IEC 60384-20:2015

Overview

IEC 60384-20:2015 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies requirements for fixed metallized polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) film dielectric surface mount direct current (d.c.) capacitors. These capacitors are designed for use in electronic equipment and are characterized by their metallized electrodes and PPS dielectric material. The standard defines the mechanical, electrical, and environmental characteristics, test methods, and quality assessment procedures for these components.

This standard applies specifically to fixed surface mount capacitors with metallized connecting pads or soldering strips intended to be mounted directly on hybrid circuit substrates or printed circuit boards (PCBs). Featuring potential self-healing properties under specific conditions, these capacitors are primarily meant for applications where the alternating current (a.c.) component is small relative to the rated voltage.

Key Topics

• Scope and Object: Defines fixed metallized PPS film capacitors for d.c. applications, emphasizing mounting on substrates or printed boards.
• Preferred Ratings and Characteristics: Details nominal capacitance values, tolerances, rated voltages, category voltages, and temperature ratings tailored for reliable performance.
• Mechanical and Electrical Specifications: Outlines requirements for capacitance, tangent loss (tan δ), insulation resistance, voltage proof, and mechanical robust tests like shear and substrate bending.
• Quality Assessment Procedures: Establishes primary manufacturing quality verifications, structural similarity analysis, certified test record requirements, qualification approval tests, and ongoing quality conformance inspections to ensure compliance and reliability.
• Test and Measurement Methods: Comprehensive evaluation including visual inspections, solderability, resistance to soldering heat, rapid temperature changes, climatic sequences, endurance, charge-discharge cycles, and solvent resistance.
• Marking Requirements: Specifies marking conventions on capacitors and their packaging to ensure traceability and proper identification.

Applications

IEC 60384-20 capacitors are widely used in electronic equipment where stable and reliable d.c. capacitance is critical. Their primary applications include:

• Hybrid Circuits and Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs): Surface mount technology (SMT) capacitors designed for compact assembly on hybrid substrates or PCBs.
• Consumer Electronics: Devices requiring stable filtering and bypass functions with minimal a.c. ripple voltage.
• Industrial Electronics: Applications demanding durability under thermal cycling and environmental stresses.
• Automotive Electronics: Circuits exposed to harsh temperature and vibration conditions, benefiting from the capacitors’ robustness and self-healing properties.
• Communication Equipment: Use in signal filtering and power supply stabilization where low loss and stable capacitance are important.

Related Standards

IEC 60384-20:2015 harmonizes with other IEC capacitor standards and follows the ISO/IEC Directives Part 2 structure to ensure consistency across component specifications. Related standards include:

• IEC 60384 Series: A family of standards for fixed capacitors specifying various dielectric materials and construction methods.
• ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2: Provides general rules for the structure and drafting of International Standards ensuring clarity and harmonization.
• IEC TC 40 Standards: Cover capacitors used in electronic equipment, including additional specifications for film capacitors with different dielectrics.
• Industry-Specific Standards: Supplementary requirements may apply in automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors to complement IEC 60384-20 for specialized use.

Keywords

fixed metallized polyphenylene sulfide film capacitor, IEC 60384-20, surface mount capacitor, direct current capacitors, d.c. capacitors for electronics, self-healing capacitors, hybrid circuit capacitors, printed circuit board capacitors, capacitor test methods, capacitor quality standards, IEC capacitor specifications