Capacitors

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors： Polarized capacitors that use an electrolyte as one of their conducting plates

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are polarized electrolytic capacitors whose anode is made of pure aluminum foil with an etched surface. The aluminum forms a very thin insulating layer of aluminum oxide by anodization that acts as the dielectric of the capacitor.

Ceramic Capacitors： Fixed-value capacitors with a ceramic dielectric

A ceramic capacitor is a fixed-value capacitor where a ceramic material is used as the dielectric. Ceramic capacitors, especially multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), are the most produced and used capacitors in electronic equipment.

Film Capacitors： Fixed-value capacitors with an insulating plastic film material as dielectric

Film capacitors are capacitors with an insulating plastic film as the dielectric, sometimes combined with paper as carrier of the electrodes. Film capacitors, together with ceramic capacitors and electrolytic capacitors, are the most common capacitor types for use in electronic equipment

Mica Capacitors： Fixed-value, a high-precision capacitor that uses mica as the dielectric

Mica or Silver mica capacitors are high-precision, stable, and reliable capacitors. They are available in small values and are mostly used at high frequencies, in cases where low losses (high Q) and low capacitor change over time is desired.

Polymer Capacitors： An electrolytic capacitor with a solid electrolyte of a conductive polymer

A polymer capacitor is an electrolytic capacitor with a solid electrolyte of a conductive polymer. Polymer electrolytic capacitors are characterized by particularly low internal equivalent series resistance (ESR) and high ripple current ratings. Polymer electrolytic capacitors are mainly used in power supplies of integrated electronic circuits as buffer, bypass, and decoupling capacitors

Tantalum Capacitors： Electrolytic capacitors with an anode terminal made of tantalum, covered by a layer of dielectric, surrounded by a conductive cathode

Tantalum capacitors are a subtype of electrolytic capacitors. They are made of tantalum metal which acts as the anode and are covered by a layer of oxide which acts as the dielectric. The use of tantalum allows for a very thin dielectric layer. This results in a higher capacitance value per volume, superior frequency characteristics compared to many other types of capacitors, and excellent stability over time.

Trimmer / Variable Capacitors： Capacitors for which capacitance may be changed mechanically or electronically

A variable capacitor is a capacitor whose capacitance may be intentionally and repeatedly changed mechanically or electronically. In mechanically controlled variable capacitors, the distance between the plates or the amount of plate surface area which overlaps can be changed. Variable capacitors are mostly used in radio tuning circuits and they are sometimes called ‘tuning capacitors’. Small variable capacitors operated by screwdrivers are called trimmer capacitors.

Capacitor Arrays: Components that represent multiple capacitors connected together in a circuit pattern

A capacitor array or capacitor network is a single package that contains two or more capacitors. The package will include multiple leads by which the network can be made part of a larger circuit.

Capacitor Kits： A set of specially packed capacitors for different purposes

Capacitor kits are mostly boxes or books which store a set of specially packed capacitors by standard values and application area. Kits usually contain capacitors of the same series, package size and composition, but they differ in capacitance values. Kits may contain capacitors of different values, sizes, and application areas.