If you’re searching for a new keypad, you should consider silicone rubber. Also known as elastomeric keypads, they are used in a wide variety of applications, including both consumer and industrial applications. To learn more about silicone rubber keypads and the benefits they offer, keep reading.
Overview of Silicone Rubber Keypads
Silicone rubber keypads live up to their namesake by featuring a construction made of silicone. This soft, flexible material is manufactured in different ways, though most contain one or two parts polymer as well as various fillers like carbon, hydrogen and/or oxygen. Silicone rubber is non-reactive, stable, durable and resistant to extreme hot and cold temperatures. This makes it an attractive choice for industrial-grade keypad solutions. However, there are other reasons to choose silicone rubber keypads.
Benefits of Silicone Rubber Keypads
Perhaps the most notable benefit of silicone rubber keypads is its soft, flexible texture. Traditional plastic keypads are often hard, stiff and uncomfortable to use. Silicone rubber takes a different approach by creating soft and flexible keypads. This makes it a popular choice in industrial applications where workers use it on a daily basis.
Additionally, silicone rubber keypads support multiple printed and molded colors, textures and backlighting effects. As explained on our website, these solutions offer a key-top hardness ranging from 30 to 90 share A. So, regardless of your desired key-top hardness, silicone rubber probably supports it. You can customize a silicone rubber keypad with a hardness ranging from 30 to 90, depending on your specific needs and how it will be used.
Furthermore, silicone rubber keypads typically cost less than other types of keypads. If you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend a fortune on new keypad solutions, perhaps silicone rubber is the right choice. While there are always exceptions, most silicone rubber keypads cost less than their counterparts made of different materials.
It’s also worth noting that silicone rubber keypads can be molded with conductive pills, as well as assembled with polyester or metal dome arrays to create electrical contacts.
To recap, a silicone rubber keypad is a type of keypad that’s made of silicone materials (see photo above). It’s soft, flexible, supports a variety of printed and molded colors, and costs less than many other types of keypads. Hopefully, this gives you a better understanding of silicone rubber keypads. You can learn more about silicone rubber keypads by visiting our page here.