Film capacitors are commonly used electronic components in our electronic products. Film capacitors are constructed by using metal foil as electrodes and various plastic films like polyester, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polycarbonate as the dielectric. These materials are overlapped and wound into a cylindrical shape. Film capacitors are frequently found in many circuits. What are their advantages and functions?
Small Size:
Film capacitors can be manufactured in very small sizes due to the use of thin film as the dielectric, which ensures they do not take up much space when installed. For example, JYH HSU’s CBB21X ultra-miniature polypropylene film capacitors, CL21X ultra-miniature polyester film capacitors, CL11 polyester capacitors, and CL23B correction capacitors are all available in particularly small sizes.
Large Capacitance
While film capacitors have relatively smaller capacitance compared to electrolytic capacitors, they can achieve larger capacitance values compared to ceramic capacitors. This allows them to store more electrical energy.
Good Stability
The stability of film capacitors is significantly better than that of electrolytic capacitors and ceramic capacitors. They are less likely to experience performance changes due to long usage or environmental changes. High-quality film capacitors can function without issues for 5-10 years.
Self-Healing Properties
One distinctive feature of film capacitors is their self-healing properties, which can be categorized into discharge self-healing and electrochemical self-healing. This means that many times, if a film capacitor is damaged, it does not need to be replaced as it can self-heal. This reduces the cost of capacitor replacement, maintenance, troubleshooting, and minimizes downtime due to machine failures.
High Operating Frequency
Film capacitors can typically operate at higher frequencies. For instance, JYH HSU’s CBB81 resonant capacitors and MMKP82 double-sided metallized capacitors can operate stably in high-pulse circuits.
Low Leakage Current
Film capacitors generally have high insulation strength and low leakage current due to their insulating film. This effectively reduces circuit power consumption and noise, with minimal internal temperature rise and heat generation.
This article was provided by JYH HSU (JEC) Electronics Ltd (or Dongguan Zhixu Electronic Co., Ltd.), an electronic components manufacturer who produces all kinds of capacitors and resistors.
Post time: Jun-12-2024