Electrolyte for very high voltage electrolytic capacitors

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an electrolyte for use in very high voltage electrolytic capacitors and to an electrolytic capacitor impregnated with the electrolyte of the present invention for use in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The electrolyte according to the present invention is composed of a mixture of an alkoxy-substituted alcohol, such as 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, or 2-butoxyethanol, and a long chain dicarboxylic acid, where the acid functional groups are separated by 34 carbons (referred to as “dimer acid”) or 54 carbons (referred to as “trimer acid”). The solution is then neutralized with ammonium hydroxide or other amine, such as ammonia, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropylethylamine and N-methylimidazole. Additional cosolvents, such as ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, di(ethylene glycol), tri(ethylene glycol), tetra(ethylene glycol), propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butanol, and di(ethylene glycol) butyl ether, may be added. Also, a cathode depolarizer, or degassing agent, from the group of nitro-substituted aromatic compounds (nitroaromatics) can be added to reduce the amount of gas produced during capacitor life.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.