Experiences with MnO2 tantalum capacitors in the past may have caused some engineers to look at alternatives. However, a decade of a new Polymer tantalum solve many of the previous challenges, especially in Automotive applications. KEMET's T598 Polymer Electrolytic Capacitor is an AEC-Q200 qualified solution for automotive. Presented by Jayson Young at the 2016 AEC Reliability Workshop

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Last Decade’s MnO2 Experiences Are Not
This Decade’s Polymer Reality

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Tantalum
Last Decade’s MnO2 Experiences
Are Not
This Decade’s Polymer Reality
AEC Reliability Workshop 2016
Jayson Young

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Tantalum #TRUTH
Issues in the Past
• Shortages/Price Fluctuation
– 2000 (dot-com Bubble)
– 2011 (Dodd-Frank Act)
• Safety
– MnO2 cathodes - popular in
automotive - have safety concerns
• Conflict Minerals
– Tungsten, Tin, Tantalum, Gold
The Great Ammo Shortage of 2013

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Increased production
to meet demand by
electronic manufac-
turers in response to
the “dot-com boom”
Reduced mine
production in
response to
decreased
demand from
the burst of the
“dot-com
bubble” and
offtake from
excess inventory
Reduced production
at Greenbushes
Mine, Australia, and
termination of US
National Defense
Stockpile
Increased global production largely
originating from the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Rwanda
Start of the global recession and
suspension of tantalum mining at the
Greenbushes and Wodgina Mines in
Australia
Decreased production
caused by a global recession
and reduced demand
Increased production
resulting from higher
demand with the recovery
from the global recession
Significant
increases in
Rwandan
mine
production
Difficulties in aligning the tantalum ore supply
chain with market demand from 2000 to 2010
Annualproductionoftantalumcontainedinconcentrates,metrictons
Market trajectory of Tantalum Capacitors
(No scale included)
2015
2016F
2015E
Passage of
Dodd-Frank
Act

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Tantalum Ore Sources
More than Sufficient
June-2014
US Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2014-3054
Until recently, Africa was believed to hold nearly 80% of the world’s deposits.

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Conflict Free: Section 1502 of Dodd-Frank
Why Dodd-Frank Mattered
• Established a “play book” for
responsible DRC sourcing.
• Companies registered with
the SEC must perform due
diligence.
1 iTSCi 2014 Program Report
2 USGS Mineral Commodities Survey Report
96% 63% 58% 57%
Since Dodd-Frank
• 2011-2014 tantalum exports from
DRC region increased 4x 1
• 79% of tantalum now sourced
from Africa 2
• 96% of all tantalum smelters now
validated as conflict free
Conflict-Free Sourcing
Initiative
• Smelters are “pinch-point” in
the supply chain
• Established audit protocol/
procedures to validate
compliant smelters only
source conflict free minerals.

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The Automotive Industry’s Active Role
(CFSI Partner Association)
Over 300 Member Companies
including Automotive

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The Supply Chain has Evolved
US Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2015-3079
Dec- 2015
KEMET Ore Source 2000-2010 KEMET Ore Sources 2010-2015
2000-2010
• Single mining region for
capacitor producers
(controlled supply).
• Traders were middle men
between mine and smelter
(controlled price).
2010-Present
• Multiple mines from multiple
regions of the world
(competition).
• Cap makers buy directly
from the mine - vertically
integrated process (remove
traders)
Break-Even Cost
Australia Hard Rock
Brazil Hard Rock
Brazil Artisanal
Africa Hard Rock
Africa Artisanal

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Tantalite Ore Prices
Post Dodd-Frank
Passage of
Dodd-Frank
Number of Certified Mines Increases
Australian Mines
in decline
Panic over
uncertainty
of new law
Prices returning
to Pre-DF levels
Cost primarily
absorbed by Ta
supply chain
African Mines
increase production

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Cutting Tools
High Temp
furnace parts
Chem process
equip, cathodic
system
Prosthetic
devices
Sputtering
targets
High temp
alloys
Projectile for
missiles
Surface
acoustic wave
filters, X-ray
film, etc.
Ta carbides
(7%)
Ta fab sheets,
plates, rods, wires
(22%)
Ta Powder
(41%)
Ta Ingot
(12%)
Others: Ta oxide,
lithium tantalite, etc.
(18%)
Medical
appliances
Automotive
components
Electronic
components
Semiconductor
Turbine
blade
Machinery
and
equipment
Medical
industry
Automotive
Electronics
Aerospace
Military
Various
industries
Capacitors
Electronic
parts
Austria (2)
Brazil (3)
China (18)
Estonia (1)
Germany (4)
India (1)
Japan (4)
Kazakhstan (1)
Mexico (1)
Russia (1)
Thailand (1)
United States (9)
Certified Smelters (96%)
12%
79%
5%
Tantalum - More than just Capacitors
2014 Mine Sources
4%
Camera
Lens
Consumer

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Safety

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Safety Concerns are the Cathode systems,
not the Tantalum anode
Tantalum Capacitor Classes:
– Wet Cathodes
– Solid Polymer Cathodes
– Solid MnO2 Cathodes
Ta
Ta2O5
MnO2PolyWet
+
-
No external
reactions
can occur
Crack/Imperfection
Reform
Dielectric
Oxidize
Polymer
Oxidize
MnO2
Too rapid of heating
can result in ignition
of the MnO2
Self-Healing
Anode
Dielectric
Cathode Options

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Breakdown Voltage Test
(100uF/16V: MnO2 Cathode vs Polymer Cathode)
MnO2
(Ignition)
Polymer
(No Ignition)
Surface residue
from neighboring
MnO2 Failure
10pc Sample Sizes
Post Test
Board
Test
Board
Layout
BDV Test Condition
• 2 Reflow Passes
• 85ºC
• 3.3V/sec ramp
• 1.0 Amp
• No series resistance
No External Damage
External
Damage
(Part was
Yellow)
MnO2
Polymer

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Understanding the
Advantages of Polymer

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DC/DC
Converter
USB/SSD5V
CPU0.9V/1.05V
DDR1.5V
I/O3.3V
48V DC/DC
Converter
12V
MLCC (X5R)
Polymer
IC Decoupling
Power Assist
for USB
 Cap Retention of Poly Ta minimizes ripple
 Stabilizes the power source
 Removes High Frequency noise
USB IC
5V
 High Energy Density
 Peak Power Assist
V
Time
Power from Battery
Power from CapacitorI
Time
- High Cap
- Low ESR
Why Polymer?
Today’s Actives need Today’s Passives!

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Recommended Voltage Derating
Based on Cathode Selection
Application
Voltage
MnO2
Voltage
Rating
Polymer
Voltage
Rating
1-1.5 4 2.5
3.3 6.3 4
5 10 6.3
12 25 16
24 50 35
28 50? 35 & 50
36 N/A 50
48 N/A 63 & 75
10V
Replacing MnO2 with Polymer
5V
6V
12V
25V
16V
100uF
100uF 220uF
47uF 100uF
6V
MnO2
Option
Poly
Opt. #1
Poly
Opt. #2
16V
47uF
Low Profile
MnO2 Polymer
%ofRatedVoltage
%ofRatedVoltage
Smaller
Footprint
Smaller Footprint
+ Higher
Capacitance
Higher
Capacitance
Lower
Profile

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Polymer Tantalum Attributes
Cap vs Voltage Cap vs FreqCap vs Temp Cap vs Time
Delivered
Capacitance
No Piezo
Noise
No Flex
Cracks
Non-Ignition
Failure Mode
Low
Profile
High Ripple
Handling
Stability
(MnO2)

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Electrical Performance of
Polymer vs MnO2
Polymer Tantalum
MnO2 Tantalum
MnO2 Tantalum
Polymer Tantalum
Cap/Voltage Range of Poly Ta

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The Shift from MnO2 to Polymer Cathodes
2000 2015
Polymer
(Growth Phase)
MnO2
(Declining Phase)
Consumer
Enterprise
Telecomm
Military/Aero
Space
AEC-Q200
Sales
Characteristic MnO2 Poly
High Reliability ✓ ✓
Long Life ✓ ✓
Stable Capacitance ✓ ✓
Volumetrically
Efficient ✓ ✓
Military Drawing ✓ ✓
AEC-Q200 Qualified ✓
Low ESR ✓
High Ripple Handling ✓
Improved Derating ✓
Safe Failure Mode ✓
Highest Energy
Density ✓
Industrial
Dot-com
Boom
Time
1999
Release
1987
Release
Intersection
Point (2015)
Medical
Polymer Pros
Polymer Cons
Characteristic MnO2 Poly
Leakage
0.01x
CV
0.1x
CV
Max Temp Range 230ºC 125ºC
Polymer
MnO2

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Automotive Grade (T598 Series)
Full AEC-Q200 Qualified
AEC Q-200 Rev D Table of Methods for Tantalum Capacitors
Stress Test Name Conditions
Std Poly
Series
T591
Series
T598
Series
High Temp Exposure (Storage) 125° C, Unbiased, 1000 Hrs ✗ ✓* ✓
Temperature Cycling -55° C to 125° C, 1000 Cycles ✗ ✓ ✓
Biased Humidity 85° C, 85% RH, Biased, 1000 Hrs ✗ (500Hr) ✓
Operational Life 125° C, Biased, 1000 Hrs ✗ ✓ ✓
Resistance to Solvents Mil-Std-202, Meth. 215 ✓ ✓ ✓
Mechanical Shock Mil-Std-202, Meth. 213, Cond F ✓ ✓ ✓
Vibration Mil-Std-202, Meth. 208, 5G’s-20min ✓ ✓ ✓
Resistance to Soldering Heat Mil-Std-202, Meth. 210, Cond D ✓ ✓ ✓
ESD AEC-Q200- 002 or ISO/DIS 10605 ✓ ✓ ✓
Solderability J-STD-002 ✓ ✓ ✓
Terminal Strength AEC Q200-006 ✓ ✓ ✓
*105°C & 125°C Offerings. See Part Number Table.
T591/T598 Series are PPAP/PSW and Change Control
Notification. Produced in an ISO TS 16949 Certified Facility.

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Polymer Caps in Automotive Applications
T591 (Partial Q200)
T598 (Full AEC-Q200)

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T598 Series: 125ºC Life Testing
Extended from 1000 Hrs to 5000 Hrs
(7343-30, 220uF, 10V, 25mOhm)
Q200 Time Limit Q200 Time Limit
Q200 Time Limit Q200 Time Limit
95 pcs sample size

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T598 Series: 125ºC Life Testing
Extended from 1000 Hrs to 5000 Hrs
(3528-20, 47uF, 10V, 70mOhm)
Q200 Time Limit Q200 Time Limit
Q200 Time Limit Q200 Time Limit
95 pcs sample size

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For More Information:
www.kemet.com/kocap