High Voltage MLCC Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Why is this high voltage MLCC product line being offered by KEMET ?
Answer: Our existing Sierra KD high voltage product line is military grade and includes an offering of large surface mount chip sizes (1515 and up) and Leaded devices. This release features commercial grade product in the smaller chip sizes (0805 to 2225).

Question: Why do we consider high voltage MLCC's high voltage?
Answer: Until the acquisition of the Sierra-KD line in July of 2003, KEMET’s maximum ceramic capacitor voltage offering was 200 Volts. With this release, KEMET now offers a line of commercial parts with the voltage range of 500-3000 Volts. Higher voltages (up to xxK V) are offered via our Siearra-KD line.

Question: What are the special features of this High Voltage Surface Mount chip?
Answer: The HV SMD MLCC has operating voltages up to 3000 volts, offers relatively high capacitance with low leakage current and low ESR at high frequency.

Question: What are the markets for this high voltage series?
Answer: Power supply, DC-DC converter, LCD Fluorescent Backlight Ballast, HID Lighting, Telecommunications Equipment, Industrial Equipment/Control, Medical Equipment/Control, Computer (LAN/WAN Interface), Analog and Digital Modems.

Question: Is the high voltage MLCC product lead-free, RoHS compliant?
Answer: The solderable termination of KEMET's high voltage product, like all our commercial MLCC's, is lead-free. The terminations are 100% matte tin over a nickel barrier coating. Additionally, KEMET ceramic MLCCs are otherwise RoHS compliant, not containing cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, or PBDE.

Question: Has this high voltage MLCC product line been qualified?
Answer: Yes, the qualification data will be available upon request.

Question: Will there be an AEC-Q200 qualification for the high voltage MLCC products?
Answer: Yes, this is currently in process.

Question: Are the high voltage MLCC parts 100% DWV tested, at the following criteria 1.5 Vr below 1 kV, 1.2Vr > 1 kV ?
Answer: Yes.

Question: For KEMET's high voltage MLCC's, what is the ultimate voltage breakdown UVBD per voltage rating?
Answer: It exceeds the DWV requirements.

Question: What are the aging rates for KEMET's high voltage MLCC products?
Answer: The aging rates are the same as standard parts.

Question: How do the Voltage coefficient of capacitance, Impedance curves, Q factor, Flex robustness for high volt MLCC compare to standard MLCC by dielectric?
Answer: The data is available in the high voltage MLCC Qualification package.