# Tantalum Capacitor Failure Analysis


A tantalum capacitor is a type of electrolytic capacitor. It is constructed of a pellet of tantalum metal as anode, covered by an insulating oxide layer that forms the dielectric (manganese dioxide), surrounded by conductive material as a cathode (carbon with a silver epoxy interface). Tantalum electrolytic capacitors exploit the tendency of tantalum to form a non-conductive protective oxide surface layer. A tantalum capacitor consists of tantalum powder pressed into a pellet shape as one "plate" of the capacitor, with the oxide as a dielectric, and an electrolytic solution or conductive solid as the other "plate". The dielectric layer thus can be very thin. This gives tantalum capacitors an advantage over electrolytic capacitors in having a high capacitance per unit volume and weight.


## Pages

- [T491D475K050AT Kemet Tantalum Capacitor Analysis](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/failure-analysis-on-t491d475k050at-kemet-tantalum-capacitor/index.md)
- [Vishay TR3D685K050C0500 Tantalum Capacitors](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/vishay-tr3d685k050c0500-tantalum-capacitors/index.md)
- [Surface Mount Tantalum Capacitors](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/surface-mount-tantalum-capacitors-2/index.md)
- [Tantalum Capacitor Failure From Moisture Ingress](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/tantalum-capacitor-failure-analysis/index.md)
- [Counterfeit 476E Tantalum Capacitors](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/counterfeit-tantalum-capacitors/index.md)
- [Kemet T491C155M035AT Tantalum Capacitors](https://gideonlabs.com/posts/surface-mount-tantalum-capacitors/index.md)