The Key Difference Between Electrolytic and Ceramic Capacitors
Capacitors are electrical components that are found in many circuits, capable of storing electrical energy within an electrostatic field. As a passive electronic component with two terminals, capacitors typically serve the role of holding energy that is needed for a quick release, such as for the flash of a camera. Most capacitors are assembled from two parallel plates that are separated by a dielectric, that of which is a form of insulating material. In the market, there are various forms of capacitors that one can procure, the most common being electrolytic and ceramic capacitors. While the biggest difference between the two is the dielectric material of choice, there are other variations that are important to consider.
Ceramic vs Electrolytic Capacitor
With the ceramic capacitor, ceramic materials serve as the dielectric medium that is placed between the two plates. Like all capacitors, when voltage is applied, the ceramic dielectric will become polarized as charges or ions are separated. As the negative ions collect around the positive plate and the positive ions collect around the negative plate, the electric field is established to hold a charge. Ceramic capacitors are generally considered a type of fixed value capacitor, meaning that the capacitance value remains constant.
To establish a ceramic capacitor, two or more alternating layers of metal plates and ceramic are situated to create the capacitor electrodes. With this basic design, ceramic capacitors generally have a capacitance range that sits between 1 and 100 μF. As these types of devices lack polarity, they are able to be used in alternating current circuits and direct current circuits. With a ceramic capacitor, one can ensure high stability performance and low loss for particular applications.
With an electrolytic capacitor, an electrolyte acts as the dielectric, and this allows for an increased capacitance value as compared to the ceramic variation. Electrolytic capacitors are also a polarized type, featuring a metallic anode plate as the positive electrode, ensuring that an insulating oxide layer is established through anodization. Through this process, the dielectric medium of the capacitor comes in the form of an oxide layer. Furthermore, the oxide layer itself is coated with a solid or liquid gel to create the cathode plate which is the negative electrode of the device. As the oxide layer is quite thin, the overall capacitance of the capacitor is very high.
As electrolytic capacitors have a defined polarity, they may only be used in direct current circuits, limiting their overall application. Nevertheless, they are very beneficial in applications where electronic noise needs to be filtered or when decoupling is required. Additionally, they are also used for the reduction of voltage fluctuations which may be necessary in some settings. Because of the various differences between electrolytic and ceramic capacitors, one should make sure that they make the right purchasing decision when it comes time to begin the procurement process.
Conclusion
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