Abstract: The metal oxide surface coating of an anodized valve metal may be made conductive under certain conditions so that conductive coatings can be electrolytically deposited on the surface of the oxide. When a dry polar aprotic electrolyte solution is used at a reduced temperature and a relatively high field is applied, the oxide ceases to be insulative. The process is reversible, meaning that there is no permanent change in the oxide.

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: Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors which satisfy X7R requirements and which are compatible with reducing atmosphere sintering conditions so that non-noble metals such as nickel, copper, and alloys thereof may be used for internal and external electrodes are made in accordance with the invention. The capacitors exhibit desirable dielectric properties (high capacitance, low dissipation factor, high insulation resistance), excellent performance on highly accelerated life testing, and very good resistance to dielectric breakdown. The dielectric layers preferably contain BaTiO3 as the major component and CaTiO3, BaO, CaO, SrO, Si02, MnO2, Y2O3, and CoO as minor components in such proportions so that there are present 0.1 to 4 mol % CaTiO3, 0.1 to 2 mol % BaO, 0 to 1 mol % CaO, 0 to 1 mol % SrO, 0.1 to 5 mol % SiO2, 0.01 to 2 mol % MnO2, 0.1 to 3 mol % Y2O3, and 0.01 to 1 mol % CoO. The preferred form of the invention may be sintered in the temperature range 1,250 to 1,400° C.

Abstract: Multielement capacitors have at least one metal capacitor and at least one ceramic capacitor with common terminals in a common case. The preferred metal capacitance elements have an effective series capacitance of at least 1 microfarad at frequencies of up to 100 kHz. The individual metallic capacitance elements exhibit an ESR of less than 100 milliohms at 100 kHz and a dissipation factor (DF) of less than about 6% at 120 Hz. The ceramic capacitance elements useful in the invention have an equivalent series capacitance of at least about 0.1 microfarads at frequencies of up to about 100 MHz. The individual ceramic capacitance elements have an ESR of less than 20 milliohms at 1 MHz and a dissipation factor of less than 10% at 1 kHz.

Abstract: Acid-doped, polyaniline-based polymers are formed into fibers, films, and coatings with a solvent of N-ethylpyrrolidone. Such a solvent system is particularly useful for the formation of a solid electrolyte on a capacitive element.

Abstract: Conductive polymers are formed with a self-regenerating oxidant system made with a reversibly reducible metal salt at amounts sufficient to polymerize a cyclic monomer through oxidation and leave a reduced metal ion, and an oxidant in an amount sufficiently small and under conditions sufficient to oxidize the reduced metal ion but avoid oxidation or degradation of the polymer. The most preferred combination of agents includes ferric nitrate and a small amount of ammonium nitrate at a pH within the range of 2 to 7.

Abstract: Acid-doped, polyaniline-based polymers are formed into fibers, films, and coatings with a solvent of at least one bicyclic terpene. Such a solvent system is characterized by a drying temperature of less than 150.degree. C. and a relatively low toxicity.

Abstract: Acid-doped, polyaniline-based polymers are formed into fibers, films, and coatings with a solvent of N-ethylpyrrolidone. Such a solvent system is particularly useful for the formation of a solid electrolyte on a capacitive element.

Abstract: Acid-doped, polyaniline-based polymers are formed into fibers, films, and coatings with a solvent of N-ethylpyrrolidone. Such a solvent system is particularly useful for the formation of a solid electrolyte on a capacitive element.