KEMET Adds First-to-Market Capacitance Values to Its High Voltage Ceramic Capacitor Portfolio

GREENVILLE, S.C., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- KEMET Corporation (NYSE: KEM), a leading manufacturer of tantalum, ceramic, aluminum, film, paper and electrolytic capacitors, today announced the addition of several industry leading, as well as first-to-market, capacitance/voltage (CV) values to its High Voltage Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) portfolio in X7R dielectric.

Recent design and manufacturing technology innovations have led to significant increases in capacitance in EIA 0805 through 1812 case sizes and rated voltages of 500VDC, 630VDC and 1000VDC. KEMET maximum capacitance offerings are now up to seven times greater than those previously available.

"KEMET's latest product offers optimization and downsizing opportunities of existing designs," said Bill Sloka, KEMET Specialty Product Manager. "Development of these new CV values will create additional markets for High Voltage MLCCs and promote usage in applications requiring capacitance values previously unattainable in a ceramic capacitor."

For added reliability, KEMET's Flexible Termination technology is an available option that provides superior flex performance over standard termination systems. This technology was developed to address flex cracks, which are the primary failure mode of MLCCs and typically the result of excessive tensile and shear stresses produced during board flexure and thermal cycling. Flexible Termination technology inhibits the transfer of board stress to the rigid body of the MLCC, therefore mitigating flex cracks which can result in low IR or short circuit failures.

Automotive grade devices, which undergo stricter testing protocol and inspection criteria, are also available.  Whether under-hood or in-cabin, these capacitors are designed for mission and safety-critical automotive circuits for applications requiring proven, reliable performance in harsh environments.

Typical markets include power supply, LCD fluorescent backlight ballasts, HID lighting, telecom equipment, industrial and medical equipment/control, LAN/WAN interface, analog and digital modems, automotive (hybrid), military, and aerospace. Typical applications include switch mode power supplies (input filters, resonators, tank circuits, snubber circuits, output filters), high voltage coupling and DC blocking, lighting ballasts, voltage multiplier circuits, DC/DC converters and coupling capacitors in Cuk converters.

Technical Information

• -55 degrees C to +125 degrees C operating temperature range
• X7R dielectric (Temperature Characteristic = +/-15% from -55 degrees C to +125 degrees C)
• Pb-Free and RoHS compliant
• EIA 0805, 1206, 1210, 1808, 1812 case sizes
• DC voltage ratings of 500V, 630V, and 1000V
• New capacitance offerings ranging from 12nF to 0.33uF
• Available capacitance tolerances of +/-5%, +/-10% and +/-20%
• Low ESR and ESL
• Non-polar device, minimizing installation concerns
• Commercial and Automotive (AEC-Q200) grades available
• SnPb plated termination finish option available upon request (5% min)
• Flexible termination option available upon request

About KEMET

KEMET's common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "KEM." At the Investor Relations section of our web site at http://www.KEMET.com/IR, users may subscribe to KEMET news releases and find additional information about our Company. KEMET applies world class service and quality to deliver industry leading, high performance capacitance solutions to its customers around the world and offers the world's most complete line of surface mount and through-hole capacitor technologies across tantalum, ceramic, film, aluminum, electrolytic, and paper dielectrics. Additional information about KEMET can be found at http://www.kemet.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws about KEMET Corporation's (the "Company") financial condition and results of operations that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets in which the Company operates, as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's judgment only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

Factors that may cause actual outcome and results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, generally adverse economic and industry conditions, including a decline in demand for the Company's products. Other risks and uncertainties may be described from time to time in the Company's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE KEMET Corporation