Electrolyte Chemistry Can Thin an Aluminum-Capacitor Dielectric During Aging

What the evidence preview establishes

Increasing capacitance, elevated dissipation factor and leakage, aluminum in the electrolyte, acidic conditions, and insufficient phosphate supported dissolution and thinning of the aluminum-oxide dielectric. Rated-voltage conditioning partially restored electrical behavior by reforming dielectric.

Why this case matters

Rising capacitance in an aging electrolytic capacitor can indicate dielectric loss rather than improved performance. Capacitance, dissipation factor, leakage, electrolyte chemistry, and conditioning response should be interpreted together.