I recommend that anyone interested in design with power handling
capacitors look at the page referenced below:

> About tantalums: sometimes it is the ONLY solution. EVERY design of mine
> uses a tantalum. =A0Just don't install 'em backwards.

In correct polarity operation a tantalum capacitor fails when the
oxide layer is breached and the energy available is substantial. Oxide
breach seems to occur only volts above rate voltage for low voltage
parts such as may be used on a 5V circuit. The trigger voltage seems
to be able to be as little as a very short spike with no grat energy
content of its own. Once ruptured the oxide insulating layer does not
self heal and, if on a high energy circuit such as a power supply
rail, "you're off".

Solid Aluminum seem to have all the advantages and none of the
pyrotechnic aspects of Tantalu,.

Vishay have quite  a lot to say about heir solid Al electrolytics here:

   http://www.vishay.com/capacitors/aluminum/related/



    Russell McMahon

--=20
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