APPLICATION NOTES FOR MIL-PRF-39014

The NPSL application notes for multilayer ceramic capacitors were amended (May 2013) to reflect the following recommendations from a NASA Engineering & Safety Center (NESC) report ^[1] on the subject of low voltage failure phenomenon of ceramic capacitors:

R-1. NASA guidelines should be amended to remove any requirements to perform Humidity Steady-State Low Voltage (HSSLV) test as an add-on lot acceptance test for MIL QPL MLCCs.

R-3. NASA guidelines should be amended to remove restrictions on MLCCs rated at less than 100 V when used in low voltage applications.

Reference:

[1] “Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC) –Low Voltage Failure (LVF) Phenomenon” NASA/TM-2010-216852, NESC-RP-07-056, October 2010, NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC)

1) MIL-PRF-123 capacitors are space grade and are recommended as the first order of precedence for all Level 1 applications.

2) MIL-PRF-39014 capacitors shall be used for Level 2 applications only

3) Values for MIL-PRF-39014/02, style CKR06 are limited to 0.47 uF maximum to avoid the use of parts with large areas of thin dielectric layers, that have been found to be particularly susceptible to failure and also to exhibit decreased reliability at higher stress levels. In particular, the 1 uF, 50 V CKR06 capacitor (M39014/02-1419) is NOT recommended for flight applications due to the aggressive part construction designs employed that use very thin dielectric layers and a large number of electrodes.  For applications that require a 1 uF, 50 V capacitor in this same package size, users are urged to consider the MIL-PRF-123/2 CKS06 1 uF, 50 V capacitor.  The MIL-PRF-123 specification is considered SPACE GRADE because of the part design and lot specific testing required by this high reliability specification.

For historical reference, application notes that have been rescinded may be viewed here