阅读说明：本技术 陶瓷电子部件以及陶瓷电子部件的制造方法 (Ceramic electronic component and method for manufacturing ceramic electronic component ) 是由 竹内俊介 于 2021-04-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：陶瓷电子部件具备陶瓷坯体和外部电极。所述外部电极具有形成在所述端面的端面区域和形成在所述侧面的侧面区域。所述侧面区域具有在将所述陶瓷坯体的所述端面与所述侧面相连的棱线部分与所述端面区域电连接的第1端部和与所述第1端部相反的一侧的第2端部。所述外部电极的所述端面区域至少在引出所述内部电极的部分,所述高玻璃含有层与所述陶瓷坯体相接地形成。所述外部电极的所述侧面区域至少在所述第2端部附近,所述低玻璃含有层与所述陶瓷坯体相接地形成。所述外部电极在所述侧面区域的至少一部分,所述低玻璃含有层露出在表面。(A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body and an external electrode. The external electrode has an end surface region formed on the end surface and a side surface region formed on the side surface. The side surface region has a 1 st end portion electrically connected to the end surface region at a ridge portion connecting the end surface and the side surface of the ceramic body, and a 2 nd end portion on a side opposite to the 1 st end portion. The high glass content layer is formed in the end surface region of the external electrode at least in a portion from which the internal electrode is drawn, the high glass content layer being in contact with the ceramic body. The side surface region of the external electrode is formed at least in the vicinity of the 2 nd end portion, and the low glass content layer is formed in contact with the ceramic body. The external electrode is on at least a part of the side surface region, and the low glass content layer is exposed on the surface.)

1. A ceramic electronic component is provided with:

a ceramic green body in which a ceramic layer and an internal electrode are laminated; and

at least one pair of external electrodes formed on the surface of the ceramic body,

the internal electrode is electrically connected to the external electrode, wherein,

the ceramic body has a pair of end faces from which the internal electrodes are extracted and four side faces connecting the pair of end faces,

the external electrode includes at least a high glass containing layer containing glass and a low glass containing layer containing no glass or glass at a lower content ratio than the high glass containing layer,

at least one of when a cross section including the pair of external electrodes and cut in a direction perpendicular to a planar direction in which the internal electrodes spread and when a cross section including the pair of external electrodes and cut in a direction parallel to the planar direction in which the internal electrodes spread are observed,

the external electrode has an end surface region formed on the end surface and a side surface region formed on the side surface,

the side surface region has a 1 st end portion electrically connected to the end surface region at a ridge line portion connecting the end surface and the side surface of the ceramic body and a 2 nd end portion on a side opposite to the 1 st end portion,

the high glass content layer is formed in the end surface region of the external electrode at least in a portion from which the internal electrode is drawn, the high glass content layer being in contact with the ceramic body,

the side region of the external electrode is formed at least in the vicinity of the 2 nd end portion, the low glass-containing layer is formed in contact with the ceramic body,

the external electrode is on at least a part of the side surface region, and the low glass content layer is exposed on the surface.

2. The ceramic electronic component according to claim 1,

at least one plating layer is formed on the surface of the external electrode.

3. The ceramic electronic component according to claim 1 or 2,

the high glass content layer has a glass content that is more than 10 vol% than the glass content of the low glass content layer.

4. The ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the case of the external electrode, the electrode is,

the end surface region is formed by one layer of the high glass content layer,

the side regions are formed by one layer of the low glass containing layer.

5. The ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the case of the external electrode, the electrode is,

the end surface region is formed by one layer of the high glass content layer,

the 1 st end of the side surface region is formed into a multilayer including a lower layer composed of the high glass content layer and an upper layer composed of the low glass content layer up to a midpoint,

the halfway point of the side surface region is formed by one layer of the low glass content layer up to the 2 nd end.

6. The ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the case of the external electrode, the electrode is,

the end surface region is formed as a multilayer including a lower layer composed of the high glass content layer and an upper layer composed of the low glass content layer,

the side regions are formed by one layer of the low glass containing layer.

7. The ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the case of the external electrode, the electrode is,

the end surface region is formed as a multilayer including a lower layer composed of the high glass content layer and an upper layer composed of the low glass content layer,

the 1 st end of the side surface region is formed into a multilayer including a lower layer composed of the high glass content layer and an upper layer composed of the low glass content layer up to a midpoint,

the halfway point of the side surface region is formed by one layer of the low glass content layer up to the 2 nd end.

8. The ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the case of the external electrode, the electrode is,

the end surface region is formed by one layer of the high glass content layer,

the 1 st end of the side surface region is formed by one layer of the high glass content layer up to a halfway point,

the halfway point of the side surface region is formed by one layer of the low glass content layer up to the 2 nd end.

9. The ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the case of the external electrode, the electrode is,

the end surface region is formed by one layer of the high glass content layer,

the vicinity of the 2 nd end of the side region is formed by one layer of the low glass containing layer,

the remaining portion of the side area is formed by one layer of the high glass containing layer.

10. The ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the case of the external electrode, the electrode is,

the end surface region is formed by one layer of the high glass content layer,

the 1 st end of the side surface region is formed into a multilayer including a lower layer composed of the low glass content layer and an upper layer composed of the high glass content layer up to a midpoint,

the halfway point of the side surface region is formed by one layer of the low glass content layer up to the 2 nd end.

11. A method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component, the ceramic electronic component comprising:

a ceramic green body in which a ceramic layer and an internal electrode are laminated; and

an external electrode formed on a surface of the ceramic body,

the internal electrode is electrically connected to the external electrode,

the ceramic body has a pair of end faces from which the internal electrodes are extracted and four side faces connecting the pair of end faces,

the external electrode includes at least a high glass containing layer containing glass and a low glass containing layer containing no glass or glass at a lower content ratio than the high glass containing layer,

at least one of when a cross section cut in a direction perpendicular to a planar direction in which the internal electrode is expanded and when a cross section cut in a direction parallel to the planar direction in which the internal electrode is expanded is observed,

the external electrode has an end surface region formed on the end surface and a side surface region formed on the side surface,

the side surface region has a 1 st end portion electrically connected to the end surface region at a ridge line portion connecting the end surface and the side surface of the ceramic body and a 2 nd end portion on a side opposite to the 1 st end portion,

the high glass content layer is formed in the end surface region of the external electrode at least in a portion from which the internal electrode is drawn, the high glass content layer being in contact with the ceramic body,

the side surface region of the external electrode is at least in the vicinity of the 2 nd end portion, and the low glass content layer is formed in contact with the ceramic green body, and the method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component includes:

a step of manufacturing the ceramic body in which the ceramic layers and the internal electrodes are laminated, the step including a step of producing a plurality of ceramic green sheets, a step of applying a 1 st conductive paste to at least a main surface of one of the ceramic green sheets, a step of laminating the plurality of ceramic green sheets to produce an unfired ceramic body, and a step of firing the unfired ceramic body; and

and a step of applying 2 nd and 3 rd conductive pastes to the surface of the ceramic body produced by firing, and firing the 2 nd and 3 rd conductive pastes on the surface of the ceramic body to form the external electrode.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a ceramic electronic component in which an external electrode is formed on a surface of a ceramic body. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component suitable for manufacturing the ceramic electronic component of the present invention.

Background

When a ceramic electronic component having an external electrode formed on the surface of a ceramic body is mounted on a substrate by soldering, if the substrate is warped or flexed, cracks may be generated on the side surfaces of the ceramic body. That is, in solder mounting, since the land electrode (land electrode) of the substrate and the external electrode of the ceramic electronic component are firmly joined by solder, if the substrate is warped or bent, stress is not released at all, and the stress is transmitted to the ceramic body, and cracks may occur in the side surface of the ceramic body.

A ceramic electronic component that addresses this problem is disclosed in japanese patent laid-open No. 2005-217128. In jp 2005-217128 a, the reason why cracks occur in the ceramic body is that the glass added to the external electrode for strengthening the bonding force diffuses a large amount of glass in the region of the ceramic body where the external electrode is formed, while the glass does not diffuse in the region of the ceramic body where the external electrode is not formed. Therefore, in the ceramic body, a stress difference is generated at the boundary between the region where the external electrode is formed and the region where the external electrode is not formed, and cracks are likely to be generated at the boundary portion.

More specifically, when a cross section of a ceramic electronic component including a pair of external electrodes and cut is observed, the external electrodes are generally formed in a U shape and have end surface regions formed on end surfaces of a ceramic body and side surface regions formed on side surfaces of the ceramic body. When glass is added to the external electrode, a large number of glass-diffused regions and glass-non-diffused regions are formed in the ceramic green body at the terminal portions of the side regions of the external electrode. Therefore, a stress difference is generated at the boundary between the region where a large amount of glass is diffused and the region where glass is not diffused, and cracks are likely to be generated at the boundary portion. In jp 2005-217128 a, the side surface of the ceramic body in the side surface region where the external electrode is provided is referred to as a "main surface".

Therefore, in the ceramic electronic component disclosed in jp 2005-217128 a, the end surface region of the external electrode is formed by the layer having a high glass content, and the side surface region of the external electrode is formed by two layers, a lower layer having a low glass content and an upper layer having a high glass content. That is, a lower layer having a low glass content is formed first, and an upper layer having a high glass content is formed thereon, instead of forming a layer having a high glass content directly on the side surface of the ceramic body, so that a region in which glass is diffused is not formed on the side surface of the ceramic body, and even if a substrate on which a ceramic electronic component is mounted is warped or bent, cracks are not generated on the side surface of the ceramic body. That is, the boundary between the region where the glass is diffused in a large amount and the region where the glass is not diffused is not formed on the side surface of the ceramic body, so that even if the substrate on which the ceramic electronic component is mounted is warped or bent, cracks are not generated on the side surface of the ceramic body.

In the ceramic electronic component disclosed in jp 2005-217128 a, the entire side surface region of the external electrode is formed of two layers, a lower layer having a low glass content and an upper layer having a high glass content, and therefore the layer having a high glass content is exposed on the surface. In general, the surface of the external electrode is further plated by electrolytic plating, but if the glass of the layer having a high glass content is exposed on the surface of the external electrode, the plating layer cannot be formed on the glass portion. So that the solder wettability of the portion where the plating layer is not formed becomes low.

Disclosure of Invention

Means for solving the problems

A ceramic electronic component according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a ceramic green body in which a ceramic layer and an internal electrode are laminated; and at least one pair of external electrodes formed on a surface of the ceramic body, the internal electrodes being electrically connected to the external electrodes, the ceramic body having a pair of end faces from which the internal electrodes are drawn and four side faces connecting the pair of end faces, the external electrodes including at least a high glass-containing layer containing glass and a low glass-containing layer containing no glass or having a lower content ratio than the high glass-containing layer, the external electrodes including at least one of an end face region formed on the end faces and a side face region formed on the side faces when a cross section including the pair of external electrodes and cut in a direction perpendicular to a planar direction in which the internal electrodes are expanded and a cross section including the pair of external electrodes and cut in a direction parallel to the planar direction in which the internal electrodes are expanded is observed, the side face region having a 1 st end portion electrically connecting a ridge line portion connecting the end face and the side face of the ceramic body to the end face region and a 2 nd end portion on a side opposite to the 1 st end portion, the high glass content layer is formed in a manner to be grounded to the ceramic body at least in a portion where the internal electrode is drawn out, the low glass content layer is formed in a manner to be grounded to the ceramic body at least in a side surface region of the external electrode in the vicinity of the No. 2 end portion, and the low glass content layer is exposed on the surface of the external electrode at least in a portion of the side surface region.

In addition, a method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a ceramic green body in which a ceramic layer and an internal electrode are laminated; and an external electrode formed on a surface of the ceramic body, the internal electrode being electrically connected to the external electrode, the ceramic body having a pair of end faces from which the internal electrode is drawn and four side faces connecting the pair of end faces, the external electrode including at least one of a high glass-containing layer containing glass and a low glass-containing layer containing no glass or having a lower content ratio than the high glass-containing layer, the external electrode having an end face region formed on the end face and a side face region formed on the side face, the side face region having a 1 st end portion electrically connecting an edge line portion connecting the end face and the side face of the ceramic body to the end face region and a 2 nd end portion on a side opposite to the 1 st end portion, when a cross section cut in a direction perpendicular to a planar direction in which the internal electrode is expanded and a cross section cut in a direction parallel to the planar direction in which the internal electrode is expanded are observed, the end face region of the external electrode is formed by grounding the high glass containing layer to the ceramic body at least at the portion where the internal electrode is drawn out, the side face region of the external electrode is formed by grounding the low glass containing layer to the ceramic body at least in the vicinity of the 2 nd end portion, and the method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component includes: a step of producing a plurality of ceramic green sheets, a step of applying a 1 st conductive paste to at least a principal surface of one ceramic green sheet, a step of laminating the plurality of ceramic green sheets to produce an unfired ceramic body, and a step of firing the unfired ceramic body to produce a ceramic body in which ceramic layers and internal electrodes are laminated; and a step of applying 2 nd and 3 rd conductive pastes to the surface of the ceramic body produced by firing, and firing the 2 nd and 3 rd conductive pastes on the surface of the ceramic body to form an external electrode.

Effects of the invention

In the ceramic electronic component according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the low glass content layer is exposed on the surface of at least a part of the side surface region of the external electrode, the plating adhesion (plating adhesion) or the plating bonding strength of the side surface region of the external electrode is higher and the solder wettability is higher in this part than in the high glass content layer.

Further, according to the method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component according to an embodiment of the present invention, the ceramic electronic component of the present invention can be easily manufactured.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a perspective view showing the ceramic capacitor 100.

Fig. 1B is a front view of the ceramic capacitor 100.

Fig. 1C is a side view of the ceramic capacitor 100.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100, showing a portion of the one-dot chain line arrow II-II of fig. 1A.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100, showing a one-dot chain line arrow III-III portion of fig. 1A.

Fig. 4 is a main portion sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100.

Fig. 5 is a main portion sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 200.

Fig. 6 is a main portion sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 300.

Fig. 7 is a main portion sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 400.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a substantial portion of a ceramic capacitor clip 500.

Fig. 9 is a main part sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 600.

Fig. 10 is a main part sectional view of a ceramic capacitor 700.

Detailed Description

The following describes embodiments for carrying out the present invention together with the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are described as examples, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Further, the present invention can be implemented by combining the contents described in the different embodiments, and the implementation contents in this case are also included in the present invention. The drawings are provided to assist understanding of the specification, and may be drawn schematically, or the ratio of dimensions of components or components drawn may not match the ratio of dimensions described in the specification. Note that there are cases where constituent elements described in the specification are omitted from the drawings, and cases where the number of the constituent elements is omitted from the drawings.

In the embodiments, a ceramic capacitor is exemplified as the ceramic electronic component. However, the type of the ceramic electronic component of the present invention is arbitrary and is not limited to the ceramic capacitor.

[ embodiment 1 ]

Fig. 1A to 4 show a ceramic capacitor 100 as a ceramic electronic component according to embodiment 1. Fig. 1A is a perspective view of the ceramic capacitor 100. Fig. 1B is a front view of the ceramic capacitor 100. Fig. 1C is a side view of the ceramic capacitor 100. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100, showing a part of an arrow II-II of a one-dot chain line of fig. 1A. That is, fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100 including a pair of external electrodes 4 described later and cut in a direction perpendicular to a planar direction in which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 described later spread, and is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100 viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow D1 in fig. 1B. Fig. 3 is also a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100, showing a portion of the one-dot chain line arrow III-III of fig. 1A. That is, fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100 including a pair of external electrodes 4 described later and cut in a direction parallel to a planar direction in which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 described later spread, and is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100 viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow D2 in fig. 1B. Fig. 4 is a main part sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 100, and a part of fig. 2 is enlarged.

In the drawings, the height direction T, the length direction L, and the width direction W of the ceramic capacitor 100 are shown, and in the following description, these directions may be referred to. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the ceramic layers 1a and the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are laminated, which will be described later, is defined as the height direction T of the ceramic capacitor 100.

The ceramic capacitor 100 includes a ceramic body 1 in which a plurality of ceramic layers 1a and a plurality of internal electrodes 2 and 3 are laminated. The ceramic body 1 is substantially rectangular parallelepiped. That is, the ceramic body 1 includes a pair of end faces 1A and 1B and four side faces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F connecting the pair of end faces 1A and 1B. In addition, the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape includes a corner rounded shape by stress relaxation prevention design necessary for manufacturing an actual component, a change in shape due to a manufacturing process by firing or polishing, and the like, in the case of a geometrically rectangular parallelepiped shape.

The material of the ceramic body 1 and the ceramic layer 1a is arbitrary, and, for example, BaTiO can be used₃A dielectric ceramic as a main component. However, BaTiO may be substituted therefor₃Using CaTiO₃、SrTiO₃、CaZrO₃And dielectric ceramics mainly composed of other materials. The thickness of the ceramic layer 1a is arbitrary, but can be, for example, about 0.3 μm to 3.0 μm.

The kind of metal as the main component of the internal electrodes 2 and 3 is arbitrary, and Ni, for example, can be used. However, other metals such as Cu, Ag, Pd, and Au may be used instead of Ni. Further, Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, Au, and the like may be an alloy with other metals. The thickness of the internal electrodes 2, 3 is arbitrary, but can be, for example, about 0.1 μm to 2.0 μm. It is also preferable to add ceramics having the same composition as that of the ceramic body 1 (ceramic layer 1a) to the internal electrodes 2 and 3.

The plurality of internal electrodes 2 are led out to one end face 1A of the ceramic body 1. The plurality of internal electrodes 3 are led out to the other end face 1B of the ceramic body 1.

External electrodes 4 are formed on the end faces 1A and 1B of the ceramic body 1, respectively. The internal electrodes 2 are electrically connected to external electrodes 4 formed on the end surface 1A. The internal electrodes 3 are electrically connected to external electrodes 4 formed on the end surface 1B.

The external electrode 4 includes at least: a high glass content layer 5 having a high glass content ratio; and a low glass containing layer 6 containing no glass or glass at a lower content ratio than the high glass containing layer 5. The boundary between the glass contents of the high glass content layer 5 and the low glass content layer 6 is arbitrary, but for example, the glass content of the low glass content layer 6 may be set to 0 vol% or more and less than 20 vol%, and the glass content of the high glass content layer 5 may be set to 20 vol% or more. Alternatively, the glass content of the low glass content layer 6 may be set to 0 vol% or more and less than 25 vol%, and the glass content of the high glass content layer 5 may be set to 25 vol% or more. Further, it is also preferable that the glass content of the high glass content layer 5 is more than the glass content of the low glass content layer 6 by 10 vol% or more. In this case, the high glass content layer 5 can be firmly joined to the ceramic body 1.

The kind of metal as the main component of the external electrode 4 is arbitrary, but for example, Cu can be used. However, other metals such as Ni, Ag, Pd, and Au may be used instead of Cu. Further, Cu, Ni, Ag, Pd, Au, and the like may be an alloy with other metals. In addition, the kind of metal as a main component may be different between the high glass content layer 5 and the low glass content layer 6.

In the present embodiment, the external electrodes 4 are formed in the shape of caps at both ends of the ceramic body 1. As a result, as shown in fig. 4, the external electrode 4 has an end surface region 4A formed on the end surface 1A (1B) and a side surface region 4B formed on the side surfaces 1C and 1E (1D and 1F). The side surface region 4B may be referred to as a "folded portion" of the external electrode 4.

The side surface region 4B has a 1 st end P1 electrically connected to the end surface region 4A at a ridge portion connecting the end surface 1A (1B) and the side surface 1C (1E, 1D, 1F) of the ceramic body 1 and a 2 nd end P2 on the opposite side of the 1 st end P1.

In the present embodiment, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 is formed by one high glass content layer 5, and the side surface region 4B is formed by one low glass content layer 6.

In the present embodiment, the external electrodes 4 are formed on one end face and four side faces to have a "hat shape", but instead, the external electrodes 4 may be formed on one end face and two opposing side faces to have a "U-shape", or formed on one end face and one side face to have an "L-shape".

In the present embodiment, a two-layer plating layer composed of the Ni plating layer 7 and the Sn plating layer 8 is formed on the external electrode 4. The Ni plating layer 7 is provided mainly for improving heat resistance and improving bonding strength. The Sn plating layer 8 is provided mainly for improving solderability. The kind and number of layers of the plating layer are arbitrary and can be changed as appropriate.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken in a direction perpendicular to a planar direction in which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are spread, fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in a direction parallel to the planar direction in which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are spread, fig. 4 is a main-part cross-sectional view in which a part of fig. 2 is enlarged, and as is apparent from fig. 2, 3, and 4, the ceramic capacitor (ceramic electronic component) 100 according to the present embodiment has the following features.

In the ceramic capacitor 100 according to the present embodiment, since the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is formed by the low glass content layer 6, even if the substrate is warped or bent when mounted on the substrate by soldering, the low glass content layer 6 can be peeled off from the ceramic body 1 to relax the stress, and therefore, cracks generated in the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1 can be reduced. Although there is a possibility that moisture enters the ceramic body 1 when a crack occurs in the ceramic body 1, even if the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is peeled off from the ceramic body 1, it does not cause a large obstacle if it is a portion.

In the ceramic capacitor 100, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 from which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are drawn out is formed by the high glass content layer 5, and therefore, moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and high moisture resistance is provided.

In the ceramic capacitor 100, since the low glass content layer 6 is exposed on the surface of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4, the plating adhesion of the side surface region 4B is high, and the solder wettability is high.

The ceramic capacitor (ceramic electronic component) 100 according to the present embodiment having the above-described structure can be manufactured by the following method, for example.

First, a ceramic body 1 is produced. Specifically, first, a powder of dielectric ceramic, a binder resin, a solvent, and the like are prepared and wet-mixed to prepare a ceramic slurry.

Next, the ceramic slurry is coated on the upper surface of the carrier film in a sheet form using a die coater, a gravure coater, a micro gravure coater, or the like, and dried to produce a ceramic green sheet. In addition, in the production of the ceramic green sheet, a doctor blade or the like may be used instead of the coater.

Next, in order to form the internal electrodes 2 and 3, a 1 st conductive paste prepared in advance is applied (for example, printed) to a desired pattern shape on the main surface of a given ceramic green sheet. The ceramic green sheet to be the outer layer is not coated with the 1 st conductive paste. The 1 st conductive paste may be a conductive paste obtained by mixing a solvent, a binder resin, a metal powder (e.g., Ni powder), and the like.

Next, a plurality of ceramic green sheets are stacked in a predetermined order, and are heated and pressed to be integrated, thereby producing an unfired ceramic body. In the case where the unfired ceramic body to be produced is a mother unfired ceramic body including a plurality of unfired ceramic bodies, it is also preferable that the mother unfired ceramic body is divided into the respective unfired ceramic bodies at this stage.

Subsequently, the unfired ceramic body is fired in a predetermined profile (profile) to complete the ceramic body 1. It is also preferable to perform a degreasing treatment before firing so as to eliminate or reduce the binder resin contained in the unfired ceramic body. By firing the unfired ceramic body, the ceramic green sheets are fired to become the ceramic layers 1a, and the 1 st conductive paste applied to the main surfaces of the ceramic green sheets is simultaneously fired to become the internal electrodes 2, 3.

Next, the 3 rd conductive paste which becomes the low glass content layer 6 after firing is applied in a cap shape to the end of the ceramic body 1. Specifically, for example, the end faces 1A, 1B of the ceramic body 1 are deeply immersed in a tank containing the 3 rd conductive paste. As a result, the 3 rd conductive paste which becomes the low glass content layer 6 after firing is applied in a cap shape to the end surface region 4A and the side surface region 4B. In addition, as the conductive paste of the 3 rd embodiment, a conductive paste containing no glass frit, such as only metal powder (for example, Cu powder), solvent, and binder resin, or a conductive paste containing only a small amount of glass frit is used. When the conductive paste containing the glass frit is used as the 3 rd conductive paste, a conductive paste containing a relatively smaller amount of glass frit than the 2 nd conductive paste described later is used.

Next, the 3 rd conductive paste which becomes the low glass containing layer 6 after firing is removed from the end surface region 4A. On the other hand, the 3 rd conductive paste is not removed from the side surface region 4B, but remains in a state of being applied. Then, the 3 rd conductive paste remaining in the side surface region 4B is dried as necessary. The 3 rd conductive paste may be dried simultaneously with the 2 nd conductive paste applied to the end surface region 4A before the subsequent baking step. On the other hand, at this stage, the 3 rd conductive paste may be dried and fired on the ceramic body 1.

Next, the 2 nd conductive paste which becomes the high glass content layer 5 after firing is applied to the end surface region 4A. Specifically, for example, the end faces 1A and 1B of the ceramic body 1 are slightly immersed in a tank containing the 2 nd conductive paste. As a result, the 2 nd conductive paste is applied to the end surface region 4A. In addition, as the 2 nd conductive paste, a conductive paste in which a glass frit is added in a relatively larger amount than that of the 3 rd conductive paste is used in addition to the metal powder, the solvent, the binder resin, and the like.

Next, the 2 nd conductive paste applied to the end surface region 4A is dried. Next, the external electrodes 4 including the high glass content layer 5 and the low glass content layer 6 are fired on the ceramic body 1 by firing the 2 nd and 3 rd conductive pastes.

Next, an Ni plating layer 7 is formed on the surface of the external electrode 4 by electrolytic plating. Next, similarly, the Sn plated layer 8 is formed on the surface of the Ni plated layer 7 by electrolytic plating. In this way, the ceramic capacitor (ceramic electronic component) 100 according to the present embodiment is completed.

[ 2 nd embodiment ]

Fig. 5 shows a ceramic capacitor 200 as a ceramic electronic component according to embodiment 2. Fig. 5 is a main-part sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 200. In fig. 5, the Ni plating layer 7 and the Sn plating layer 8 formed on the external electrode 4 are not shown.

In the ceramic capacitor 200, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 is formed by one high glass content layer 5, the 1 st end P1 of the side surface region 4B is formed by two layers of a lower layer composed of the high glass content layer 5 and an upper layer composed of the low glass content layer 6 up to the midpoint P3, and the midpoint P3 of the side surface region 4B is formed by one low glass content layer 6 up to the 2 nd end P2.

The external electrode 4 of the ceramic capacitor 200 can be formed by the following method, for example. First, the 2 nd conductive paste is applied to the end of the ceramic body 1 in a cap shape and dried. Next, the ceramic body 1 including the upper surface of the 2 nd conductive paste applied and dried was coated with the 3 rd conductive paste in a ring shape on its side surface, and dried. Next, the 2 nd conductive paste and the 3 rd conductive paste are fired on the ceramic body 1. By the above, the external electrode 4 is formed.

In the ceramic capacitor 200, since the vicinity of the 2 nd end P2 of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is formed by the low glass content layer 6, even if the mounted substrate is warped or bent, the low glass content layer 6 peels off from the ceramic body 1 to relax the stress, and cracks are less likely to occur in the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1. In the ceramic capacitor 200, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 from which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are drawn out is formed by the high glass content layer 5, so that moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and high moisture resistance is provided. In the ceramic capacitor 200, since the low glass content layer 6 is exposed on the surface of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4, the plating adhesion of the side surface region 4B is high, and the solder wettability is high.

[ embodiment 3 ]

Fig. 6 shows a ceramic capacitor 300 as a ceramic electronic component according to embodiment 3. Fig. 6 is a main part sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 300. In fig. 6, the Ni plating layer 7 and the Sn plating layer 8 formed on the external electrode 4 are not shown.

In the ceramic capacitor 300, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 is formed as two layers, a lower layer composed of the high glass content layer 5 and an upper layer composed of the low glass content layer 6, and the side surface region 4B is formed by one layer of the low glass content layer 6.

The external electrode 4 of the ceramic capacitor 300 can be formed by the following method, for example. First, the end face 1A (1B) of the ceramic body 1 is coated with the 2 nd conductive paste and dried. Next, the 3 rd conductive paste is applied in a cap shape to the end of the ceramic body 1 including the upper surface of the 2 nd conductive paste which has been applied and dried, and dried. Next, the 2 nd conductive paste and the 3 rd conductive paste are fired on the ceramic body 1. By the above, the external electrode 4 is formed.

In the ceramic capacitor 300, since the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is formed by the low glass content layer 6, even if the mounted substrate is warped or bent, the low glass content layer 6 peels off from the ceramic body 1 to relax the stress, and cracks are less likely to occur in the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1. In the ceramic capacitor 300, the lower layer of the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 from which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are drawn is formed by the high glass content layer 5, and therefore, moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and high moisture resistance is provided. In the ceramic capacitor 300, since the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is formed by the low glass content layer 6, the plating adhesion of the side surface region 4B is high, and the solder wettability is high.

[ 4 th embodiment ]

Fig. 7 shows a ceramic capacitor 400 as a ceramic electronic component according to embodiment 4. Fig. 7 is a main part sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 400. In fig. 7, the Ni plating layer 7 and the Sn plating layer 8 formed on the external electrode 4 are not shown.

In the ceramic capacitor 400, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 is formed in two layers including a lower layer composed of the high glass containing layer 5 and an upper layer composed of the low glass containing layer 6, the 1 st end P1 of the side surface region 4B is formed in two layers including a lower layer composed of the high glass containing layer 5 and an upper layer composed of the low glass containing layer 6 up to a midpoint P3, and the midpoint P3 of the side surface region 4B is formed by one low glass containing layer 6 up to a 2 nd end P2.

The external electrode 4 of the ceramic capacitor 400 can be formed by the following method, for example. First, the 2 nd conductive paste is applied to the end of the ceramic body 1 in a cap shape and dried. Next, the 3 rd conductive paste is applied in a cap shape to the end of the ceramic body 1 including the upper surface of the 2 nd conductive paste which has been applied and dried, and dried. Next, the 2 nd conductive paste and the 3 rd conductive paste are fired on the ceramic body 1. By the above, the external electrode 4 is formed.

In the ceramic capacitor 400, since the vicinity of the 2 nd end P2 of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is formed by the low glass content layer 6, even if the mounted substrate is warped or bent, the low glass content layer 6 peels off from the ceramic body 1 to relax the stress, and cracks are less likely to occur in the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1. In the ceramic capacitor 400, the lower layer of the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 from which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are drawn is formed by the high glass content layer 5, and therefore, moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and high moisture resistance is provided. In the ceramic capacitor 400, since the low glass content layer 6 is exposed on the surface of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4, the plating adhesion of the side surface region 4B is high, and the solder wettability is high.

[ 5 th embodiment ]

Fig. 8 shows a ceramic capacitor 500 as a ceramic electronic component according to embodiment 5. Fig. 8 is a main-part sectional view of a ceramic capacitor 500. In fig. 8, the Ni plating layer 7 and the Sn plating layer 8 formed on the external electrode 4 are not shown.

In the ceramic capacitor 500, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 is formed by one high glass content layer 5, the 1 st end P1 of the side surface region 4B is formed by one high glass content layer 5 up to the midpoint P3, and the midpoint P3 of the side surface region 4B is formed by one low glass content layer 6 up to the 2 nd end P2.

The external electrode 4 of the ceramic capacitor 500 can be formed by the following method, for example. First, the 2 nd conductive paste is applied to the end of the ceramic body 1 in a cap shape and dried. Next, the 3 rd conductive paste is applied in a ring shape on the side surface of the ceramic body 1 and dried, so as to be electrically connected to the tip of the 2 nd conductive paste that has been applied and dried. Next, the 2 nd conductive paste and the 3 rd conductive paste are fired on the ceramic body 1. By the above, the external electrode 4 is formed.

In the ceramic capacitor 500, since the low glass-containing layer 6 is formed from the midpoint P3 of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 to the 2 nd end P2, even if the mounted substrate is warped or bent, the low glass-containing layer 6 peels off from the ceramic body 1 to relax the stress, and cracks are less likely to occur in the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1. In the ceramic capacitor 500, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 from which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are drawn out is formed by the high glass content layer 5, and therefore, moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and high moisture resistance is provided. In the ceramic capacitor 500, the low glass-containing layer 6 is formed from the midpoint P3 of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 to the 2 nd end P2, so that the plating adhesion of the side surface region 4B is high and the solder wettability is high.

[ 6 th embodiment ]

Fig. 9 shows a ceramic capacitor 600 as a ceramic electronic component according to embodiment 6. Fig. 9 is a main part sectional view of the ceramic capacitor 600. In fig. 9, the Ni plating layer 7 and the Sn plating layer 8 formed on the external electrode 4 are not shown.

In the ceramic capacitor 600, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 is formed by one high glass content layer 5, the vicinity of the 2 nd end P2 of the side surface region 4B is formed by one low glass content layer 6, and the remaining part of the side surface region 4B is formed by one high glass content layer 5.

The external electrode 4 of the ceramic capacitor 600 can be formed by the following method, for example. First, the 3 rd conductive paste is applied in a ring shape to the side surfaces 1C to 1F spaced apart from the end surface 1A (1B) of the ceramic body 1 by a predetermined interval, and dried. Next, the 2 nd conductive paste is applied to the end of the ceramic body 1 in a cap shape and dried, so as to be electrically connected to the 3 rd conductive paste which has been applied and dried. Next, the 3 rd conductive paste and the 2 nd conductive paste are fired on the ceramic body 1. By the above, the external electrode 4 is formed.

In the ceramic capacitor 600, since the vicinity of the 2 nd end P2 of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is formed by the low glass content layer 6, even if the mounted substrate is warped or bent, the low glass content layer 6 peels off from the ceramic body 1 to relax the stress, and cracks are less likely to occur in the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1. In the ceramic capacitor 600, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 from which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are drawn out is formed by the high glass content layer 5, so that moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and high moisture resistance is provided. In the ceramic capacitor 600, since the vicinity of the 2 nd end P2 of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 is formed by the low glass content layer 6, the plating adhesion of the side surface region 4B is high in this portion, and the solder wettability is high.

[ 7 th embodiment ]

Fig. 10 shows a ceramic capacitor 700 as a ceramic electronic component according to embodiment 7. Fig. 10 is a main part sectional view of a ceramic capacitor 700. In fig. 10, the Ni plating layer 7 and the Sn plating layer 8 formed on the external electrode 4 are not shown.

In the ceramic capacitor 700, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 is formed by one high glass content layer 5, the 1 st end P1 of the side surface region 4B is formed by two layers of the lower layer composed of the low glass content layer 6 and the upper layer composed of the high glass content layer 5 from the midpoint P3, and the midpoint P3 of the side surface region 4B is formed by one low glass content layer 6 from the 2 nd end P2.

The external electrode 4 of the ceramic capacitor 700 can be formed by the following method, for example. First, the 3 rd conductive paste is applied to the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1 in a ring shape and dried so as to contact the end surface 1A (1B) with a constant width. Next, the 2 nd conductive paste is applied to the end of the ceramic body 1 in a cap shape and dried so as to partially overlap the 3 rd conductive paste which has been applied and dried. Next, the 3 rd conductive paste and the 2 nd conductive paste are fired on the ceramic body 1. By the above, the external electrode 4 is formed.

In the ceramic capacitor 700, since the portion of the side surface region 4B of the external electrode 4 that contacts the ceramic body 1 is formed by the low glass-containing layer 6, even if the mounted substrate is warped or bent, the low glass-containing layer 6 peels off from the ceramic body 1 to relax the stress, and cracks are less likely to occur in the side surfaces 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F of the ceramic body 1. In the ceramic capacitor break 700, the end surface region 4A of the external electrode 4 from which the internal electrodes 2 and 3 are drawn out is formed by the high glass content layer 5, so that moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and high moisture resistance is provided. In the ceramic capacitor 700, the low glass content layer 6 is exposed on the surface of the external electrode 4 from the midpoint P3 of the side surface region 4B to the 2 nd end P2, and therefore the plating adhesion of the side surface region 4B is high and the solder wettability is high in this portion.

In the ceramic capacitor according to the above-described embodiment, the low glass content layer is exposed on the surface of at least a part of the side surface region of the external electrode.

The side surface region of the external electrode of the ceramic electronic component is an important part for obtaining high soldering strength, and if the solder wettability of this part is low, the ceramic electronic component cannot be firmly mounted on the substrate.

For example, in the conventional ceramic electronic component disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2005-217128, since the layer having a high glass content is exposed over the entire surface of the side surface region of the external electrode, there is a problem that the plating adhesion is low over the entire surface of the side surface region of the external electrode, and the solder wettability is low. Therefore, in the case of mounting on the substrate by soldering, there is a possibility that the external electrodes cannot be firmly soldered to the land electrodes of the substrate.

In the ceramic capacitor according to the embodiment, since the low glass content layer is exposed on the surface of at least a part of the side surface region of the external electrode, the plating adhesion property in the side surface region of the external electrode is high and the solder wettability is high in this part. Therefore, the ceramic capacitor according to the embodiment can firmly solder the external electrode to the land electrode of the substrate.

In the ceramic electronic component according to the embodiment, since the low glass content layer is formed in the vicinity of at least the 2 nd end portion of the side surface region of the external electrode so as to be in contact with the ceramic body, even when the substrate is mounted by soldering, even if the substrate is warped or flexed, the low glass content layer in this portion can be peeled off from the ceramic body to relax the stress, and therefore, cracks occurring in the side surface of the ceramic body can be reduced.

In the ceramic electronic component according to the embodiment, the high glass content layer is formed in the end surface region of the external electrode so as to be in contact with the ceramic green body at least in the portion from which the internal electrode is drawn, and therefore, moisture is less likely to enter the inside, and the ceramic electronic component has high moisture resistance.

The ceramic capacitor (ceramic electronic component) according to the embodiment is explained above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in accordance with the gist of the present invention.

For example, although the embodiments have been described with reference to the ceramic capacitor as the ceramic electronic component, the type of the ceramic electronic component of the present invention is arbitrary and is not limited to the ceramic capacitor. The ceramic electronic component of the present invention may be other types of ceramic electronic components such as a ceramic inductor, a ceramic LC composite component, a ceramic thermistor, and a ceramic resistor.

The ceramic electronic component according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in the section "means for solving the problem".

In the ceramic electronic component, at least one plating layer is preferably formed on the surface of the external electrode. In this case, the heat resistance, the solderability, and the like of the external electrode of the ceramic electronic component can be improved.

Further, it is also preferable that the glass content of the high glass content layer is more than the glass content of the low glass content layer by 10 vol% or more. In this case, the high glass content layer can be firmly joined to the ceramic body.

The external electrodes can be: the end surface region is formed by a layer of high glass content layer and the side surface region is formed by a layer of low glass content layer.

Further, the external electrode can be: the end surface region is formed by a high glass content layer, the side surface region is formed in a multilayer including a lower layer composed of a high glass content layer and an upper layer composed of a low glass content layer from the 1 st end to the midpoint, and the side surface region is formed by a low glass content layer from the midpoint to the 2 nd end.

Further, the external electrode can be: the end surface region is formed in a multilayer including a lower layer composed of a high glass content layer and an upper layer composed of a low glass content layer, and the side surface region is formed by one low glass content layer.

Further, the external electrode can be: the end surface region is formed into a multilayer including a lower layer composed of a high glass containing layer and an upper layer composed of a low glass containing layer, the 1 st end of the side surface region is formed into a multilayer including a lower layer composed of a high glass containing layer and an upper layer composed of a low glass containing layer up to a midpoint, and the midpoint of the side surface region is formed by one low glass containing layer up to a 2 nd end.

Further, the external electrode can be: the end face region is formed by one high glass content layer, the 1 st end of the side face region is formed by one high glass content layer to the halfway point, and the halfway point of the side face region is formed by one low glass content layer to the 2 nd end.

Further, the external electrode can be: the end surface region is formed by one high glass content layer, the vicinity of the 2 nd end of the side surface region is formed by one low glass content layer, and the remaining part of the side surface region is formed by one high glass content layer.

Further, the external electrode can be: the end surface region is formed by a high glass content layer, the side surface region is formed into a plurality of layers including a lower layer composed of a low glass content layer and an upper layer composed of a high glass content layer from the 1 st end to the midpoint, and the side surface region is formed by a low glass content layer from the midpoint to the 2 nd end.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described, the embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims are intended to be embraced therein.