Multilayer Ceramic Component Electrode Structure Against Peeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peeling between the ceramic element and the external electrode in multilayer ceramic electronic components leads to reliability issues, particularly at the ends of the external electrode, which can allow moisture ingress.
Innovation Solution
The multilayer ceramic electronic component features step portions at the ends of the ceramic element, with a base layer covering these areas and a plating layer on top, ensuring the center of the base layer is closer to the ceramic element's center than the step portions, enhancing adhesion and preventing peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the external electrode is made thinner to increase the number of layers and reduce component size, then the capacitance and miniaturization are improved, but the adhesion between the ceramic element and external electrode deteriorates, leading to peeling and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the external electrode in the width direction beyond the end surface of the ceramic element, creating a dimensional extension that provides overlap regions. This dimensional change allows the electrode to maintain sufficient adhesion area while keeping the thickness minimal, thus resolving the contradiction between thinning the electrode for higher layer count and maintaining adhesion reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The external electrode is divided into distinct regions: a end surface region covering the end surface of the ceramic element, and width direction extension regions that extend beyond the end surface. This segmentation allows different portions of the electrode to serve different functions - the end surface region provides electrical connection while the extension regions provide adhesion area, resolving the contradiction between thinness and adhesion.
2Length of stationary object
If the external electrode is made thinner to reduce component thickness, then the miniaturization is improved, but the structural integrity and resistance to peeling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the reduced thickness by extending the electrode in the width direction, creating overlap regions that extend beyond the end surface of the ceramic element. This dimensional substitution maintains the mechanical strength and peeling resistance that would otherwise be provided by greater thickness, while achieving the desired miniaturization.
Solution Approach 2:
The external electrode is designed with predetermined extension beyond the end surface in the width direction, creating overlap regions before assembly. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that sufficient adhesion area is available from the outset, preventing peeling and maintaining structural integrity without requiring additional thickness.
3Quantity of substance
If the external electrode is made thinner to increase capacitance density, then the capacitance per volume is improved, but the adhesion area is reduced, leading to peeling at the ends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the area-thickness trade-off by extending the electrode in the width direction rather than increasing thickness. The overlap regions that extend beyond the end surface provide additional adhesion area in the width direction, compensating for the reduced thickness and maintaining sufficient total adhesion area for high capacitance density applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The external electrode is segmented into the end surface region and width direction extension regions with overlap. This segmentation allows the electrode to maintain minimal thickness for high capacitance density while the extension regions provide the necessary adhesion area, preventing peeling at the ends.
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic element having dielectric layers and internal electrodes that are alternately laminated, main surfaces along a first axis direction, side surfaces along a second axis direction, and end surfaces along a third axis direction, step portions formed at both ends of at least one surface of the main surfaces and the side surfaces along the third axis direction, and external electrodes each including a base layer provided on each of both ends of the ceramic element in the third axis direction to cover the step portions, and a plating layer covering the base layer. A center-side end of the base layer located near a center of the ceramic element is located closer to the center of the ceramic element than a center-side end of each of the step portions located near the center of the ceramic element.