IEC 60384-19:2015

Overview

IEC 60384-19:2015 is an international standard specifying requirements for fixed metallized polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) film dielectric surface mount direct current (d.c.) capacitors used in electronic equipment. These capacitors are designed with metallized electrodes and connecting pads or soldering strips, intended for direct mounting on substrates for hybrid circuits or printed circuit boards. This standard focuses on capacitors mainly applied in circuits where the alternating current (a.c.) components are minimal compared to the rated voltage.

The standard excludes capacitors intended for electromagnetic interference suppression, which are covered under IEC 60384-14. IEC 60384-19:2015 reflects significant technical updates to enhance clarity, harmonization with related documents, and removal of duplications-ensuring compliance with the latest IEC Directives (Part 2:2011).

Key Topics

• Scope and Application: Defines fixed surface mount d.c. capacitors with PET film dielectric and metallized electrodes for electronic equipment use.
• Design and Construction: Capacitors feature metallized connecting pads or soldering strips suitable for surface mounting on substrates or printed boards.
• Electrical Characteristics: Emphasis on rated voltage, rated temperature, and tolerance of nominal capacitance specific to direct current applications.
• Self-Healing Properties: Capacitors may have self-healing characteristics depending on operating conditions, enhancing durability.
• Test Procedures: Details rigorous procedures for voltage proof, capacitance measurement, tangent of loss angle, insulation resistance, shear and bending resistance, solderability, climatic and endurance tests.
• Quality Assessment: Outlines primary manufacture quality controls, certification processes, qualification approvals based on fixed sample size procedures, and lot conformance inspections.
• Marking and Documentation: Specifies guidelines on capacitor marking for identification and packaging information to ensure traceability and standard conformity.
• Preferred Ratings and Characteristics: Provides preferred climatic categories, nominal capacitance values, tolerances, rated and category voltages, all critical for design consistency.
• Harmonization and Updates: The 2015 edition revises the entire document structure and contents for better standard harmonization and practical application considerations.

Applications

IEC 60384-19 compliant capacitors are utilized in a broad range of electronic devices and circuit configurations, particularly:

• Surface Mount Technology (SMT): Ideal for hybrid circuits and printed circuit board assemblies requiring compact, reliable fixed capacitors.
• Direct Current Circuits: Used where the capacitor must handle primarily direct voltage with minimal alternating voltage exposure.
• Consumer Electronics: Supporting functions in televisions, computers, and communication devices needing stable and long-life capacitance.
• Industrial Electronics: Applied in control systems, measurement instruments, and other equipment requiring predictable performance over varying climatic conditions.
• Automotive and Aerospace Electronics: Benefiting from self-healing PET film attributes for safety and reliability in harsh environments.
• General Electronic Equipment: Providing essential filtering, coupling, and decoupling capacity within electronic circuit designs without electromagnetic interference suppression needs.

Related Standards

• IEC 60384-14: Fixed capacitors for electromagnetic interference suppression, complementing IEC 60384-19 by covering capacitors designed specifically to reduce electromagnetic noise.
• IEC 60384 (General Series): Broad series covering general specifications for fixed capacitors using various dielectric materials and mounting technologies.
• IEC Directives Part 2:2011 (Sixth Edition): Governs standardization principles influencing the structure and clarity of IEC 60384-19 and similar documents.
• IEC 60068 Series: Tests related to environmental reliability referenced within IEC 60384-19 for temperature, humidity, and mechanical stress tests.

By adhering to IEC 60384-19:2015, manufacturers and engineers ensure the use of high-quality, reliable fixed metallized PET film capacitors optimized for electronic equipment surface mount applications. The standard facilitates uniformity, safety, and performance predictability essential for modern electronics design and manufacturing.