Protecting resin-encapsulated components

A method of protecting surface mount capacitors from moisture and oxygen corrosion, the capacitor having at least one capacitor element and terminals connected to the capacitor element, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a thermally curable lactone resin to a portion of the terminals of the capacitor;
• and
• encapsulating the capacitor element with a protective resin;
• wherein the lactone resin is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and flexible at elevated temperatures.

A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising:

• a solid electrolytic capacitor element connected to surface mount terminals;
• a lactone resin applied to at least a portion of said terminals;
• and
• a protective resin encapsulating said capacitor element and applied to a portion of said terminals over said lactone resin;
• wherein said lactone resin is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and flexible at elevated temperatures.

A method of manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a solid electrolytic capacitor element;
• applying a lactone resin to a portion of capacitor terminals;
• connecting the capacitor terminals to the capacitor element;
• and
• encapsulating the capacitor element and a portion of the capacitor terminals with a protective resin;
• wherein said lactone resin is substantially rigid at ambient temperatures and flexible at elevated temperatures.