Segmented end electrode capacitor and method of segmenting an end electrode of a capacitor

A method for manufacturing a capacitor which resists thermally induced damage, the method comprising:

• forming a capacitor body by positioning a first electrically conductive layer in a spaced apart relationship with a second electrically conductive layer using a dielectric material in between the first and second layers, said first layer having a first layer lengthwise edge at a first end of said capacitor body and said second layer having a second layer lengthwise edge at a second, opposing end of said capacitor body;
• spraying an end spray metal into contact with the first layer lengthwise edge at the first end of the capacitor body to create a first end electrode and spraying the end spray metal into contact with the second layer lengthwise edge at the second end of the capacitor body to create a second end electrode, the end spray metal having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the dielectric material;
• dividing the first end electrode into first electrode segments which are each electrically connected to different portions of the first layer lengthwise edge at the first end, the first electrode segments arranged to allow the dielectric material to thermally expand and contract while the segments remain electrically connected to the different portions of the lengthwise edge at the first end;
• and
• connecting the first electrode segments together with flexible electrical conductors to electrically connect the first electrode segments together while allowing the first electrode segments to move substantially independently from one another, where the capacitor exhibits a capacitance between the connected first electrode segments and the second end electrode.