FAQ: Does MLCC Capacitance Change With Voltage?

Voltage fluctuation is known to occur in ferroelectric materials like barium titanate, which is used in most X5R and X7R capacitors. However, the amount of loss experienced can widely vary depending on the dielectric material and the type of voltage, DC or AC, used. This is problematic if not considered when designing a capacitor because the capacitor can lose more than 70 percent of its rated capacitance with applied voltage depending on the combination of material and voltage used. This article addresses this phenomenon and futher discusses MLCC capacitance change with voltage.