Metal Film Resistors

Metal film resistors have a thin metal layer as resistive element on a non-conducting body. They are among the most common types of axial resistors. Other film type resistors are carbon film and thick and thin film resistors. In most literature, the term “metal film resistor” implies it is a cylindrical axial resistor. However, thin film chip resistors use the same manufacturing principle for the metal layer. The appearance of metal film resistors is similar to carbon film resistors, but their properties for stability, accuracy, and reliability are considerably better.

Applications

Metal film resistors have good characteristics for tolerance, stability, and TCR. Furthermore, the resistors feature low noise properties and a high linearity because of a low voltage coefficient. Therefore, in circuits where tight tolerance, low temperature coefficient, and low noise properties are important, metal film resistors are often used. Examples of applications are active filters or bridge circuits.