Ceramic capacitors can be classified in various ways, including by dielectric material, temperature coefficient, and construction method. Here are some common ways to classify ceramic capacitors:
1. Dielectric Material - Ceramic capacitors can be made with different types of ceramic materials, such as:
- Class 1 ceramics: These include C0G, NP0, and UHF ceramics, which have a high dielectric constant and are highly stable over a wide temperature range. They are typically used in high-frequency applications.
- Class 2 ceramics: These include X7R, Y5V, and Z5U ceramics, which have a lower dielectric constant and a higher temperature coefficient of capacitance. They are typically used in low-frequency applications.
2. Temperature Coefficient - Ceramic capacitors can be classified by their temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC). The TCC measures how the capacitance of the capacitor changes with temperature. The most common TCC ratings are:
- Class 1 ceramics have a TCC of 0 ± 30 ppm/°C.
- Class 2 ceramics have a TCC of ±15% to ±22% over a specific temperature range.
3. Construction - Ceramic capacitors can be classified by their construction method, such as:
- Multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs): These are made by stacking alternating layers of ceramic material and metal electrodes. They are the most common type of ceramic capacitor and have a high capacitance density.
- Single-layer ceramic capacitors: These are made by coating a ceramic disk with metal electrodes. They have a lower capacitance density than MLCCs but have a lower inductance.
- Feedthrough capacitors: These are designed to provide EMI filtering and are typically used in power supply applications.
Overall, the classification of ceramic capacitors is important to understand because different types of capacitors have different applications and performance characteristics.
