Abstract: A method of protecting surface mount capacitors from moisture and oxygen corrosion by applying a thermally curable pre-coat resin to a portion of the terminals of a capacitor and encapsulating the element(s) with a protective resin. The pre-coat resin is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and flexible at elevated temperatures and is preferably a lactone-containing epoxy resin. The pre-coat resin may be applied to a solder coating-free portion of the terminals by brush or wiper prior to encapsulating the capacitor element(s) with the protective resin.

Abstract: A capacitor comprising an aluminum anode and a dielectric layer comprising phosphate doped aluminum oxide and process for making the capacitor. The capacitor has a CV Product of at least 9 &mgr;F-V/cm2 at 250 volts. Furthermore, the capacitor is formed by the process of: forming an aluminum plate; contacting the plate with an anodizing solution comprising glycerine, 0.1 to 1.0%, by weight, water and 0.01 to 0.5%, by weight, orthophosphate; applying a voltage to the aluminum plate and determining an initial current; maintaining the first voltage until a first measured current is no more than 50% of the initial current; increasing the voltage and redetermining the initial current; maintaining the increased voltage until a second measured current is no more than 50% of the redetermined initial current, and continuing the increasing of the voltage and maintaining the increased voltage until a final voltage is achieved.

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor comprising an anode, cathode and an electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution comprising a compound of formula 1: CH3—(OCH2CH2)m—CH3  Formula 1 wherein m is an integer from 3 to 10. The electrolyte also comprises an ionogen.

Abstract: Non-aqueous electrolytic solutions suitable for anodizing valve metal derivative anodes, methods of anodizing using non-aqueous electrolytic solutions, and capacitors prepared with non-aqueous electrolytic solutions. The non-aqueous electrolytic solution comprises glycerine and at least one soluble salt formed by the neutralization of at least one non-halogen-containing organic or inorganic acid anion with at least one alkali metal, ammonium, or protonated amine cation; wherein the acid anion is derived from an acid having a pKa lower than phosphoric acid.

Abstract: A method of protecting surface mount capacitors from moisture and oxygen corrosion by applying a thermally curable pre-coat resin to a portion of the terminals of a capacitor and encapsulating the capacitor element(s) with a protective resin. The pre-coat resin is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and flexible at elevated temperatures and is preferably a lactone-containing epoxy resin. The pre-coat resin may be applied to a solder coating-free portion of the terminals by brush or wiper prior to encapsulating the capacitor element(s) with the protective resin.

Abstract: A method of protecting surface mount capacitors from moisture and oxygen corrosion by applying a thermally curable pre-coat resin to a portion of the terminals of a capacitor and encapsulating the capacitor element(s) with a protective resin. The pre-coat resin is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and flexible at elevated temperatures and is preferably a lactone-containing epoxy resin. The pre-coat resin may be applied to a solder coating-free portion of the terminals by brush or wiper prior to encapsulating the capacitor element(s) with the protective resin.

Abstract: A method of protecting surface mount capacitors from moisture and oxygen corrosion by applying a thermally curable pre-coat resin to a portion of the terminals of a capacitor and encapsulating the capacitor element(s) with a protective resin. The pre-coat resin is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and flexible at elevated temperatures and is preferably a lactone-containing epoxy resin. The pre-coat resin may be applied to a solder coating-free portion of the terminals by brush or wiper prior to encapsulating the capacitor element(s) with the protective resin.

Abstract: An anodizing solution, and method of anodizing, comprising suspending at least one aluminium substrate in an anodizing solution and applying an anodizing current to the anodizing solution. The anodizing solution comprises 0.01-5%, by weight, sodium silicate and 0.01-5%, by weight, &agr;-amino acid.

Abstract: Non-aqueous electrolytic solutions suitable for anodizing valve metal derivative anodes, methods of anodizing using non-aqueous electrolytic solutions, and capacitors prepared with non-aqueous electrolytic solutions. The non-aqueous electrolytic solution comprises glycerine and at least one soluble salt formed by the neutralization of at least one non-halogen-containing organic or inorganic acid anion with at least one alkali metal, ammonium, or protonated amine cation; wherein the acid anion is derived from an acid having a pKa lower than phosphoric acid.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a foil coated with a dielectric oxide film, wherein the coated foil has slit or cut edges, and the slit or cut edges have been reformed by forming the foil in an aqueous citrate electrolyte, then depolarizing the foil, and then forming the foil in an aqueous phosphate electrolyte wherein the foil is not anodized in an aqueous acid electrolyte prior to forming the foil in an aqueous citrate electrolyte.

Abstract: Separator paper comprising paper impregnated with soluble silicate. The soluble silicate may be applied to the separator paper by immersing the paper into an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate or by spraying with an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate. In a preferred embodiment, the soluble silicate is sodium silicate. An electrolytic capacitor comprising an electrolytic solution, at least one anode foil, at least one cathode foil, and separator paper between the at least one anode foil and at least one cathode foil, wherein the separator paper comprises paper impregnated with a soluble silicate.

Abstract: Separator paper comprising paper impregnated with soluble silicate. The soluble silicate may be applied to the separator paper by immersing the paper into an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate or by spraying with an aqueous solution of the soluble silicate. In a preferred embodiment, the soluble silicate is sodium silicate. An electrolytic capacitor comprising an electrolytic solution, at least one anode foil, at least one cathode foil, and separator paper between the at least one anode foil and at least one cathode foil, wherein the separator paper comprises paper impregnated with a soluble silicate.

Abstract: An oxidizer solution for preparing conductive polymers, the solution comprising: at least one oxidizing agent; at least one buffering agent; and at least one solvent; wherein the pH of the oxidizer solution is about 2 or greater. A process of preparing a conductive polymer layer on an anodized surface of an aluminum substrate comprising i) dipping the substrate in an oxidizer solution, ii) drying, and iii) dipping the substrate in a monomer solution and polymerizing; wherein the oxidizer solution comprises at least one oxidizing agent; at least one buffering agent; and at least one solvent, wherein the pH of the oxidizer solution is about 2 or greater. Additional buffering agent is added to the oxidizer solution during the process of preparing the conductive polymer to maintain the pH at 2 or greater.

Abstract: An electrolyte comprising a polyester condensation product of 2-methyl-1,3-propane diol and boric acid; and further comprising dimethyl amino ethoxy ethanol in an amount to reduce the resistance of the electrolyte. The electrolyte may further comprise ortho-phosphoric acid and at least one substituted pyrrolidone or lactone, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxy ethyl-2-pyrrolidone or 4-butyrolactone. The ortho-phosphoric acid prevents hydration of anodic aluminum oxide in contact with the solution. The pyrrolidone or lactone reduce the resistance of the electrolyte. The electrolyte may also comprise sodium silicate.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a foil coated with a dielectric oxide film, wherein the coated foil has slit or cut edges, and the slit or cut edges have been reformed by forming the foil in an aqueous citrate electrolyte, then depolarizing the foil, and then forming the foil in an aqueous phosphate electrolyte wherein the foil is not anodized in an aqueous acid electrolyte prior to forming the foil in an aqueous citrate electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of preparing a capacitor having at least one porous element comprising applying to the element a masking material with an ink jet printer head. Preferably the masking material is a liquid resin such as an acrylic, a polyurethane, a silicone, or a polyimide.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for drying materials wet with one or more solvents, particularly hygroscopic materials and materials wet with a high boiling point (low vapor pressure) solvent that are sensitive to heat. Wet material is loaded into a chamber, which is then sealed and caused to oscillate back and forth. Vacuum is enlisted to provide rapid evaporation of solvent at a lower temperature than possible at standard atmospheric pressure. The material is oscillated until a sudden decrease in the residual pressure of the chamber, which indicates completion of the drying cycle. Because vacuum is applied to an oscillating chamber, a rotary vacuum seal is not required to accomplish drying in accordance with the practice of the instant invention.

Abstract: An electrolyte comprising a polyester condensation product of 2-methyl-1,3-propane diol and boric acid; and further comprising dimethyl amino ethoxy ethanol in an amount to reduce the resistance of the electrolyte. The electrolyte may further comprise ortho-phosphoric acid and at least one substituted pyrrolidone or lactone, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxy ethyl-2-pyrrolidone or 4-butyrolactone. The ortho-phosphoric acid prevents hydration of anodic aluminum oxide in contact with the solution. The pyrrolidone or lactone reduce the resistance of the electrolyte. The electrolyte may also comprise sodium silicate.

Abstract: Edges of a slit and cut to length foil having a dielectric oxide film on at least one surface are edge formed by edge forming the foil in an aqueous citrate electrolyte, preferably an aqueous ammonium citrate electrolyte, depolarizing the foil, and then edge forming the foil in an aqueous phosphate electrolyte, preferably an ammonium dihydrogen phosphate electrolyte. Using this formation process, a foil with excellent hydration resistance and capacitance is produced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the continuous anodizing of aluminum foil for use in aluminum electrolytic capacitors. Specifically, etched anode foil is anodized to relatively low voltage in a two-step reel-to-reel process. The process is particularly useful for anodizing highly-etched aluminum foil for use in surface mount aluminum capacitors containing conductive polymer cathode material. The process is economical and provides high foil quality. Specifically, the process for anodizing aluminum foil comprises anodizing the foil in a first electrolyte a solution, passing the foil through an oven, anodizing the foil in a second anodizing solution wherein the first electrolyte solution and second electrolyte solution each comprise about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % glycerine, about 0.01 wt % to about 0.2 wt % ammonium phosphate, and de-ionized water, and wherein the foil is anodized in the first electrolyte solution for at least 3.