AVX space qualifies its multi-layer ceramic capacitors

Fountain Inn, South Carolina – AVX Corp., a manufacturer of passive components and interconnect solutions, has achieved the European Space Association’s (ESA’s) Qualified Parts List (QPL) status under the criteria of the European Space Components Coordination’s (ESCC’s) 3009/041 specification for its space-level X7R base metal electrode (BME) MLCCs. This makes them the first X7R BME MLCCs fully qualified for use in European and American space applications. 

 

Exhibiting capacitance voltage (CV) capabilities superior to those of traditional precious metal electrode (PME) MLCCs, AVXs space-level BME MLCCs provide the extremely high reliability performance required by the space industry while delivering higher capacitance values in significantly smaller cases sizes, enabling revolutionary reductions of board space, weight, and component count, which directly translate into launch cost savings.

 

Featuring Sn/Pb plated Flexiterm terminations, AVX’s space-level X7R BME MLCCs also provide considerably enhanced resistance to mechanical stress by allowing for more board flexure than standard terminations, especially in large case sizes. Currently available in 0603 – 1812 sizes (with 0402 and 2220 parts in the midst of QPL evaluation), the series is rated for 16V to 100V and 2.2nF to 8.2μF, and is suitable for I/O filtering and bulk storage in the switch mode power supplies (SMPS) in space and satellite communications, military defense and weapons, and radar systems.

 

Michael Conway, product marketing manager at AVX, said, “Achieving full space qualification prevents our customers from having to buy additional LAT testing every time they utilize these parts in space applications, and opens them to both the European and American markets since the US uses the ESA’s QPL as a quality indicator.”

 

AVX’s space-level X7R BME MLCCs are currently available in three capacitance tolerances (±5%, ±10%, and ±20%) and with three ESCC lot acceptance testing (LAT) levels. Lead time for the series is 14 weeks.