Previous to the ceramic output filter capacitor, a high energy discharge capacitor has been manufactured for the past 20 years. The application was military and replaced a reconstituted mica that was 20 times its volume and mass. The current discharge requirement was a minimum of 2100 Amperes peak. Reliability testing to assure this capability involved a discharge life test where the part was repeatedly discharged at room ambient and the temperature extremes. Each discharge current burst was monitored to assure the 2100 Ampere peak requirement. This high current capability didn’t happen as a matter of fact, but represented an understanding of elemental performance required and the processes and materials needed to achieve this high current capability.

A four terminal impedance meter was used to do parametric characterization through a given frequency range (HP4192 and HP4191 Impedance Analyzers) We have also used a more dynamic test by current pulse injection. By injecting a current pulse with a known rise-time into the capacitor, the elements of ESR, ESL and Capacitance can be deduced from the resulting voltage developed across the capacitor.

Read more: http://www.avx.com/docs/techinfo/mlchf.pdf