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Inductors, ferrite beads, and transformers use ferrite material as the active component and thus can be expected to behave in a similar manner when used over a broader temperature range. As an example, ferrite beads are often referred to as ferrite bead inductors.
An inductor is a coil of wire typically wrapped around a ferrite core. Passing electrical current through the coil creates a magnetic field proportional to the current. When this current is increased or decreased, it creates a change in magnetic flux that in turn generates a voltage that acts to oppose this change in current. Therefore, inductors tend to be designed to dampen current spikes or filter high frequency signals.
Ferrite beads also use ferrite material, but in this case the coil, or conductor, runs through the ferrite material rather than being wrapped around it. As with inductors, the functionality of the ferrite beads is dependent upon the creation of a magnetic field. In the case of ferrite beads, their purpose is to reduce EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (radio-frequency interference).
Transformers use a ferrite material core and several windings of copper wire to modify the output voltage relative to the input voltage.
Examples of functional parameters that can be provided in manufacturers’ datasheets are listed below. It can be seen that ‘similar’ parts, especially magnetics, are not always equivalent and that each manufacturer may provide different information within the datasheet.
Inductance vs. Temperature
The primary functionality of the inductor can be expressed in terms of inductance. Inductance is a function of permeability of the ferrite material based on the equation
The inductance measurements are performed at room temperature. Taiyo Yuden and TDK have provided information on how their products’ inductance change over a given temperature range (see Figure 1). It is important to note that the behavior of this critical parameter between -20 and -40ºC is absent from Taiyo Yuden’s data.
The change in inductance is gradual over the relevant temperature range. Drastic changes in inductance are not expected until the ferrite material undergoes a transformation, such as at the Currie point at high temperature, as seen in Figure 2 and Figure 3, or at very low temperatures (< 125ºK). Above Curie temperature, the core permeability sharply disappears, and the material is no longer magnetic. Because of these realizations, the rationale behind TDK’s -20C specification is most likely driven by the presence of a silicone encapsulant. Silicone formulations tend to have a glass transition temperature of around -30 to -40ºC.
Q is simply a ratio of inductance to resistance.
The coil or conductor material is typically copper or silver and any resistance changes would be expected to follow standard behaviors (see Table 1).
Information on resonance frequency vs. temperature was not obtainable.
Information on impedance vs. temperature was not obtainable, but is expected to behave in a similar manner to DC resistance, as shown in Figure 4.
Two functional parameters of potential concern and not specifically addressed in the datasheet are core loss and saturation flux density (Bsat).
Inductors that are designed to operate beyond the material’s core loss minimum, shown in Figure 5, are vulnerable to thermal runaway. As the core heats, it becomes less efficient, resulting in even more heating. Only when the device is so hot that the emitted energy catches up with the escalating loss energy, does it stabilize.
In all ferrites, saturation flux density (Bsat) declines as the temperature goes up (see Figure 6). In many applications, to keep the losses low, cores are not operated near saturation. But, the designer needs to verify that the reduction in Bsat at elevated temperature will not interfere with the operation of the device.
Since the electrical power and signal run through a conductor or coil, voltage ratings are not provided for inductors and ferrites. Instead, current ratings are provided to prevent overheating of the product. For the ferrite bead, Taiyo Yuden clearly states that the rated current is the value of current at which the temperature of the element is increased within 20ºC. Surprisingly, no derating curves for the applied current are provided. While this would seem to imply that the current rating is valid over the given temperature range, you may wish to confirm this.
It is well known that long-term exposure at elevated temperatures can induce detrimental aging of powder-iron materials over time. However, ferrite material used in standard products subjected to environments below the Currie temperature should be relatively resistant to this behavior.
As a specific example of the risk for uprating, three similar transformers from different manufacturers were assessed.
Midcom 000-6241-37R-H
Pulse H1012T
Delta LF8200M
The parts listed above have the following operating ranges
000-6241-37R-H has a -40ºC to +85ºC ambient operating range
H1012T has a 0ºC to +70ºC ambient operating range
LF8200M does not provide an ambient operating range
Temperature sensitive parameters that drive performance of the transformer include loss magnitude (both insertion and return), rise and fall time, and crosstalk. Measurements of these values are relatively simple and straightforward, which allows for the potential for uprating of the device. However, Pulse offers similar devices in an industrial operating range and the Delta part may be specified over the same extended temperature range.
Other drivers for temperature limitations could be the UL rating of the wire insulation. For example, long-term reliability of transformers is driven by degradation of the insulation, which is dependent on operating temperature.
Since these devices are also available in an extended temperature range of -40ºC to +85ºC (ambient), this option should always be considered in lieu of uprating. However, uprating of these parts may not require extensive resources.
For inductors, the temperature range tends to be limited by the packaging materials. For ferrite beads, their wider temperature range tends to be more driven by the intrinsic behavior of the ferrite material. As such, the inductors and ferrite beads should not experience any dropoff in performance or reliability over the given temperature range.
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