Samsung Electro-Mechanics Expands Car MLCC Lineup to Target High-Value Automotive Market

MLCC for military use (Photo by Samsung Electro-Mechanics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced on the 12th that it has developed MLCCs (Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors) used in automotive powertrains and braking systems, aiming to target the high value-added automotive electronics market.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics recently developed three types of MLCCs for powertrains and two types for ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) and plans to supply them to global automotive parts customers.

MLCCs are components that control the flow of current in electronic circuits to be stable and consistent. They are widely used in smartphones, PCs, IT devices, home appliances, automobiles, 5G, and IoT (Internet of Things) related products. In particular, automobiles are equipped with at least 3,000 to 10,000 MLCCs for power transmission, safety, driving, and infotainment systems.

MLCCs for powertrains must achieve high capacitance under high temperature and high pressure conditions inside the vehicle’s powertrain, making them technically very challenging products. Samsung Electro-Mechanics succeeded in developing three types: 2012 size (2.0 x 1.2 mm) with 1.0 uF (microfarad: electrical capacitance), 3216 size (3.2 x 1.6 mm) with 2.2 uF, and 3225 size (3.2 x 2.5 mm) with 4.7 uF.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics explained that by applying proprietary ceramic and electrode materials and ultra-precision layering processes, it achieved the highest electrical capacitance for each size and ensured stable use even at high voltages up to 100 V.

As automotive electrical systems have recently shifted from the conventional 12 V to high voltage 48 V, these MLCCs can be widely applied not only to automotive batteries but also to markets requiring high-voltage products such as 5G networks and solar power industrial devices.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics also developed two types of MLCCs for automotive braking systems (ABS). Since braking systems are safety-critical components, they require especially high reliability. The two ABS MLCCs developed by Samsung Electro-Mechanics (2012 size (2.0 x 1.2 mm) with 4.7 uF and 2.2 uF) have a lifespan 20% longer and product stability (DC-BIAS characteristic: the capacitance reduction characteristic when DC voltage is applied) improved by 5% compared to existing products.

Additionally, the withstand voltage (the maximum voltage the product can endure without damage) characteristic was increased by 1.5 times compared to existing products, ensuring stable performance even in extreme environments.

Kim Dooyoung, Vice President and Head of the Component Business Division at Samsung Electro-Mechanics, said, "Automotive MLCCs require high technological capability for development and mass production. By developing even the technically challenging powertrain MLCCs, Samsung Electro-Mechanics has completed the full lineup of automotive MLCCs. We plan to strengthen product competitiveness and customer responsiveness by applying differentiated material and process technologies."

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has been developing and producing MLCCs since 1988 and holds the second-largest global market share in the IT sector. The industrial and automotive MLCC business started in 2016, and in 2018, it established a dedicated automotive production line in Busan. It is now actively fostering the business by building a new automotive MLCC factory in Tianjin, China.

Based on its technological capabilities in ultra-small and ultra-high capacitance MLCCs, Samsung Electro-Mechanics is strengthening its lineup of high value-added automotive products with high temperature, high pressure, and high reliability, and is expanding MLCC supply to global automotive parts manufacturers and automakers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.