Case 2231 ยท Public preview
Temperature and Time Can Turn Capacitor Aging into a Predictable Population Failure
A population of aluminum electrolytic capacitors developed increasing failures with service age, including bulging, venting, leakage, and degraded electrical performance.
Population failure-rate analysisOptical microscopyElectrical testingCapacitor dissectionTemperature-life estimation
What the evidence preview establishes
The failure trend was consistent with temperature-accelerated wear-out. The report estimated an apparent service life of about three years at a calculated core temperature near 74 degrees C.
Why this case matters
Treat electrolytic capacitors as life-limited components. Estimate core temperature from ambient and ripple heating, compare it with the supplier life model, and use population age data to distinguish wear-out from sporadic defects.
Full evidence reserved for MEMBER and STOREThe complete case includes the evidence sequence, four interpreted figures, alternative explanations, limitations, and practical application guidance.