Murata Launches Polymer Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

New High Capacitance, Conductive Polymer Capacitors Expand Murata's Already Extensive Product Offerings

Smyrna, GA - Murata Electronics North America, a world-leading innovator in electronics and the largest global supplier of ceramic passive components, today introduced the ECAS series of polymer aluminum electrolytic capacitors. This is the first non-ceramic based capacitor product for Murata to be released into full production volume and is the result of Murata's purchase of Showa Denko K.K.'s （SDK） conductive polymer capacitor business. Polymer capacitors exhibit strong equivalent series resistance （ESR） performance compared to traditional electrolytic capacitors and provide similar characteristics when compared to multi-layer ceramic capacitors （MLCCs）。 The ECAS series allows Murata to greatly expand its high capacitance offerings, giving customers a full range of capacitor solutions. Markets for the ECAS series capacitor include computer, digital audio visual and telecom for overall power management.

The ECAS series has a resin molded case structure, utilizing multilayer aluminum foil for anode and solid conductive polymer for negative cathode. This surface mount design can be soldered using traditional reflow methods. The offered capacitance range is from 6.8uF to 470uF with rated voltages from 2VDC to 16VDC. It is available in a case size of 7.3mm x 4.3mm with three different thickness options. The high capacitance value and low ESR lead to low impedance at high frequency （up to 500kHz） thus providing excellent noise suppression, ripple absorption and decoupling abilities on power lines. In addition, the ECAS series offers capacitance stability at high operating frequencies and high temperatures. Unlike MLCCs, these capacitors do not exhibit capacitance drop with applied DC voltage. The operating temperature range is -40°C to 105°C and all are RoHS compliant.

“Our strategy is to complement our existing MLCC line of components so that we can offer a wide range of capacitor solutions. Murata's entry into the polymer capacitor market with the ECAS series is significant as it supports our goal to become a complete capacitor manufacturer,” said Mark Waugh, Senior Product Manager, Business Development for New Capacitor Products. “As the largest global supplier of passive components, Murata will continue to develop both ceramic and non-ceramic technologies to position us as the preferred provider of cutting-edge capacitors.”

Sample pricing of Murata's ECAS series is approximately $0.35 to $1.60 depending on the part number and the lead-time is stock to six weeks.

With the addition of the new ECAS series, Murata now provides a line of polymer aluminum electrolytic capacitors to complement Murata's existing MLCC products as well as a variety of ceramic capacitors in a wide range of voltages. Specifically, Murata makes monolithic capacitors （capacitors for general-purpose and automotive, medium voltage capacitors, safety standard recognized capacitors, lead type capacitors）， disc capacitors （medium voltage capacitors, safety standard recognized capacitors）， high frequency single layer microchip capacitors and ceramic trimmer capacitors. Murata also provides technical support that includes design kits and a comprehensive set of software tools to simulate virtually any circuit condition.

About Murata Electronics North America

Murata Electronics North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., whose global headquarters are in Kyoto, Japan. Established in 1944, Murata Manufacturing is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components and power supply modules. With annual revenues in excess of ?524 billion, Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. Products include: RF & microwave front end filters, connectivity modules, sensors, ceramic chip antennas, GaAs switches and Switchplexers（TM）， baluns, couplers, isolators, coaxial connectors, RF test points, DC-DC converters, traps, discriminators, ceramic capacitors, EMI filters, inductors, piezoelectric alarms, ceramic resonators, trimming potentiometers, trimming capacitors and thermistors. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.