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Improving key surface performance on a Silicone Rubber Keypad
A rubber keypad is made from Silicone, a synthetic material, the characteristics enabling it to withstand a wide variety of chemical and mechanical degradation as well as serving as a strong dielectric.
As a popular choice of interface, silicone rubber keypads offer significant benefits and endless design possibilities to engineers looking for a robust and reliable keypad solution. Silicone rubber keypads add shape, colour, and 3D form to the design. Low tooling costs, wide operational temperatures, long life, and robust sealing capabilities making them an excellent switch for consumer, medical and industrial electronic products.
Rubber Keypad Finishes
On the surface of the rubber keypad there is the option to include various finishes to help improve life performance. If the keypad is going to be used in challenging environments, we advise that you consider applying a coating to the key surface to enhance the strength.
P&R Keytops – Injection molded plastic keytops are compression molded onto the key top. The keytops can be colour molded to suit a case/product design. A scratch resistant hard clear coating can also be applied to the keytop surface.
Epoxy Keytops – Depositing an epoxy coating on the top surface of the key provides a more resilient key surface. This is not recommended for outdoor applications due to lower UV resistant .
Polyurethane Coatings – Polyurethane also known as a PU coating, is a wear resistant clear spray that is applied to provide added chemical and wear resistance to painted surfaces, which can be in either a matt or gloss finish. PU coatings provide a longer switch face life with a silk-smooth texture.
Testing Silicone Rubber Keys
To ensure full functionality and long-life, the wear resistance is tested using an RCA machine, for abrasion performance and resistance to wear in accordance with international test standards. For further information download our Silicone Rubber Keypad Design guide below.
Design Guide