The capacitor plague was a problem related to a higher-than-expected failure rate of non-solid aluminium electrolytic capacitors between 1999 and 2007, especially those from some Taiwanese manufacturers,[1][2] due to faulty electrolyte composition that caused corrosion accompanied by gas generation; this often resulted in rupturing of the case of the capacitor from the build-up of pressure.
High failure rates occurred in many well-known brands of electronics, and were particularly evident in motherboards, video cards, and power supplies of personal computers.
A 2003 article in The Independent claimed that the cause of the faulty capacitors was due to a mis-copied formula. In 2001, a scientist working in the Rubycon Corporation in Japan stole a mis-copied formula for capacitors' electrolytes. He then took the faulty formula to the Luminous Town Electric company in China, where he had previously been employed. In the same year, the scientist's staff left China, stealing again the mis-copied formula and moving to Taiwan, where they created their own company, producing capacitors and propagating even more of this faulty formula of capacitor electrolytes.[3]
- ^ D. M. Zogbi (September 2002). "Low-ESR Aluminium Electrolytic Failures Linked to Taiwanese Raw Material Problems" (PDF). Passive Component Industry. 4 (5). Paumanok Publications: 10, 12, 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ The Capacitor Plague, Posted on 26 November 2010 by PC Tools
- ^ Arthur, Charles (31 May 2003). "Stolen formula for capacitors causing computers to burn out". Business News. The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2020.