18087A331KAT2A

The AVX 18087A331KAT2A is a film capacitor manufactured by AVX Corporation, a leading producer of passive electronic components. This part belongs to the family of polyester or polypropylene film capacitors, which are widely used in electronic circuits requiring reliable energy storage, filtering, and signal coupling applications. Film capacitors like this model are constructed with a dielectric material sandwiched between metal foil or metallized film electrodes, then wound into a compact cylindrical package. The 18087A series designation indicates this is a radial-leaded component, meaning both terminals extend from the same end of the body, making it suitable for through-hole mounting on printed circuit boards. This design simplifies insertion and soldering in automated assembly processes while maintaining mechanical stability. These capacitors are commonly specified in industrial control equipment, power supplies, audio amplifiers, and lighting ballasts where stable capacitance and low leakage current are essential. The film dielectric construction provides several advantages over ceramic alternatives, including lower distortion characteristics, superior frequency stability across temperature ranges, and reduced susceptibility to voltage derating. This makes them particularly valuable in precision timing circuits, filtering applications, and AC coupling stages where signal fidelity matters. The AVX 18087A series is engineered for general-purpose industrial use, offering a good balance between cost, reliability, and performance. These components typically operate across a broad temperature range suitable for most indoor and controlled industrial environments. The radial lead configuration and established manufacturing standards mean the part integrates easily into legacy designs and new projects alike. Engineers typically specify AVX film capacitors when application requirements demand capacitors with predictable aging characteristics, low dissipation factor, and stable electrical performance over extended operational life. Compared to electrolytic capacitors, film types excel in applications where low leakage and minimal ripple current handling are acceptable trade-offs for better reliability. Compared to ceramic capacitors, they offer lower distortion and more linear behavior, which is critical in audio circuits and precision measurement equipment. The 18087A331KAT2A designation follows AVX's part numbering convention, where the series number, capacitance code, voltage rating, packaging specification, and manufacturing details are encoded into the complete part number. For engineers sourcing components, specifying this exact part number ensures consistency with existing designs and maintains supply chain traceability. The AVX brand provides confidence in component quality, documentation support, and long-term availability for industrial applications requiring durable, long-life passive components.