Abstract: A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor includes providing a medical device comprising a wet-tantalum capacitor. The capacitor has a rated voltage and including a hydrated anodic deposit. The method further includes charging the capacitor to a voltage that is less than approximately seventy-five percent of the rated voltage and at least partially discharging the capacitor after the charging step. The charging step is performed at a sufficient voltage to dehydrate the anodic deposit while not significantly decreasing the service life of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor includes providing a medical device comprising a wet-tantalum capacitor. The capacitor has a rated voltage and including a hydrated anodic deposit. The method further includes charging the capacitor to a voltage that is less than approximately seventy-five percent of the rated voltage and at least partially discharging the capacitor after the charging step. The charging step is performed at a sufficient voltage to dehydrate the anodic deposit while not significantly decreasing the service life of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor includes providing a medical device comprising a wet-tantalum capacitor. The capacitor has a rated voltage and including a hydrated anodic deposit. The method further includes charging the capacitor to a voltage that is less than approximately seventy-five percent of the rated voltage and at least partially discharging the capacitor after the charging step. The charging step is performed at a sufficient voltage to dehydrate the anodic deposit while not significantly decreasing the service life of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor is disclosed. The method comprises charging the capacitor to a voltage that is substantially less than one of a maximum and rated voltage for the capacitor. The method also comprises providing an open circuit condition and allowing the capacitor to at least partially discharge through leakage current.

Abstract: A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor includes providing a medical device comprising a wet-tantalum capacitor. The capacitor has a rated voltage and including a hydrated anodic deposit. The method further includes charging the capacitor to a voltage that is less than approximately seventy-five percent of the rated voltage and at least partially discharging the capacitor after the charging step. The charging step is performed at a sufficient voltage to dehydrate the anodic deposit while not significantly decreasing the service life of the capacitor.

Abstract: An improved capacitor with an anode with an anode wire and an oxide layer on the surface of the anode. A cathode layer is exterior to the oxide layer. A carbon conductive layer is exterior to the cathode layer wherein the cathode layer comprises 5-75 wt % resin and 25-95 wt % conductor. The conductor has carbon nanotubes. An anode lead is in electrical contact with the anode wire and a cathode lead is in electrical contact with the carbon conductive layer.

Abstract: A pyrolysis oven provides uniform pyrolytic coatings on capacitor anodes. An oven chamber contains cross-flow blowers situated to provide uniform laminar flow of oven atmosphere over the objects to be treated. The top and side walls of the chamber meet in an inverted V such that when the blower operate, a vortex is created in the inverted V in the chamber.

Abstract: A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor is disclosed. The method comprises charging the capacitor to a voltage that is substantially less than one of a maximum and rated voltage for the capacitor. The method also comprises providing an open circuit condition and allowing the capacitor to at least partially discharge through leakage current.

Abstract: A solid electrical capacitor having lowered ESR and fewer short circuit from processing is obtained by adhering a number of islands of a material more basic than the dielectric coating on an anode before forming a conductive polymer on the dielectric coating by a chemical oxidation process.

Abstract: A pyrolysis oven provides uniform pyrolytic coatings on capacitor anodes. An oven chamber contains cross-flow blowers situated to provide uniform laminar flow of oven atmosphere over the objects to be treated. The top and side walls of the chamber meet in an inverted V such that when the blower operate, a vortex is created in the inverted V in the chamber.

Abstract: A method of thermally removing binder from porous compacts pressed from metallic or ceramic materials using atmospheric pressure and binder-free compacts produced therefrom.

Abstract: A method of anodizing comprising suspending at least one aluminum substrate into an electrolyte solution and applying an anodizing current to the electrolyte solution, wherein the electrolyte solution comprises from about 5 to about 99.5 wt % glycerine, about 0.05 to about 5.0 wt. % of at least one orthophosphate salt selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphates, alkali metal phosphates, amine phosphates, or mixtures thereof, and water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a solid electrolytic capacitor having a low equivalent series resistance by impregnating a porous capacitor pellet with conductive polymer. An oxidized pellet is dipped in a high concentration conductive polymer solution to deposit the polymer in doped (conductive) form. The solution also contains a crosslinking agent to prevent redissolution of the polymer when the pellet is re-dipped. After dipping, the solvent in the polymer solution is evaporated and a conductive film formed. In order to evaporate the solvent quickly, the solvent should have a boiling point of 80-220° C. and preferably a boiling point of 100-150° C. The conductive polymer film has a low resistivity (less than 1 ohm-cm, preferably less than 0.2 ohm-cm).

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor comprising a thermally treated anode prepared by heating a manganese dioxide coated porous anodized valve metal nitride anode to a temperature of about 325° C. to about 450° C. The anode may be heated to first temperature of about 200° C. to about 250° C. for a time sufficient for the valve metal nitride anode to reach thermal equilibrium, prior to increasing the temperature to about 325° C. to about 450° C.

Abstract: An intrinsically conductive polymer is prepared with a chemical oxidative process. The polymer is prepared by first dipping or coating a substrate with an Fe(III)-containing oxidizer solution and drying. The substrate is then dipped or coated with a monomer, such as 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene solution, and reacted to form the conductive polymer. The monomer is dissolved in a solvent in which it has a high solubility but in which the Fe(III)-containing oxidizer has low solubility. This minimizes cross-contamination of the monomer and oxidizer dipping solutions thereby making this process suitable for high volume production. Dissolving the monomer in a solvent allows control over the stoichiometric ratio of monomer to oxidizer and prevents an excess of monomer thereby facilitating the removal of any unreacted monomer by water.

Abstract: A method of anodizing a metal comprising immersing a metal substrate into an a glycerine-based electrolytic solution and applying a constant current to produce a uniform film. The electrolytic solution additionally comprises at least one acidic organic salt, inorganic salt, or mixtures thereof. Suitable salts include dibasic potassium phosphate, P-toluene sulfonate, potassium hydrogen sulfate and monobasic potassium tartrate. The electrolytic solution may be prepared by mixing glycerine and the salt or salts, and then heating the solution to about 150 to 180° C. for about 1 to 12 hours. The prepared solution preferably has a water content of less than 0.1 wt %. Anodizing may be performed in the electrolytic solution at temperatures above about 150° C. to achieve non-thickness-limited film growth. Temperature fluctuations within the solution are reduced by the use of impellers or ultrasonic agitation.

Abstract: The application of polypropylene carbonate in solution to valve metal powders having relatively high surface area, then evaporating the solvent under static (non-agitating) conditions. The static drying of the coated valve metal powder produces a semi-solid cake which may be converted into a free-flowing powder via screening. Valve metal powders so-coated with polypropylene carbonate are particularly well-suited for the fabrication of powder metallurgy anode bodies used for the manufacture of electrolytic capacitors.

Abstract: The invention relates to post pyrolysis thermal treatment for pyrolytic manganese dioxide coatings for use in conjunction with porous anodized valve metal nitride electrolytic capacitor anodes for the purpose of transforming the manganese dioxide to a higher conductivity form of manganese dioxide.

Abstract: A process for treating an impregnated electrolytic capacitor anode whereby the anode body is immersed in a liquid electrolytic solution and a voltage is applied to the anode body, whereby a current flows through and repairs flaw sites in the anode body. The liquid electrolytic solution includes an organic solvent comprising at least one of polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Alternatively, the electrolytic solution includes an organic solvent and an alkali metal phosphate salt. Preferably, the electrolytic solution contains both an alkali metal phosphate salt and an organic solvent comprising at least one of polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether.

Abstract: An electrolytic solution comprising glycerine and an organic salt, an inorganic salt, or mixtures thereof, and having a pH of less than about 7. The electrolytic solution has a water content of less than 0.1 weight percent and is prepared by mixing the glycerine and the salt or their acidic and basic ionogen components and heating to above 150.degree. C. A method of anodizing a metal comprising forming a film on the metal with said electrolytic solution. The metal is preferably a valve metal, such as tantalum, and the film is formed at a temperature of 150.degree. C. or higher.