Z5U
Z5U is a legacy barium titanate (BaTiO₃) Class III ceramic dielectric with very high permittivity, coded to the EIA temperature range of +10 to +85 °C.
Reference datasheet — Z5U is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the PME condition
Z5U tempers and conditions
Z5U is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. PME is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Z5U | Use for 500 V to 3 kV single-layer disc and Y capacitors: permittivity is somewhat lower, but breakdown field and wall-thickness margin are larger, giving cheap high-voltage parts. | 45 | 0 | 520 HV | 3 W/m·K | |
PMEDefault Z5U | Choose the standard air-fired body with Ag/Pd inner electrodes for low-cost MLCCs and thick-film capacitors where wide capacitance tolerance and 85 °C service are acceptable. | 50 | 0 | 550 HV | 3 W/m·K | |
base-metal (Ni) electrode formulation, reducing-atmosphere fired | Pick when cost and layer count dominate: the reduction-resistant body sinters with nickel electrodes at low oxygen partial pressure, trading slightly lower insulation resistance and life than precious-metal versions. | 55 | 0 | 570 HV | 3 W/m·K |
What is Z5U?
Z5U is a legacy barium titanate (BaTiO₃) Class III ceramic dielectric with very high permittivity, coded to the EIA temperature range of +10 to +85 °C. It is chosen where capacitance per unit volume and piece price outweigh stability, and is supplied as ceramic discs and low-cost multilayer chips with either precious-metal (PME) or base-metal (BME) electrode systems; fired density is about 5.6 g/cm³. Limits are the large capacitance shift across its narrow band, no service above 85 °C, and no machinability once fired. Where stable capacitance is needed, X7R or X8R replaces it. Z5U has a density of 5.6 g/cm³ (0.202 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,618°C (2,944 °F). Z5U has a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi), weaker than 67% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
What is Z5U used for?
- General-purpose bypass capacitors
- Decoupling capacitors in low-cost consumer electronics
- Ceramic disc capacitors
- Appliance and toy power-supply filtering
- Coupling capacitors in audio boards
- High-capacitance-density MLCC chips
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 85°C (185 °F), worse than 99% of ceramic grades
- Low fracture toughness — 1 MPa·√m (0.91 ksi·√in), worse than 84% of ceramic grades
- Poor heat conductor — 2.8 W/m·K (1.62 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of ceramic grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 79% of ceramic grades
Z5U properties
Typical room-temperature values for Z5U-PME; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
Z5U has a density of 5.6 g/cm³ (0.202 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,618°C (2,944 °F).
Mechanical12
Z5U has a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi), weaker than 67% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal5
Z5U is rated for continuous service to 85°C (185 °F). It conducts heat at 2.8 W/m·K (1.62 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 10 µm/m·K (5.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Z5U is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 14 kV/mm (355.6 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 Z5U takes about 85 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 66% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Z5U's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. Z5U is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Z5U
Is Z5U easy to machine?
Green tape can be punched or laser-scribed; the fired ceramic can only be diamond-wheel ground or laser-cut, and conventional cutting tools must not be used.
Can Z5U be welded?
Not weldable; electrical connection is made by co-fired internal electrodes plus fired-on silver termination paste, then Ni/Sn plating for reflow or wave soldering.
Can Z5U be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by tape casting (green tape) or by dry pressing of granulated powder, with binder burnout at 450 °C and sintering at 1050–1300 °C in air or a reducing atmosphere; linear shrinkage is about 15–20 %.
Z5U 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bi2O3low-melting flux and peak shifter, added as Bi2O3·nTiO2 | 2 – 12 | 6 |
| ZnOflux and grain-boundary modifier | 0.5 – 6 | 2.5 |
| CaZrO3broadens and shifts the Curie peak | 0 – 8 | 3 |
| SrTiO3shifts Curie temperature down to near room temperature | 0 – 8 | 3 |
| Nb2O5donor dopant; controls insulation resistance and aging | 0.1 – 2 | 0.6 |
| MgOinhibits grain growth, improves reduction resistance | 0 – 1.5 | 0.4 |
| SiO2glass-phase sintering aid | 0.2 – 2 | 0.8 |
| PbOused in older low-fire formulas, mostly removed after RoHS | 0 – 8 | 0 |
| BaTiO3main phase, tetragonal ferroelectric perovskite | ≥ 65 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Z5U?
Terminations are silver or copper paste fired into the body, followed by electroplated Ni barrier and Sn solderable layers; disc capacitors are usually epoxy powder dip-coated for insulation.
How much does Z5U cost?
Z5U is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Z5U — frequently asked
What is Z5U used for?
Z5U is typically used for general-purpose bypass capacitors, decoupling capacitors in low-cost consumer electronics, ceramic disc capacitors, appliance and toy power-supply filtering, coupling capacitors in audio boards and high-capacitance-density MLCC chips. In short: highest capacitance density; lowest-cost Class III dielectric; narrow +10 to +85 °C band.
What is the tensile strength of Z5U?
Z5U has a typical tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — weaker than 67% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Z5U easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Green tape can be punched or laser-scribed; the fired ceramic can only be diamond-wheel ground or laser-cut, and conventional cutting tools must not be used.
Can Z5U be welded?
Not weldable; electrical connection is made by co-fired internal electrodes plus fired-on silver termination paste, then Ni/Sn plating for reflow or wave soldering.
What surface finishes work on Z5U?
Terminations are silver or copper paste fired into the body, followed by electroplated Ni barrier and Sn solderable layers; disc capacitors are usually epoxy powder dip-coated for insulation.
Can Z5U be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by tape casting (green tape) or by dry pressing of granulated powder, with binder burnout at 450 °C and sintering at 1050–1300 °C in air or a reducing atmosphere; linear shrinkage is about 15–20 %.
What is the maximum service temperature of Z5U?
Z5U is rated for continuous use to about 85°C (185 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Z5U cost?
Z5U is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- EIA RS-198 Ceramic Dielectric Capacitors Class I, II, III and IV (Z5U ) — EIA/ECA (2002)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4 — Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Buchanan, Ceramic Materials for Electronics (3rd ed.) — CRC Press (2004)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.