Triethanolamine (TEA) has been evaluated as an additive to a commercial electrolyte to enhance the properties of aluminum electrolytic capacitors. The results showed 1-3 wt.% TEA additive can prevent the pH and conductivity of the electrolytes from decreasing for 5000 h at 60 degrees C. The anodic restoration ability of an anode aluminum film in the electrolyte with TEA additive showed more efficient than the electrolyte without TEA additive. Low temperature electric characteristics of capacitors showed that TEA additive can prevent the electrolyte inside capacitors from freezing and losing electric characteristics even at -40 degrees C. Load life test of capacitors impregnated with electrolytes with or without TEA additive showed remarkable differences. The TEA additive promoted 105 degrees C load life time from 3019 h up to 5624 h and form 2144 h up to 3621 h for 125 degrees C load life time test. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.