Case 2168 ยท Public preview
A Termination-Adjacent Flex Crack Can Isolate MLCC Electrode Plates
One board-mounted capacitor retained nominal performance while another measured roughly half the expected capacitance with elevated dissipation factor.
Electrical testingOptical microscopyMicrosectioningSEMEDSFailed/control comparison
What the evidence preview establishes
The degraded capacitor contained a ceramic flexure crack beneath one termination. Its location and trajectory indicated board bending, and the crack reduced capacitance by electrically isolating part of the internal electrode stack.
Why this case matters
Partial capacitance loss can represent electrode isolation rather than uniform dielectric degradation. Inspect beneath both terminations and relate crack trajectory to depaneling, handling, and nearby board geometry.
Full evidence reserved for MEMBER and STOREThe complete case includes the evidence sequence, four interpreted figures, alternative explanations, limitations, and practical application guidance.