Tantalum Capacitors

WET tantalum capacitors are known for their significantly higher energy density, reaching up to 1000 J/dm³ compared to the mere 12 J/dm³ of solid tantalum capacitors. They also have the advantage of higher voltage ratings, supporting up to 150 V, and can operate at much higher temperatures, up to 200°C.

On the other hand, solid tantalum capacitors offer benefits such as miniaturization, high long-term stability, and very low equivalent series resistance (ESR), making them ideal for applications requiring compact and reliable components.

High temperature tantalum products are designed for use in situations where you might be using down-hoe drilling equipment, for example. They are ideal for this type of input and output due to their capabilities for high ripple current. They have also been known to have the additional benefit of current values that offer lower leakage compared to other types of capacitor technologies.

These capacitors offer a very high charge per unit of volume, a long lifetime and a high reliability. They are used in consumer goods and more specialized niches including space vehicles, aircraft electronics, weapons and rail transport. Exxelia develops both solid and wet tantalum capacitors.

A tantalum capacitor is a specific type of electrolytic capacitor. It is made from a metal called tantalum, which is where it gets its name. Tantalum acts as an anode. The capacitor itself is covered in a thin layer of oxide, which allows it to act as the dielectric. It is surrounded by a conductive cathode. One of the major benefits of tantalum capacitors is that their design allows for a very thin layer of dielectric, which allows for higher capacitance than other types of capacitors made from different types of materials. These types of capacitors are generally polarized, which means that in practice they can only be connected to a direct current power supply that has been designed while observing the appropriate terminal polarity. They have excellent stability over time and superior frequency characteristics when compared to different types of similar capacitors that are made from different materials.