User:Elcap/Types of capacitor
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This article is about the commercial discrete capacitors as customary components for use in electronic equipment. For the physical phenomenon, see Capacitor. For explanation of the unit see Capacitance.
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Capacitors are a good example of the fact that even the simplest device can become complicated given 250 years of evolution. (Citation J. Ho, T. R. Jow, St. Boggs, Historical Introduction to Capacitor Technology) [1]
Capacitors, together with resistors and inductors, belong to the group of “passive components” in the range of components for electronic equipment. Although in absolute figures the most often produced capacitors are integrated capacitors, f. e. in DRAMs or in flash memorys structures these article is concentrated on capacitors as discrete components.
Capacitors today are industrial products produced in very large quantities for use in electronic and in electrical equipment. Globally, the market for fixed capacitors was estimated with approximately US$18 billion in 2008 for 1,400 billion (1.4 x 1012) pieces.[2] This market in point of quantity is dominated by ceramic capacitors with estimated of approximately 1,000 billion (1 x 1012) produced pieces per year [3]
Detailed estimated figures in value for the main capacitor families are:
- Ceramic capacitors with US$8.3 billion (46 %);
- Aluminum electrolytic capacitors with US$ 3.9 billion (22 %);
- Film capacitors and Paper capacitors with US$ 2.6 billion, (15 %);
- Tantalum electrolytic capacitors with US$ 2.2 billion (12 %);
- Super capacitors (Double-layer capacitors) with US$ 0.3 billion (2 %); and
- others like silver mica and vacuum capacitors with US$ 0.7 billion (3 %).
All other capacitor types are negligible in terms of value as well as in quantity compared with the above types.