MLCC Technology from High-Q to Pulse Energy
From military aircraft to electronic warfare defense systems, aerospace and defense applications are placing new demands on power electronics. Defense electronics systems must function reliably for their lifetime while operating at higher voltages and wider temperature ranges, and all while becoming smaller, lighter, and consuming less power.
Our expertise in ceramic material science and advanced manufacturing techniques enables us to design and produce high-quality components optmized for SWAP-C.
With over 40 years of experience developing high-performance components for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications, we can supply, test and screen the exact high reliability components you need.
MIL-PRF-55681 Certified
Developed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), MIL-PRF-55681 is a critical military specification that sets strict standards for designing and developing ceramic capacitors used in defense and aerospace projects. The parts below are certified for the US Department of Defense’s Qualified Product List:
Government Designation |
Styles |
Case Size(EIA) |
Temperature-Voltage Limits |
Capacitance Ranges |
Rated Voltages |
Capacitance Tolerance (+/-) |
M55681/1 |
CDR02 |
1805 |
BP, BX |
10-22,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
5%, 10%, 20% |
CDR03 |
1808 |
BP, BX |
1,000-68,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
10%, 20% |
M55681/3 |
CDR06 |
2225 |
BP, BX |
10,000-470,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
10%, 20% |
M55618/7 |
CDR31 |
0805 |
BP, BX |
470-18,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
10%, 20% |
M55681/8 |
CDR32 |
1206 |
BP, BX |
1,000-35,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
10%, 20% |
M55681/9 |
CDR33 |
1210 |
BP, BX |
2,200-100,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
10%, 20% |
M55681/10 |
CDR34 |
1812 |
BP, BX |
4,700-180,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
10%, 20% |
M55681/11 |
CDR35 |
1825 |
BP, BX |
10,000-470,000pF |
50, 100VDC |
10%, 20% |
M55681/12 |
CDR36 |
0603 |
BP, BX |
330-27,000pF |
25, 50, 100, 200VDC |
5%, 10%, 20% |
M55681/13 |
CDR37 |
0402 |
BP, BX |
180-3,900pF |
25, 50, 100VDC |
5%, 10%, 20% |
High Reliability is a Must
Since the consequences of failure of even the smallest component in an aerospace and defense application can be dire, and many of these applications have long lifespans high-reliability components are required. High-reliability components are made from the same high-quality materials as standard components, but are subjected to additional screening and testing to ensure long-term reliability.
The most common methods used for screening components for reliability are based on established military specifications (MIL-SPECS). The following are three of the most frequently used MIL-SPECS for screening today:
- MIL-PRF-55681 – A general purpose military high-reliability specification
- MIL-PRF-49467 – Covers requirements for general purpose, ceramic multilayer high voltage capacitors
- MIL-PRF-123 – Provides an increased level of reliability over MIL-PRF-55681 and is commonly used for space applications
When screening MLCCs using MIL-SPECS, components are powered up from 100 percent to 200 percent of the voltage rating while being brought up to an operating temperature of 125 degrees for 100 or more hours. All this stringent testing is applied to 100 percent of the MLCCs in the lot to ensure each component coming out of the factory is in pristine condition and is likely to sustain high performance over the application’s lifespan.
Whether you need a specialty capacitor for a detonator application, an EMI filter for a sensitive military communication device, or MLCCs for a range of jobs in your aircraft’s power system, we thrive on working with companies that have technically challenging requirements and applying our expertise to deliver right solution.
High Reliability Radial Leaded MLCCs
Tested to MIL-PRF-49467 & MIL-PRF-39014
BX, X7R, C0G
Up to 10kV
High Reliability Stacked Assemblies
Tested to MIL-PRF-49470
X7R, C0G
Up to 500V+
High Reliability Surface Mount MLCCs
Tested to MIL-PRF-55681 & MIL-PRF-123
BX, X7R, C0G
Up to 10kV
Detonation & Pulse Energy
100% tested to Novacap High Reliability Pulse Screening tests
500 Megohm safety bleed resistor are standard but other values are available
Blog: Detonation Capacitors and EFI
High-Q MLCCs
Tested to MIL-PRF-55681
Q Factor: >2000 @ 1MHz
MLCC Selection Process