Silver Mica capacitors

+/- 5% tolerance

A silver mica capacitor is a type of capacitor used in electronic circuits to store and release electrical energy. It is named after the mica dielectric material and the silver electrodes used in its construction.

Here are some key characteristics and features of silver mica capacitors:

    Dielectric Material: Silver mica capacitors use mica as their dielectric material. Mica is a naturally occurring mineral known for its excellent electrical insulating properties. It can maintain its electrical characteristics over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies.

    Construction: The capacitor consists of thin sheets of mica with silver electrodes sandwiched between them. The layers are then encapsulated in a protective outer covering.

    High Precision: Silver mica capacitors are known for their high precision and stability. They have very low tolerance values, which means they can be manufactured with tight tolerances, ensuring that their capacitance values are very accurate.

    Low Losses: These capacitors exhibit low dielectric losses, making them suitable for applications where high Q-factor (quality factor) and minimal energy loss are required. This is particularly important in radio-frequency (RF) and high-frequency applications.

    Temperature Stability: Silver mica capacitors have excellent temperature stability. They can operate over a wide temperature range without significant changes in capacitance, which makes them suitable for use in harsh environmental conditions.

    High Voltage Ratings: They are available with relatively high voltage ratings, making them suitable for applications where high voltage handling capability is required.

    Applications: Silver mica capacitors are commonly used in precision electronic circuits, especially in applications involving oscillators, filters, and timing circuits. Their stability and accuracy make them valuable in radio and communication equipment, as well as in military and aerospace applications.

    Size: They tend to be physically larger than some other capacitor types with similar capacitance values, which can be a limitation in compact electronic designs.

It's worth noting that while silver mica capacitors offer excellent performance characteristics, they can be more expensive compared to other types of capacitors like ceramic capacitors or electrolytic capacitors. Engineers and designers choose silver mica capacitors when precision, stability, and low losses are critical for their applications.