Hi Dave! Yes it's FRIDAY!! (Thank goodness!!) I got your picture and it's posted. Pretty "dramatic" all right...looks like the thing turned itself inside out! check out: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Daves_Tantalum.jpg I had another picture sent to me that's just as "dramatic". But I think that this one shorted somehow or was put on backwards...almost blew the traces off the board! Look at this one: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Crispy_Tantalum.jpg Then there's another picture. This one is almost beyond desciption...check out: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Real_Crispy_Tantalum.jpg I wouldn't want to even be around that one, that's for sure! -Steve Gregory- -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David D. Hillman Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 7:35 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Tantalum Caps Hi Steve! It must be Friday if we are discussing exploding components! Kemet has an very good summary of what can happen to Ta capacitors - in short they can have a self sustaining metal oxide fire! Here is the Kemet reference: Kemet Electronics Corporation Tantalum Applications Notes, Surge Step Stress Testing in Tantalum Capacitors, 05/03/00. And I'll send you a much more "dramatic" photo to post! All components have limits and Ta caps are no exception. Dave Hillman Rockwell Collins [log in to unmask] stephen gregory <stephengregory58 [log in to unmask]> To Sent by: TechNet [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> cc Subject 09/07/2006 06:17 Re: [TN] Tantalum Caps PM Please respond to TechNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]> ; Please respond to stephen gregory <stephengregory58 [log in to unmask]> Hi John! Certanly can! They can literally EXPLODE!! I have a graphic example of that with a picture that was sent to me some time ago when I asked about Tantalums being moisture sensitive. Check out: http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Rpt_Molded_Tant.jpg This is what a tantalum looked like after it came out of reflow!! -Steve Gregory- John Foster <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Can Tantalum Caps suffer from popcorning? Can tant caps absorb enough moisture to cause this type of effect. We just built some new boards and we have one particular part number tant that is shorting out left and right. any input will be appreciated thanks John Foster --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------