AVX ADDS TWO NEW HIGH-TEMP/HARSH ENVIRONMENT MLCC

SpiCalci 8.0 now features SXP- & SMX-style MLCCs rated for up to 200°C & ideal for down-hole oil exploration, space, aerospace, & hybrid automotive applications

GREENVILLE, S.C., Oct. 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AVX Corporation, a leading manufacturer of passive components and interconnect solutions, has updated its advanced SpiCalci 8.0 SPICE modeling software with the addition of two new high temperature multilayer ceramic capacitor series for power electronics employed in harsh environment applications such as down-hole oil drilling. Now featuring the SMX-style stacked, switch mode power supply (SMPS) MLCCs and SXP-style encapsulated, radial-leaded MLCCs – both of which are rated for up to 200 degrees Celsius and exhibit low ESR, ESL, and DC leakage in addition to excellent high frequency performance – SpiCalci 8.0 helps design engineers validate circuits before they are built by allowing them to simulate frequency performance plots and other data for specific AVX components.

"AVX has recently introduced several component series specifically designed for use in the down-hole oil industry, including the SMX and SXP Series, so the newly updated SpiCalci 8.0 modeling software is a reflection of our commitment to not only providing our customers with the highest quality, highest reliability components possible, but to also providing them with comprehensive, easy-to-use design tools that will help them harness the maximum effectiveness of our devices in their designs," said Patrick Hollenbeck, applications engineer at AVX.

Available in two dielectrics (C0G and X7R/X9U) and designed to exhibit low ESR/ESL, rugged mechanical shock and vibration capabilities, and a wide frequency response in high pulse, high current, and high temperature applications up to 200 degrees Celsius, the SXP-style and SMX-style MLCCs are ideal for down-hole oil exploration, including logging while drilling and geophysical probes, as well as for space, aerospace, and hybrid automotive applications. Both series are also well suited for DC filters in high power, high frequency motor drives and high pulsed-current circuitry. Standard SMX MLCCs are rated for 25-500V and 1nanofarads to 340 microfarads and standard SXP MLCCs are rated for 50-1,000V and 100 picofarads to 10 microfarads; however, both series are available with custom values, ratings, leads, and packaging upon request.

Now included in the SpiCalci 8.0 component catalogue, design engineers can quickly and easily simulate performance characteristics for SXP and SMX MLCCs in addition to many other advanced MLCC products.  Output data includes: temperature vs. applied current, ESR and impedance vs. frequency, maximum current vs. frequency, maximum ripple voltage vs. frequency, and phase angle vs. frequency.  To download the SpiCalci 8.0 executable file, please visit: http://www.avx.com/SpiApps/default.asp#spicalci .  

For more information, please visit www.avx.com , call 864-967-2150, or write to One AVX Boulevard, Fountain Inn, S.C. 29644.

About AVX

AVX Corporation is a leading international supplier of electronic passive components and interconnect solutions with 26 manufacturing and customer support facilities in 15 countries around the world. AVX offers a broad range of devices including capacitors, resistors, filters, timing and circuit protection devices and connectors. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AVX ).

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=21422

Patrick Hollenbeck Applications Engineer, AVX 864-228-4544 or Callie Baldwin Corporate Communications Director, AVX 8640967-9375