[*Scotty*]

Deleted

[Rclark]

... So just how hot do capacitors get? All this talk of reforming the material, I mean some of these are plastic, some of these are materials with very high melting points, beyond what we could expect in a circuit I gather.

[Æ]

... So just how hot do capacitors get? All this talk of reforming the material, I mean some of these are plastic, some of these are materials with very high melting points, beyond what we could expect in a circuit I gather.

"Reforming" comes from electrolytic capacitors. A borderline capacitor could get hot, one that is about ready to fail. I've seen exploded electrolytics, they make a mess!

[Rclark]

Well then that begs the question, just how would a capacitor, say a platinum capacitor, be expected to realize any sort of change due to heat?

 Do only certain types of caps experience break in? Or all? Is heat the ultimate mechanism?

[Speedskater]

In industrial applications like variable speed motor controls or SMPS's or real UPS's the high frequencies and high voltages involved often cause high temperatures which lead to failure.  Most audio application (except for vacuum tube circuits) hardly stress the caps. any more than being in the spare parts box.

Don't know what a platinum capacitor is.  Most film caps. change a just barely measurable amount in the first few minutes after turn-on.  After a few weeks off the return to their original value/condition.

Electrolytic's of course are a whole different ball game.

[Rclark]

Platinum, Sonicap makes them..

I need to reread the jneutron stuff... If heat is totally negligible as you say, then what the heck is causing a change? Molecules are reforming, then why?

 Ok so what I get out of it is electrolytics are cheap and just wear out over time because the fluid in them wears out/dissipates.
 
 Metal caps "break in" due to oxidation caused by the voltage. Is that correct?

[*Scotty*]

Rclark, Here is the link jneutron posted earlier that covers electrolytic capacitors in depth in case you missed it.

http://electrochem.cwru.edu/encycl/art-c04-electr-cap.htm
Be advised that there is no Elemental Platinum used in Sonicaps, the word "Platinum" is used a marketing device denoting Sonicap's highest quality offering.
Scotty