Electrolytic capacitor failure analysis case

How much water a bucket can hold depends on its shortest plank. How long a product can be used depends on its shortest life component; it is often heard that every 10 °C rise in temperature, product performance is degraded by half, do you know why? And look at the analysis of the mechanism of electrolytic capacitor failure degradation.

 Electrolytic capacitor failure background 

The electrical characteristics of the defective products are extremely poor, and there are convex defects at the explosion-proof holes and the rubber cover.

Picture of the invalid sample:

Failure mode:

Poor electrical, explosion-proof holes and rubber cover bulging.

Reason for failure:

The electrolyte is vaporized, causing an increase in internal pressure which causes the explosion-proof hole and the rubber cover to bulge. The electrical capacity is low, the loss angle is large, and the leakage current is infinite, presenting an open circuit condition.

Analysis conclusion:

From the DPA disassembly analysis of the failed samples, it can be seen that the abnormal returning elements have a black color, and the electrolytic paper adheres to the positive and negative aluminum foils. It can be seen from this phenomenon that the product should be caused by failure under long-term high temperature. Since the product vaporizes the electrolyte to generate gas under the action of long-term high temperature, the positive foil chemically reacts with the moisture in the gas over time, and an intimate water and aluminum oxide are formed on the surface of the positive foil to oxidize the original. The film covering, together with the electrolytic paper, also deteriorates and adheres to the surface of the positive and negative aluminum foil in such an environment, so that the capacity of the positive foil cannot be used, thereby causing the badness.

Table 1 Main failure modes and failure mechanisms of common electrolytic capacitors

Capacitor type	Failure mode	Failure mechanism
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors	Leakage	The seal is not good, the rubber is aged and cracked, and the electrolyte is volatilized under high temperature and high pressure.
	Burst	The AC voltage in the working voltage is too large, the oxide film medium is defective, and there are harmful ions such as chloride ions or sulfate groups, and the internal gas pressure is high.
	open circuit	Electrochemical corrosion, lead to poor contact between the foil and the anode, oxidation at the riveting.
	fracture	The anodized film is partially damaged, and the electrolyte is aged to protect it from dryness and poor process.
	Increased capacitance loss	The electrolyte loss is high, and the viscosity of the electrolyte increases at low temperatures.
	Increased leakage current	Oxide film has poor compactness, oxide film damage, severe staining of chloride ions, problem of working electrolyte formulation, and low purity of raw materials.
	Leakage	The sealing process is not added, and the anode surface is rough and the negative electrode lead is improperly soldered.

 

 Electrolytic capacitor knowledge supplement 

In troubleshooting process and application problems, the fatal failure of a capacitor is usually caused by a dielectric failure. A dielectric failure is usually a chemical effect. For a capacitor with good sealing properties, the medium is not contaminated by air. The dielectric failure is time, temperature and temperature. A function of voltage.

The relationship between time and temperature affects the chemical action or degradation rate, that is, the performance is degraded by half for every 10 °C rise in temperature; for example, a capacitor operating at a temperature of 100 ° C has a lifetime of 90 ° C. The same capacitor has half the life.

Shenzhen Jinmaoyuan Technology Co., Ltd. is a professional aluminum electrolytic capacitor manufacturer.“YTF capacitor” is our own brand.Our company also has a complete and scientific quality management system to ensure product quality.