SABIC TO RELEASE AT APEC 2024 DAMP HEAT DATA FOR CAPACITORS USING ELCRES™ HTV150A FILMS

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, will release at APEC 2024, February 25-29, in Long Beach, Calif., new test data for its high-heat ELCRES™ HTV150A dielectric films. Test results include damp heat aging performance in high-temperature capacitors built with ELCRES HTV150A films, and reduced internal dissipation losses in these films at elevated temperatures and frequencies. Because ELCRES™ HTV150A thin films can operate at temperatures up to 150°C, they help promote adoption of silicon carbide (SiC) power modules with smaller package sizes and greater energy density. In turn, these modules contribute to the effectiveness of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles (xEV) through increased range, higher performance and faster charging.

In addition to featuring the films at its booth (#727), SABIC will give a presentation titled, “ELCRES™ HTV150A Films for High Voltage DC-Link Capacitors Offer Reduced Dissipation Losses at Higher Temperatures.” Dr. Adel Bastawros, chief scientist, SABIC Specialties, will present on Tuesday, February 27, at 1:30 p.m. PST in Room 201A. 

“Multiple factors come into play when building high-performance power electronics systems,” said Scott Fisher, general manager, Technology, SABIC Specialties. “SABIC designed ELCRES HTV150A dielectric films to deliver key attributes, including very low dissipation losses and good damp heat performance. These properties help ensure that components like capacitors can contribute to the reliability of the system as a whole, while delivering higher performance levels like those required by SiC power products and other demanding applications. Our success in developing these innovative films and continuing to generate additional application-based test data can help increase customer confidence in using ELCRES HTV150A solutions for components in highly demanding or novel designs.”

Proven Damp Heat Aging Performance
Damp heat aging performance of power electronics systems like AC-DC inverter modules in electric vehicles is important for reliable operation. Testing at the individual component level may provide early indications of impact on system behavior when a new component is used in an existing or new module design. High-heat capacitors made with ELCRES HTV150A films have passed damp heat testing in 
accordance with the AEC-Q200 (REV D) standard published by the Japan Electrics and Information 

Technology Industries Association (JEITA). The data should help system designers understand the expected performance without first completing extensive testing, giving them some surety regarding potential performance.

In the test, powered capacitors were aged in a controlled environment at 85°C and 85 percent relative humidity for 1,000 hours. Applied voltages reached 500V for capacitors made with 3µm ELCRES HTV150A film, and 800V for capacitors made with 5µm film. Results showed a stable response with little or no change in capacitance, dissipation loss and insulation resistance.

Low Internal Losses vs. Incumbent Materials
Compared to other high-heat materials like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), ELCRES HTV150A films can reduce dissipation losses by as much as 40 percent when exposed to temperatures reaching 150°C and frequencies up to 100kHz. Lower dissipation losses in these films can reduce internal heat generation, increase operating efficiency and stabilize hot spot temperatures, giving engineers greater flexibility in designing capacitors. The ELCRES HTV150A films also deliver excellent retention of dielectric properties through desired temperature and frequency ranges.

High Performance for Professional-grade Power Capacitors
ELCRES HTV150A dielectric films are the first in the industry to provide stable performance at operating temperatures of -40°C to 150°C and frequencies up to 100 kHz, while offering stable capacitance, high insulation resistance and good dielectric performance. They address the critical performance gap experienced by traditional polypropylene (PP) films above 105°C. Capacitors built with 3 µm and 5 µm metalized ELCRES HTV150A films pass standard electrical and life tests at 150°C for 2,000 hours, and damp heat aging at 85°C and 85 percent relative humidity for 1,000 hours, with low capacitance change and stable insulation resistance. Other key properties include high voltage breakdown strength over the full temperature range, good self-healing, and excellent adhesion to aluminum and zinc during metallization. 

The film has been validated by customers for use with both film-foil and metalized electrodes. Additional key features and benefits, typical properties and potential applications for the ELCRES HTV150A film portfolio can be found in SABIC’s new brochure, downloadable from the SABIC Material Finder website here.