X8R PME
Grade
PME = precious-metal (Ag/Pd) electrode formulation, air fired
Choose for low-volume, high-reliability or thick-film/hybrid builds where air firing and Ag/Pd electrodes are required.
Values for the PME condition
Other X8R tempers and conditions
X8R is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at X8R.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PMEThis page Precious-metal (Ag/Pd) electrode formulation, air fired | Choose for low-volume, high-reliability or thick-film/hybrid builds where air firing and Ag/Pd electrodes are required. | — | — | — | 580 HV | — |
BMEDefault Base-metal (Ni) electrode formulation, reducing-atmosphere fired | Mainstream automotive X8R: rare-earth/Mg/Mn core–shell BaTiO3 co-fired with Ni electrodes; lowest cost per µF at 150 °C. | — | — | — | 600 HV | 3 W/m·K |
High-voltage / thick-layer X8R formulation | Fine-grain, lower-K variant for 500–1000 V automotive DC-link and OBC snubber capacitors where breakdown field and DC-bias stability dominate. | — | — | — | 620 HV | — |
What is X8R PME?
X8R PME is X8R in the PME grade — choose for low-volume, high-reliability or thick-film/hybrid builds where air firing and Ag/Pd electrodes are required. X8R PME has a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), weaker than 60% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi). X8R PME has a density of 5.8 g/cm³ (0.21 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,610°C (2,930 °F). BME is the default condition FabDigit quotes; PME is available on request or by drawing note.
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 90% of ceramic grades
- Low fracture toughness — 1 MPa·√m (0.91 ksi·√in), worse than 84% of ceramic grades
- Poor heat conductor — 3 W/m·K (1.73 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of ceramic grades
X8R PME properties
Typical room-temperature values for X8R PME; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are X8R reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
X8R PME has a density of 5.8 g/cm³ (0.21 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,610°C (2,930 °F).
Mechanical10
X8R PME has a tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), weaker than 60% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
Thermal5
X8R PME is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 3 W/m·K (1.73 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 10 µm/m·K (5.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
X8R PME is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 28 kV/mm (711.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 69% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of X8R PME takes about 65 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 74% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
X8R PME's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with X8R PME
Is X8R easy to machine?
Green tape is punched/laser-cut; fired ceramic requires diamond grinding, dicing or lapping — no conventional machining.
Can X8R be welded?
Not weldable; joined by soldering/sintering to Ni-barrier + Sn-plated terminations, or by conductive epoxy for high-vibration automotive use.
Can X8R be formed, bent or molded?
Tape-cast to 1–20 µm layers, screen-printed Ni electrodes, stacked/laminated, binder burnout then co-fired ~1250–1300 °C in low-pO2 N2/H2 atmosphere; firing window is narrow and Ba/Ti ratio sensitive.
What surface finishes work on X8R?
Terminations dipped and fired (Cu), then Ni/Sn barrier plating; flexible-termination or lead-frame options used to resist board-flex cracking in automotive assemblies.
X8R chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Ho2O3/Dy2O3/Y2O3 (rare-earth shell formegrain-shell doping for reliability and TCC flattening | 0.8 – 4 | 2 |
| MgOacceptor dopant, grain-growth control | 0.3 – 2 | 1 |
| MnO/Mn3O4reduction-resistance in BME firing | 0.05 – 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Nb2O5Curie-point shifter for +150 °C stability (Nb–Co or Bi-based systems used) | 0.3 – 2.5 | 1.2 |
| SiO2 + BaO/CaO glass sintering aiddensification aid | 0.5 – 2.5 | 1.2 |
| CaZrO3/ZrO2optional, TCC and IR tuning | 0 – 2 | 0.8 |
| BaTiO3core–shell fine-grain base powder, Ba/Ti ≈ 1.000–1.005 | ≥ 85 (balance) | — |
X8R PME — frequently asked
What is X8R PME used for?
X8R PME is typically used for automotive electronics, under-hood MLCCs and high-temperature power modules. In short: 150 °C Class II dielectric; automotive under-hood MLCCs; wider range than X7R.
What is the tensile strength of X8R PME?
X8R PME has a typical tensile strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) — weaker than 60% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is X8R PME easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Green tape is punched/laser-cut; fired ceramic requires diamond grinding, dicing or lapping — no conventional machining.
Can X8R PME be welded?
Not weldable; joined by soldering/sintering to Ni-barrier + Sn-plated terminations, or by conductive epoxy for high-vibration automotive use.
What surface finishes work on X8R PME?
Terminations dipped and fired (Cu), then Ni/Sn barrier plating; flexible-termination or lead-frame options used to resist board-flex cracking in automotive assemblies.
Can X8R PME be formed, bent or molded?
Tape-cast to 1–20 µm layers, screen-printed Ni electrodes, stacked/laminated, binder burnout then co-fired ~1250–1300 °C in low-pO2 N2/H2 atmosphere; firing window is narrow and Ba/Ti ratio sensitive.
What is the maximum service temperature of X8R PME?
X8R PME is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- EIA RS-198 / IEC 60384-21 Class II temperature-characteristic codes (X8R) — EIA / IEC (2019)
- AEC-Q200 Stress Test Qualification for Passive Components — Automotive Electronics Council (2023)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4 — Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Automotive X8R MLCC series datasheets (KEMET, TDK, Murata, AVX/Kyocera) — various (2024)
- BaTiO3 dielectric powder property data (Sakai Chemical / Fuji Titanium / technical bulletins) — producers (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.