied to a capacitor where moisture is present between the electrodes. This may result in the anode metal becoming ionized and changing to a cathode. Then, when gaining electrons as a cathode, the metal may undergo the electrochemical phenomenon of deposition and growth that can eventually result in a short-circuit. This is particularly prone to occur when the capacitor is moistened by condensation.
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