Introduction

In this technical review, we will analyze the performance of Murata Electronics' GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor against a statistical benchmark that is formed from other components with the same value. This component is a ceramic capacitor in the X6S series, featuring 47μF nominal value with a ±10% tolerance and 16 voltage rating. The capacitor comes in a 1210 (3225 Metric) package and is designed for surface mount applications.

The GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor will be evaluated based on its capacitance, series resistance, dissipation factor, and quality factor compared to the statistical benchmark data. Engineers will use this review to decide if this capacitor is suitable for their applications.

Here are the key pros and cons of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor:

• Pros:
• - Manufactured by Murata Electronics, a reputable company in the industry;
• - Ceramic X6S composition provides stability over a wide temperature range;
• - Low series resistance at higher test frequencies.
• Cons:
• - Dissipation factor tends to be higher at some test frequencies compared to the benchmark;
• - Quality factor performance varies over the test frequency range;
• - Significant variation in series capacitance at higher frequencies and voltages.

Impedance

In this section, we analyze the impedance of the Murata Electronics GRM32EC81C476KE15L ceramic capacitor. Impedance is an essential parameter for capacitors, particularly in applications where the frequency of operation varies.

During the review, we compare the component's LCR (inductance, capacitance, and resistance) measurements at 1 volt and 10 volts against the statistical impedance benchmarks provided for capacitors with similar values. At the test frequency of 100 kHz, the GRM32EC81C476KE15L has an impedance of 48mΩ, which outperforms the statistical benchmark's average of 319.4mΩ. Furthermore, at a test frequency of 500 kHz, the component has an impedance of 16.24mΩ, compared to the benchmark's average impedance of 282.6mΩ. This indicates that the GRM32EC81C476KE15L provides considerably lower impedance values in these test frequencies, thus enhancing the capacitor's efficiency and performance in applications with higher frequencies.

On the other hand, the GRM32EC81C476KE15L exhibits higher impedance values than the benchmark data in some circumstances. For instance, at the test frequency of 5 kHz, the component has an impedance of 879.5mΩ, while the benchmark's average is 1.003Ω. Similarly, at the test frequency of 50 kHz, the component's impedance is 92.42mΩ, compared to the benchmark average of 344.1mΩ. Despite having higher impedance values at these frequencies, the component still outperforms the benchmarks in specific applications.

Engineers exploring the optimal choice for capacitor applications should consider the frequency-dependency of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L's impedance values. Careful attention to the frequency-driven impedance changes will help in making an informed decision for an application. Its performance is superior to the statistical benchmark at certain test frequencies, making the GRM32EC81C476KE15L potentially more useful in specific applications that require efficient and reliable capacitors with low impedance levels.

Capacitance

The capacitance performance of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L ceramic capacitor, when measured at 1 volt using various test frequencies, displays fluctuations in comparison to the benchmark averages. At lower test frequencies such as 5k and below, the GRM32EC81C476KE15L exhibits measurements that are near or slightly above the average values. Particularly, the value of 54.29μF at 5Hz is noteworthy when compared to the average value of 49.2μF. However, as the test frequency increases from 5k to 20k, the performance encounters a slight decline below the average, before demonstrating improvement in the range of 50k to 100k test frequencies. The capacitance then experiences a significant increase from 400k (51.64μF) onwards, reaching its peak value at 700k (5.086mF). These values surpass the commonly observed measurements in the benchmark statistics.

Upon analyzing LCR measurements at 10 volts, captivating trends emerge. In the frequency range of 5Hz to 1kHz, the recorded capacitance consistently approximates average values. An outstanding value of 56.81μF at 100Hz deserves emphasis, as it challenges the maximum value observed in the benchmarks. While the GRM32EC81C476KE15L's capacitance measurements experience a dip below the average from 5k to 20k test frequencies, the performance greatly enhances at higher frequencies. For instance, the capacitance value experiences a substantial jump at 300k (53.7μF) with the highest values recorded at 450k (316.1μF) and 500k (394.8μF), illustrating the dynamic performance of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L ceramic capacitor depending on the test frequency.

Series Resistance

In this section, we will assess the series resistance performance of the Murata Electronics GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor in comparison to a statistical benchmark, considering other capacitors with similar values. This X6S dielectric, ceramic capacitor has a nominal capacitance of 47μF, a tolerance of ±10%, and a voltage rating of 16 volts.

Comparing the LCR measurements of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor at 1 volt to the statistical benchmark data, we can see that the series resistance of this capacitor consistently outperforms the average across most of the tested frequencies. For example, at the test frequency of 100 kHz, the capacitor's series resistance (16.16m ohms) is significantly lower than the average benchmark value (298.3m ohms) among the statistical components.

At the 1k test frequency, the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor also demonstrates improved performance with a series resistance of 115.5m ohms, which is below the benchmark average of 437.4m ohms. Similarly, at the 50k test frequency, the capacitor offers a lower resistance of 16.88m ohms, compared to the benchmark average of 295.7m ohms.

When evaluating the capacitor's performance at higher voltages, for instance at 10 volts, the overall series resistance performance of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor remains consistent with the findings at 1 volt, thus indicating stable performance at varying voltage levels compared to the benchmark data.

Significant improvements in series resistance, compared to the statistical benchmark data, can also be observed at various other test frequencies. For example, at the 50 Hz test frequency, the series resistance value of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor is 4.362 ohms at 10 volts, which is better than the corresponding statistical benchmark value of 3.037 ohms for components at 1 volt. This indicates the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor's ability to maintain low series resistance even at lower test frequencies, which can be beneficial in certain applications where stability and performance over a broader frequency range are crucial.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

As the frequency increases from 5 kHz to 10 kHz, the dissipation factor of the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor ranges from 0.070 to 0.071, indicating a stable performance amidst rising frequencies. Furthermore, when the frequency increases beyond 10 kHz to 100 kHz, there is a notable reduction in the dissipation factor, which benefits the overall capacitor performance. However, between 500 kHz and 1 MHz, the dissipation factor starts increasing, peaking at 8.173 before eventually falling off. Concurrently, at the same test voltage, the quality factor (Q) exhibits desirable behavior, steadily increasing from 14.37 at 5 kHz to 37.39 at 1 kHz. Beyond this point, the Q factor begins to gradually decrease.

While analyzing the LCR measurements taken at 10 Volts, it was found that the capacitor's dissipation factors remain slightly higher between 5 kHz and 1 kHz compared to the benchmark data obtained from a 1 Volt test. Nevertheless, at higher frequencies such as 10 kHz to 200 kHz, the capacitor's dissipation factor improves, displaying lower values than the 1 Volt test. This subsequently results in higher Q factors, ranging from 75.67 at 10 kHz to 201.18 at 20 kHz, which are considerably superior compared to those acquired at 1 Volt. As the frequency increases beyond 50 kHz, the Q factors start to trend downward, which is a common behavior for capacitors.

Within the 10 kHz to 200 kHz frequency range, the LCR measurements carried out at 10 Volts yield better Q factors than the measurements performed at 1 Volt. Engineers should be aware of these characteristics and frequency variances when integrating the GRM32EC81C476KE15L capacitor into any circuit designs, as they can impact overall circuit performance and efficiency.

Comparative Analysis

Conclusion

In summary, the Murata Electronics GRM32EC81C476KE15L 47μF ceramic capacitor has shown mixed results when compared to the benchmark data. At frequencies below 1kHz, the capacitor performs fairly well, with impedance values close to the average of capacitors with the same nominal value at 1V test voltage. Above 1kHz, it starts to show some deviation from the benchmark, especially in the series capacitance column. This suggests that the capacitor may perform adequately in low-frequency applications, but its performance may degrade in higher frequency applications where tight impedance control is crucial.

The measurements at 10V test voltage demonstrate similar trends, with good performance at low frequencies and deviation at higher frequencies. The Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor columns also show varying results across test frequencies, with a mix of better and worse performance than the benchmark. The GRM32EC81C476KE15L outperforms the benchmark in terms of quality factor when the test frequency is below 1kHz, but its values diminish as the frequency increases.

Overall, the Murata Electronics GRM32EC81C476KE15L may be suitable for use in low-frequency circuits. However, for high-frequency applications where precise performance is crucial, one should consider the deviations from the benchmark and carefully evaluate if this capacitor is appropriate for their specific circuit requirements.