Showa Denko Expands Nanoparticle Titanium-Oxide Production Capacity for MLCC Capacitors

Tokyo, Oct 13, 2010 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) -- Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) is set to expand its nanoparticle titanium-oxide production capacity at its wholly owned subsidiary, Showa Titanium Co., Ltd. The production capacity will increase from 180 tons per month to 240 tons per month starting in June 2011. The titanium oxide product, sold under the trade name Super-Titania(TM), is crucial in the production of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC Capacitors).

What are MLCC Capacitors?
MLCC Capacitors are essential components in electronic devices that require compact size and light weight, such as PCs, mobile phones, and flat-panel TVs. Due to the increasing demand for these devices, the MLCC market is projected to grow at a rate of around 10% annually.

Production Expansion to Meet Growing Demand
To accommodate the rising demand, Showa Titanium will enhance the efficiency of its Super-Titania production facilities for MLCC applications. The number of production lines will increase from three to four, ensuring better capacity to meet market needs.

The Role of Titanium Oxide in MLCC Capacitors
Titanium oxide (TiO2) plays a critical role in producing barium titanate (BaTiO3), a key raw material for the dielectric component in MLCC Capacitors. Fine-particle TiO2 is essential for the solid-phase process, which enables the low-cost production of BaTiO3 with superior dielectric properties. Showa Titanium uses advanced process control technologies to produce Super-Titania in ultra-fine particle sizes ranging from 15 to 250 nm, ensuring high purity for MLCC Capacitors that are smaller and have higher capacity.

Applications Beyond MLCCs
While Super-Titania is primarily used in MLCC Capacitors, it also serves various other applications such as fillers and photocatalysts. Showa Titanium aims to provide high-quality, stable products to meet the diverse needs of customers, reinforcing its position as a market leader.

What is Dielectric?
Dielectric is a material that acts as an electrical insulator, capable of storing and instantly discharging electricity. As dielectric properties improve, the material's ability to store electricity increases.

Solid-phase vs. Liquid-phase Processes
There are two main processes for producing fine ceramics, including BaTiO3: the solid-phase and liquid-phase processes. The solid-phase process involves mixing materials and baking them at high temperatures, resulting in compound synthesis through chemical reactions. In the liquid-phase process, materials are dissolved in a solution, undergo chemical reactions, and then are baked at lower temperatures to form compounds.

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