How to Choose PTC Thermistor Temperature Sensor：
Linear Silicon or Switching Ceramic？

What is PTC thermistors Temperature Sensor? Linear Silicon and Switching Ceramic Material Characteristics

PTC thermistors RT Characteristics linear silicon vs switching ceramic

PTC Thermistor Temperature Sensor is Positive Temperature Coefficient THERMal resiSTOR used for temperature sensing thermal protection due to PTC property that resistance increases with temperature rising.

AMWEI mainly have 2 types PTC Thermistor Temperature Sensor：Linear Silicon PTC Thermistor Temperature Sensor and Switching Ceramic PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor

Linear Silicon PTC thermistors Temperature Sensor Silistor made of monocrystalline silicon material, resistance increases with the temperature rises in linearity, displays a virtually linear positive temperature coefficient over their entire temperature range, ensuring highly accurate measurements，often used for temperature measurement and temperature compensation.

Switching Ceramic PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor CPTC made of doped polycrystalline ceramic on the basis of barium titanate, major material BaTio3. have the property that their resistance rises significantly when a certain temperature is exceeded. This property makes them suitable for use as temperature protection devices that detect defined high temperatures to protect circuits from overheating. Making use of the characteristics that the resistance of ceramic PTC thermistors increases sharply above curie temperature, when ambient temperature increases abnormally, protective circuit installed PTC thermistor will turn on or cut off loop through resistance changing, achieving thermal protection purpose.

The Advantage of Linear Silicon PTC thermistors Temperature Sensor

Silicon temperature sensors have a TK (temperature coefficient) which is nearly constant over the complete temperature range. Temperature coefficient：α25/50≥0.7%/C.
Excellent long term stability, annual diversification rate≤0.01C/per year, temperature drifts during the lifetime of silicon temperature sensor are negligible.
Temperature measurement range: -55C to +180C.
AMWEI silicon PTC thermistors temperature sensors can withstand more than +200C without damage.
Thermal Time Constant: 21 seconds max in still air.
Dissipation factor：1.5mW/C.min.
Insulation resistance: 100 Million ohm min. (DC=100V)
Maximum operating current：8mA. Rated operating current: 2mA.
Rated power：50mW max.
Typical resistance @25C 600Ω 1000Ω 1600Ω 2000Ω. Other R25 resistance, such as 200Ω 1200Ω 1870Ω, 4050Ω, 4700Ω can be made upon request.

More information can be found in AMWEI Linear Silicon PTC Thermistors Temperature Sensors Page.

The Advantage of Switching Ceramic PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor

PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor

AMWEI mainly have 2 Outlook construction: A-radial leaded epoxy resin coated form, B-metal tag lug form. Screw type metal cases or other construction can be made upon customer request.
Quick response.
Long stability.
Small dimension, convenient for installation.
Do not need to be reset after protection.
Max. Current Imax 100mA
Max. Voltage Vmax. 30V.
PTC thermistor Protection temperature from 60C to 130C.
60C, 70C, 80C, 90C, 100C, 110C, 120C, 130C.
Mainly 2 Resistance@25 R25 Data,
AMZ6-101 series Resistance@25 R25 100 ohm max, Resistance @Sensing Potection Temperature Rsense 470 ohm min. Resistance @Tsense -15C Rsense-15 330 ohm max.
AMZ6-331 series Resistance@25 R25 330 ohm max, Resistance @Sensing Potection Temperature Rsense 2200 ohm min. Resistance @Tsense -15C Rsense-15 1500 ohm max.

More information can be found in AMWEI PTC Thermistors Limit Temperature Sensor Temperature Protection Page.

What should Choose PTC Thermistor Temperature Sensor：Linear Silicon or Switching Ceramic?

It depends on the application and function you want to reach. Silicon PTC Thermistor sense and measure temperature over a defined range，while Ceramic PTC thermistors switch at one particular temperature.

The following tips for your reference.

If you need a uniform positive resistance vs. temperature data in the temperature range -55C to +180C, Linear Silicon PTC Thermistor Temeprature Sensor maybe more suitable.
If you need PTC themistor resistance change sharply at certain temperature, turn on or cut off loop through resistance changing, achieving thermal protection purpose, Switching Ceramic PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor maybe your choice.
Need to find NXP KTY81 83 84 Silistor Cross, AMWEI Linear Silicon PTC thermistor Temeprature Sensor AM-LPTC R25 600 ohm, 1000 ohm, 2000 ohm Can be an alterntive replacement.
For cross to Epcos B59051D11**A040 series PTC Themistor Limit Temperature Sensor Metal Tag Probe Assembly B59051D1100A040 100C, B59051D1110A040 110C, B59051D1120A040 120C Tag Probe, AMWEI Switching Ceramic PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor AMZ6-331 series Protection Temperature 100C 110C 120C part can be an alternative replacement..
For cross to Murata PTFM Series POSISTOR for Circuit Protection Overheat Sensing Screw Clamp Type Lug Terminal
PTFM04BG222Q2N34BS 70C PTFM04BF222Q2N34BS 80C PTFM04BE222Q2N34BS 90C PTFM04BD222Q2N34BS 100C PTFM04BC222Q2N34BS 110C PTFM04BB222Q2N34BS 120C PTFM04BG471Q2N34BS 70C PTFM04BF471Q2N34BS 80C PTFM04BE471Q2N34BS 90C PTFM04BD471Q2N34BS 100C PTFM04BC471Q2N34BS 110C PTFM04BB471Q2N34BS 120C
AMWEI Switching Ceramic PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor AMZ6-331 AMZ6-101 series can be an replacement part.
Reference article How to Select AMWEI PTC Screw Clamp Type to Cross Murata PTFM Overheat Temperature Sensor in Lug Terminal can also be found.
For cross to Murata PTFL Series POSISTOR PTC Thermistor Overheat Sensing Radial Lead Resin Coated Type AMWEI Switching Ceramic PTC Thermistor Limit Temperature Sensor Radial Lead Resin Coated Bead Type can be alternative replacement.