Tantalum Capacitor Failure

QUESTION
Anyone have any information/experience relating to tantalum capacitors failing short? Anything on manufacturing process or circuit transients causing the failure would be greatly appreciated.

REPLIES

Comcokid
The voltage rating on tantalum capacitors is the voltage maximum. Exceed it, and they’re gone. You can temporarily exceed the voltage rating on most other types of capacitors, but not tantalums. When selecting a tantalum for a circuit, be sure to include some extra margin in the voltage rating to cover the unexpected. Tantalums also don’t like reverse polarity.

The failure mode tantalum capacitors is too short. Some varieties of tantalum capacitors are made with an internal fuse for circuits that cannot tolerate a short.

SOURCE
https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=89991
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