Introduction

The component under review is a KEMET Tantalum Polymer Molded Capacitor, part number T521D476M025ATE065. Our analysis will examine how this capacitor performs compared to the statistical benchmark formed from other components of the same value. The review aims to provide an honest, authentic, balanced, reliable, and meaningful evaluation based on a probing, sweeping, and rigorous approach. Our target audience for this review comprises engineers who are in the process of determining whether this capacitor is suitable for their circuits.

Before we discuss the Capacitance, Series Resistance, Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor, and Comparative Analysis, some of the pros and cons of the KEMET Tantalum Polymer Molded Capacitor are listed below:

• Pros:
• - Relatively low impedance values at high test frequencies
• - Good Quality Factor values at high test frequencies
• - Tantalum-polymer construction offers a stable capacitance value over the operational range
• - Surface mount compatibility makes it suitable for modern PCB designs
• - Manufactured by a well-known and respected company - KEMET
• Cons:
• - Performance at lower frequencies not as good compared to higher frequencies

- High Dissipation Factor values for some test frequencies when tested at 10 Volts compared to the benchmark

- Series resistance values may be higher than the benchmark in certain conditions

Impedance

At a test voltage of 1 Volt, the T521D476M025ATE065's impedance values demonstrate good alignment with the statistical benchmark data at several tested frequencies. For instance, at a frequency of 100 Hz, the impedance score of the capacitor is measured at 35.44 Ohms, closely matching the average impedance of 35.87 Ohms found in the statistical benchmark data. In the mid-frequency range of 500 Hz to 100 kHz, the impedance largely falls within or nears the Min-Max impedance range provided in the benchmark.

However, the component displays prominent deviations in other frequency ranges. At a lower frequency of 5 Hz, the measured impedance is 695.9 Ohms compared to the benchmark's average value of 656.9 Ohms, and the maximum recorded value of 783 Ohms. At higher frequencies, such as 1 MHz, the performance deviates significantly from the benchmark, with an impedance of 25.44m Ohms in contrast to the average of 286.2m Ohms, a difference that is nearly an order of magnitude.

When tested at 10 Volts, the impedance values of the T521D476M025ATE065 also exhibit some deviations from the statistical benchmark. The component's performance remains similar to the benchmark within the lower and mid-frequency range of 50 Hz to 20 kHz. However, at 1 MHz, the measured impedance is just 25m Ohms, which strays from the expected performance. Taking these deviations into account, it is crucial to examine whether the divergences still adhere to required specifications or could potentially render the capacitor unsuitable for specific applications.

Furthermore, it is essential to understand the importance of impedance in capacitor applications. The impedance determines the capacitor's ability to smooth out voltage variations or store energy effectively. Depending on the design requirements and desired performance, the deviations observed in the impedance values at various frequencies might impact the overall functionality and efficiency of the electronic system. Therefore, a thorough examination and understanding of the impedance values within different frequency ranges are vital when gauging the capacitor's compatibility with specific applications.

Capacitance

In analyzing the LCR measurements of the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 capacitor, we observe that the component's performance deviates from the statistical benchmark established by other capacitors with similar value concerning the series capacitance across various test frequencies. Understanding these deviations is essential for engineers to make informed decisions on the suitability of this component for their specific applications.

When examining low test frequencies (5 to 100 Hz), the KEMET capacitor demonstrates a higher capacitance compared to the average of the benchmark data. This superior performance continues in the mid-range frequencies (500 Hz to 20 kHz), where the series capacitance remains stable and above average. These characteristics may offer advantageous capacitance levels for applications where higher capacitance is required within specific frequency ranges.

However, at higher test frequencies (50 kHz onwards), the component's capacitance exhibits considerable variations compared to the benchmark. While it outperforms the benchmark at 50 kHz and 75 kHz, the capacitor demonstrates below-average performance at other high frequencies. Engineers must carefully examine these fluctuations, ensuring they align with the required capacitance parameters for their circuit designs.

It's essential to highlight the LCR measurements of this capacitor at 10 volts, where performance deviations from the benchmark become more prominent. Between 5 kHz to 100 kHz, the component exhibits both higher and lower capacitance values, suggesting a lack of uniformity. This inconsistency might potentially affect the overall functionality in specific applications, warranting a closer examination of how this component integrates with the rest of the circuit.

In summary, the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 capacitor presents a mixed performance in terms of capacitance across different test frequencies. Engineers need to thoroughly assess the specific capacitance requirements of their circuits, taking into consideration the possible benefits and drawbacks associated with using this particular component in their designs.

Series Resistance

At a test frequency of 5Hz, the Series Resistance of the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 Capacitor was observed to be 13.8 Ohms, exhibiting a substantially better performance in comparison to the benchmark average of 44.75 Ohms. However, when tested at 10Hz, the Series Resistance only marginally outperforms the benchmark, with the component recording 4.9 Ohms as opposed to the benchmark average of 18.59 Ohms. Such data indicate that this capacitor offers favorable low-frequency performance, contributing to a reduction in power losses. The Capacitor's performance remained quite comparable at higher test frequencies, such as 20kHz (21.13m Ohms) and 50kHz (20.64m Ohms), being reasonably close to the statistical averages (319.4m and 295.7m Ohms, respectively), suggesting its versatility across a range of operating conditions.

When the test voltage was increased to 10 Volts, the Series Resistance at 5Hz surged considerably to 279.8 Ohms - notably higher than the 1 Volt measurements. The performance at 10Hz registered a drop, with 97.28 Ohms as the measured value, reflecting a pronounced disparity from the 1 Volt testing. Such observations provide insights into the voltage-dependent performance of the capacitor, which should be considered when designing power supply and voltage regulation circuits. In contrast, the Capacitor displays much improved Series Resistance at higher frequencies like 100kHz (9.449m Ohms), substantially outperforming benchmark data, illustrating its potential to function effectively in high-frequency domains and applications such as RF signal processing and power electronics.

The KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 Capacitor demonstrates overall better Series Resistance performance when compared with the statistical benchmark, particularly in low-frequency ranges. However, some inconsistencies are noted when altering the test voltage from 1 Volt to 10 Volts. Consequently, electronics engineers should take into consideration these performance variations while assessing this Capacitor's applicability in their circuits. It is crucial to gauge its suitability for devices exhibiting similar frequency and voltage characteristics, thus ensuring optimal use of the capacitor's properties and enhancing overall circuit efficiency.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

The performance of the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 Tantalum Polymer Molded Capacitor is variable across different test frequencies and voltages, as evidenced by comparisons to available benchmark data. LCR measurements were taken at two voltages - 1 Volt and 10 Volts - to assess these variations in detail.

At 1 Volt, the capacitor exhibits a Quality Factor (Q) ranging from 51.52 at 5 Hz to a maximum of 134.71 at 100 Hz. As the test frequency increases to 200 kHz, the Quality Factor experiences a significant reduction to 0.71, with this downward trend continuing as the test frequency is further increased.

On the other hand, when the LCR measurements are performed at 10 Volts, the trends shift in a minor yet significant way. At a lower frequency of 5 Hz, the Quality Factor is observed to be as low as 1.59. However, notable improvements are seen as the frequency shifts between 50 Hz and 1 kHz. At 500 Hz, the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 capacitor achieves a peak Q value of 140.52. It is also noteworthy to mention that the Quality Factor declines sharply as the frequency surpasses 100 kHz, reducing the Q to a meager 0.28.

In conclusion, the performance of the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 Tantalum Polymer Molded Capacitor varies depending on both the applied voltage and frequency. Optimal performance is achieved in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 1 kHz, particularly for measurements taken at 10 Volts, suggesting that the capacitor behaves differently under differing operational conditions, and its real-world application must consider this fact.

Comparative Analysis

Conclusion

In our technical review of the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 Tantalum - Polymer: Molded Capacitor, we scrutinized its performance against a statistical benchmark formed by other components of the same value. This capacitor has a nominal value of 47μ, a ±20% tolerance, and a voltage rating of 25 V.

Throughout the range of test frequencies, it exhibited mixed performance when compared to the statistical benchmark data. At lower frequencies (5 kHz to 20 kHz), the component showcased a better impedance, as well as lower series resistance, while generally holding to the average Dissipation and Quality Factors. The trend reverses as we move up the frequency spectrum, peaking around 100 kHz where the deviation from the average is notable.

At test voltages of 1 V and 10 V, the T521D476M025ATE065 had a reasonably good Quality Factor compared to the benchmark, highlighting its stability over a range of frequencies. However, the capacitor's Dissipation Factor increased at 10 V at certain frequencies, indicating higher energy losses under those circumstances compared to the 1 V test.

In conclusion, the KEMET T521D476M025ATE065 Tantalum - Polymer: Molded Capacitor is a decent option when operating within a certain frequency range, with its performance being optimal at lower frequencies bisected by a peak at around 100 kHz. This capacitor may not be the best choice if performance optimization throughout the entire frequency spectrum is desired. Engineers exploring various options should keep in mind the performance peaks and dips of this component, depending on their application requirements, to make an informed decision about its suitability.