Based on Murata's GCM and GRM series of multi-layered ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), the new GCJ (for automotive applications and AEC-Q200 compliant) and GRJ (for consumer applications) are designed with an advanced conductive polymer layer, which provides elasticity in the terminations to absorb mechanical stress that sometimes occurs during manufacturing, installation, or through general product use.

Typically, the terminations of standard Murata MLCCs have three layers starting with the innermost copper, then a nickel barrier, and on the outside a 100 percent matte tin finish. In the GCJ and GRJ series, after the copper layer, a conductive polymer is applied followed by the normal application of the nickel and tin layers. In tests conducted by Murata, soft termination MLCCs were soldered with 200mm thick solder to a 1.6mm thick printed circuit board (PCB). When the board was flexed 5mm, the soft termination versions did not suffer any stress damage.

The addition of the flexible polymer layer does not affect the equivalent series resistance (ESR) or current rating. With performance preserved, the GRJ series is available with 250V, 630V and 1KV rated voltages while the GCJ series currently offers rated voltages of 10V, 16V, 25V, 50V and 100V. The standard EIA size for the GRJ is 1206 while the GCJ comes in sizes 0603, 0805, 1206 and 1210.

Pricing: GCJ sample price for 0603/0.1uF/50V is $0.05 while the GCJ 1210/0.1uF/250V is available for $0.11. The sample price for GRJ 1206/0.1uF/250V series is priced at $0.09.
Availability: Lead-time is 10 to 14 weeks.

Murata Electronics North America, www.murata-northamerica.com