Capacitors There are three main discrete capacitor manufacturing methods: film/foil, metalized films and electrolytic. Film/foil capacitors use Republic Foil's thin capacitor foil product. Film/foil capacitors are well suited to high current, high voltage applications. Also, film/foil is often chosen for high frequency and/or extreme temperature environments. The common applications include power distribution equipment, medical and industrial microwave equipment and military equipment like radars. Metalized film capacitors employ a thin layer of metal deposited on an insulating film as a capacitor plate. These capacitors find wide application in low voltage, low current environments. Electrolytic capacitors use a tantalum or aluminum anode with a thin insulating oxide layer in an electrolyte that acts as the cathode. These capacitors have a very high capacitance per unit volume. They are limited in voltage rating and require a direct current bias to function. They find application as decoupling capacitors and in power supply filters. The three types of capacitors have matured so that each type serves its own market segments without much overlap. The following pictorial chart qualitatively characterizes capacitor types by capacitance range and voltage rating. The film/foil capacitor areas where Republic Foil would be used are outlined in red.

Electrolytic capacitors are in the upper left; metalized films are in the center, and film/foil capacitors are those shown as insulated with paper or mica. Below is a chart that shows capacitor applications for each area of the capacitor type chart.