Tantalum capacitors have a porous tantalum mid-section, surrounded by tantalum pentoxide coated with manganese dioxide, graphite, silver conductive coating and solder, yielding high volumetric efficiency.

Small electronic devices, such as pagers and automotive electronics, generally use a tantalum capacitor. There are many types of tantalum capacitors, and each has a unique characteristic. For example:

1. The tantalum chip capacitor includes a capacitor that has tantalum for an anode within a very conductive acid electrolyte.

2. Another type of tantalum capacitor is the dipped tantalum capacitor, which is an electrolytic tantalum capacitor encapsulated in a substance-like epoxy powder.

3. The solid tantalum capacitor is an electrolytic capacitor in which the anode is a permeable bit of tantalum and the dielectric is very fine layer of tantalum pentoxide. A layer of semiconducting manganese dioxide fills the pores of the anode over the dielectric to create the cathode.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for optimal prices by purchasing a used tantalum chip or other types of tantalum capacitors

Try products with differences in tantalum capacitor polarity to see what works best for you. When you buy used or refurbished capacitors, you save money and often get a chance to exchange the equipment, if it is not completely satisfactory in performance.

I recommend: Tempest offers refurbished equipment from a variety of large manufacturing companies. The Tempest team consults with business owners to find the perfect equipment for the job. Lucas Seven enjoys providing customers with low-cost, high-quality used products for computers. The tantalum capacitors it offers come in a variety of styles from numerous manufacturers.

Purchase a dependable volt tantalum capacitor or other type capacitor from certified distributors

When planning your tantalum capacitor purchase, consider distributors with stable backgrounds and a history of innovation and dependability.

I recommend: Technomag Electronics, a worldwide distributor of capacitors and other components, stocks its large inventory in an ISO-9002 compliant warehouse, and it meets clients' goals--both long- and short-term. AVX, an ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturer of capacitors, includes a product line that covers a variety of capacitors from ceramic to disc to tantalum.

Order custom, solid tantalum capacitors or other tantalum capacitors to fulfill your product needs

While most manufacturers carry a product in stock that you can use, you may find that custom capacitors fit your needs better when it comes to designing a high- or low-volt tantalum capacitor. Manufacturers work with businesses that have unique capacitor criteria, and many consult with customers to meet these unique criteria.

I recommend: Inter-Technical Group helps customers who can't find standard products to fit their needs and designs, and it manufactures products to fill this void. Another company offering custom solutions for tantalum capacitors is Aerovox. Its experienced engineers work with you to develop products according to your specifications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure any tantalum capacitor you purchase has been through rigorous testing such as the tantalum capacitor Equivalent Series Resistance test, also called the tantalum capacitor ESR test.