What is a film capacitor?

Film capacitors are also known as plastic film, polymer film, or film dielectric capacitors. Film capacitors are inexpensive and come with a nearly limitless shelf life. The film capacitor uses a thin dielectric material with the other side of the capacitor metalized. Depending on the application, the film capacitor is rolled into thin films.

How can film capacitors be optimized?

Film capacitors can be optimized through diferent materials and manufacturing methods. Capacitors are all unique; their fundamentals, the manufacturing processes, advantages and even technology trends are worth highlighting. There are diferent grades and applications critical to considering before choosing the best option.

What are the advantages of film capacitors?

These capacitors come with very specific advantages including non-polarity, a high insulation resistance, low dielectric losses and self-healing capability. Film capacitors can be optimized through diferent materials and manufacturing methods.

What are metallized film capacitors?

Like all capacitors, metallized film capacitors incorporate metal plates separated by a dielectric. Film capacitors are also known as plastic film, polymer film, or film dielectric capacitors. Film capacitors are inexpensive and come with a nearly limitless shelf life.

How capacitors are used in power electronics?

In this article, we look at how capacitors are used in power electronics and compare the available technologies. Film capacitors are showing their advantages in upcoming applications such as electric vehicles, alternative energy power conversion, and inverters in drives.

How is an aluminum can film capacitor made?

The process of making an aluminum (Al) can film capacitor is similar except the round capacitor is not hard pressed; instead it is left round (Figure 11). Then, depending on whether the Al can is oil-filled or dry-filled, the capacitor goes through a process to place the bound capacitor inside the Al shell and fill with oil or resin.