GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- KEMET Corporation (NYSE: KEM), a leading manufacturer of tantalum, ceramic, aluminum, film, paper and electrolytic capacitors, today introduced its new T496 Hi-Rel Fused Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) MnO(2) Series of tantalum surface mount capacitors. These devices are ideal for use in high reliability applications where a capacitor failing short will disrupt the overall performance of the system. The internal fuse in the capacitor results in a fail open condition.

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"KEMET's T496 COTS Series offers our customers a true fail open tantalum capacitor," stated Dr. Philip Lessner, KEMET's Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Scientist. "Fuse actuation makes it possible for this failure mode to eliminate any concerns with parts failing short by ensuring that the capacitor is isolated from the circuit, thereby increasing overall reliability."

The T496 Hi-Rel Fused COTS MnO(2) Series is available in DLA (DSCC) Drawing 04053 and can be ordered with a variety of options including surge current testing, Weibull Grading, termination options, and various ESR levels. A customizable testing and screening protocol is available upon customer request.

Typical applications include decoupling and filtering in computing, telecommunication, defense, and industrial end applications requiring a built-in fuse capability. This includes filtering for point of load and switch mode power supplies.

Typical markets include defense and aerospace, computer, industrial, lighting, and telecommunications. These devices range in price from $0.50 and higher, and complement KEMET's T493, T497, T513, T540, T541, and T543 series of COTS capacitors.

Additional Technical Information

KEMET's T496 Hi-Rel Fused COTS MnO(2) Series is designed to operate in high-current applications and includes a fusing mechanism. The built-in fuse element provides excellent protection from damaging short circuit conditions in applications where high fault currents exist. This type of fuse is ideal for high-current applications where no external series resistance is used. This solution will impact the failure mode process, replacing a short circuit situation (with high risk of circuit damage) with an open circuit. This type of capacitor will prevent any circuit interruption due to the capacitor failure mode. Fuse activation will occur (at room temperature 25 degrees C) within 1 second at fault currents of 4 amps and higher. As the fusing process is initiated, a post actuation resistance of greater than 10 megaohm is assured (at 25 degrees C).


    Glossary

    Hi-Rel          High Reliability

                     The dominant failure mode in a
                     capacitor is by short circuit. If
                     a failed capacitor is in an
                     unprotected low impedance
                     circuit, continued flow of
                     current through the capacitor may
                     produce severe overheating which
                     may damage the circuit board or
    Fail Short Mode  nearby components.



                     When a capacitor fails open, the
                     current flow is disrupted so that
                     it no longer flows through the
                     circuit.  This failure mode is
    Fail Open Mode   preferable to failing short.


    Fuse Actuation   A fusing mechanism that changes
                     the failure mode from short
                     circuit to open circuit

    ESR             Equivalent Series Resistance

                     An important technique that allows
                     the capacitor manufacturer to
                     perform a selection and
                     reliability rating of solid
                     tantalum capacitors for military
    Weibull Grading  and space applications.

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://ir.kemet.com/, 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.

Certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcome and results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements are described in the Company's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Contact:                Dean W. Dimke
                             Senior Director, Marketing Communications and
                             Investor Relations
                            deandimke@KEMET.com
                            954.766.2806

SOURCE KEMET Corporation