Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are polarized electrolytic capacitors whose anode electrode (+) is made of a pure aluminum foil with an etched surface. The aluminum forms a very thin insulating layer of aluminium oxide by anodization that acts as the dielectric of the capacitor. A non-solid electrolyte covers the rough surface of the oxide layer, serving in principle as the second electrode (cathode) (-) of the capacitor. A second aluminum foil called “cathode foil” contacts the electrolyte and serves as the electrical connection to the negative terminal of the capacitor.
Global aluminum electrolytic capacitor production clusters in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Mainland China, of which Japan shares half the market. With the global aluminum electrolytic capacitor industry transferring to China over the recent years, several Japanese companies are moving into the Chinese market and China's output of aluminum electrolytic capacitor is increasing, reaching over 13 million units in 2017, 1.6 times the figure in 2008, and expectedly with an AAGR of at least 7% between 2018 and 2023.
The demand for consumer electronic goods is fueling the aluminum electrolyte capacitors market growth, globally. The rising disposable income and the high spending propensity of consumers pertaining to electronic goods driving the demand for consumer electronics goods, which, in turn, is predicted to provide a huge thrust to aluminum electrolyte capacitors market.
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors account for 6.5% of all capacitor shipments in terms of volume; but a full 22% of the global capacitor market in terms of U.S. dollar value. Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are considered a niche component compared to the hundreds of billions of ceramic capacitors (Multilayered ceramic chip capacitors, or MLCC) produced each year, but provide an important solution for all design engineers faced with the requirement of achieving high capacitance and high voltage beyond the capabilities of ceramic capacitors.