New Industry Products

KEMET Introduces True Fail Open Tantalum Capacitor

January 21, 2013 by Jeff Shepard

KEMET Corporation has introduced its new T496 Hi-Rel Fused Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) MnO2 Series of tantalum surface mount capacitors. These devices are ideal for use in high reliability applications where a capacitor failing short will disrupt the overall performance of the system. The internal fuse in the capacitor results in a fail open condition.

"KEMET's T496 COTS Series offers our customers a true fail open tantalum capacitor," stated Dr. Philip Lessner, KEMET's Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Scientist. "Fuse actuation makes it possible for this failure mode to eliminate any concerns with parts failing short by ensuring that the capacitor is isolated from the circuit, thereby increasing overall reliability."

The T496 Hi-Rel Fused COTS MnO2 Series is available in DLA (DSCC) Drawing 04053 and can be ordered with a variety of options including surge current testing, Weibull Grading, termination options, and various ESR levels. A customizable testing and screening protocol is available upon customer request.

Typical applications include decoupling and filtering in computing, telecommunication, defense, and industrial end applications requiring a built-in fuse capability. This includes filtering for point of load and switch mode power supplies.

Typical markets include defense and aerospace, computer, industrial, lighting, and telecommunications. These devices range in price from $0.50 and higher, and complement KEMET's T493, T497, T513, T540, T541, and T543 series of COTS capacitors.