# MLCC Failure Analysis


A multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) is a small surface-mount part made of alternating ceramic dielectric and metal electrode layers. MLCCs are common in decoupling and filtering circuits, so one failed part can stop a whole board.

Ceramic is brittle. Board flexing is a common cause of cracks, for example during depanelization, handling or mounting. A difference in thermal expansion between the ceramic and the PCB adds stress during soldering and temperature cycling. Other failure modes include knit-line and thermal cracks, delamination, poor solder wetting, moisture or contamination that causes leakage current, and electrical overstress (EOS).

Our case studies in this category show these failure modes. One board had capacitors with cracks near the terminal caused by PCB flexing. Another set of parts had knit-line and thermal cracks.

For each job, the lab starts with electrical tests, including leakage current. We then use optical microscopy and cross-sectioning of the capacitor to find cracks, voids and delamination. Where needed, we use [X-ray radiography](/analytical-services/x-ray-radiography/) and [scanning electron microscopy](/analytical-services/scanning-electron-microscopy/) to look deeper.

If you have failed MLCCs, [request a quote](/contact/) and tell us about the failure and the application.


## Pages

- [Failure Analysis on Murata GCM21BR70J106KE22L MLCCs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/failure-analysis-on-murata-electronics-gcm21br70j106ke22l-mlccs/index.md)
- [Contamination and Moisture on MLCCs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/contamination-and-moisture-on-mlccs/index.md)
- [Johanson Dielectrics PN 500T15W103MV4E MLCCs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/failures-on-johanson-dielectrics-pn-500t15w103mv4e-mlccs/index.md)
- [Knit Line and Thermal Cracking on MLCCs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/knit-line-and-thermal-cracking-on-mlccs/index.md)
- [Failure Analysis of MLCC - Cracked Ceramic Capacitors](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/cracked-ceramic-capacitors/index.md)
- [Leakage Current from MLCC on PCB](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/leakage-current-mlcc-pcb/index.md)
- [Failure Analysis on MLCCs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/failure-analysis-mlccs/index.md)
- [Failed 1210 MLCCs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/failed-1210-mlccs/index.md)
- [Thermal Damage to MLCC](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/thermal-damage-to-mlcc/index.md)
- [Tusonix Pi Filters](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pi-filters/index.md)
- [Spectrum Control Pi Filter](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/spectrum-control-pi-filter/index.md)
- [220 Picofarad AVX Capacitor](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/220-picofarad-avx-capacitor/index.md)
- [Capacitor Terminal Crack](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/capacitor-terminal-crack/index.md)
- [Looking for Flexiterm on MLCCs](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/flexiterm/index.md)
- [MLC Capacitor Failure Analysis (MLCC)](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/mlcc-failure-analysis-2/index.md)
- [MLCC Cracks and Poor Solder Wetting: Failure Analysis](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/mlcc-failure-analysis/index.md)
- [MLCC Failures](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/mlcc-failures/index.md)
- [PCB Overheating Due to Design Flaw](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pcb-overheating-due-to-design-flaw/index.md)
- [PCB Poor Solder Lead to EOS MLCC Fracturing](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/pcb-poor-solder-lead-to-eos-mlcc-fracturing/index.md)
- [MLCC Cracking](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/mlcc-cracking/index.md)
- [Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) Fracture](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/mlcc-fracture/index.md)
- [Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/multilayer-ceramic-capacitor/index.md)
- [Printed Circuit Board Flexing During Depanelization](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/printed-circuit-board-flexing-during-depanelization/index.md)