Elastomeric Keyboards Offer Unique Advantages

Posted by Christopher Ferrell on May 24th, 2018

Elastomeric Advantages

Elastomers have many qualities which make them ideal for use in keyboard manufacturing. These rubber-like materials are durable, reliable, soft and flexible. They are perfect for slim designs. Additionally, they are protective and moisture resistant, making them ideal for use in humid or industrial environments.

Keypad Solutions

Sealed-surface keyboards are ideal for environments such as laboratories or manufacturing facilities where there is ambient moisture, particulate matter, or where employees need to use keyboards with hands soiled by work-related contamination. Elastomeric keypads, also called silicone rubber keypads, are soft and high profile for ease of use and comfort. An elastomer keypad may incorporate either a rigid printed circuit board or a flexible membrane circuit.

Custom Keypads

Keypads can be customized in a number of ways. Elastomers take well to laser etching of symbols and letters. Characters can also be silkscreened onto silicone rubber using silicone inks which are then bonded. An additional protective top coating can be added if the customer desires. Elite elastomers can be co-molded or bonded with other synthetics to create specific effects. Keypads can be produced with keys of one or more colors on a different colored frame. A wide array of color options are available. Keypads can also be molded into metal frames for ease of manufacturing.

Durable Handhelds

Silicone rubber can be co-molded with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to create thin keypads with superior abrasion, chemical, and UV light resistance. These soft keypads are typically used for handheld devices such as games or calculators.

Lighting Options

Elastomeric keyboards can be translucent or opaque and can incorporate overall or selective backlighting. They can be used in conjunction with ELP, incandescent, LED, woven fiber optic mesh, or the new LGF (Light Guide Film) backlighting. LGF backlighting produces a bright, evenly illuminated, easy to read keyboard. Elite elastomers can be used to produce a variety of appealing and highly visible lighting effects.

Intended Applications

Elite elastomers are employed in the manufacture of keypads for consumer goods such as smart phones, calculators, remote controls, handheld games, LCD watches, computer keyboards, and audio video equipment. They also have commercial and industrial applications for fax machines and copiers, industrial control equipment, navigation equipment, medical equipment, MRI machines, and fire alarms.

Intended Industries

Keyboards constructed of Elite elastomers are used in aerospace, military and government, HVAC, medical and pharmaceutical, automotive, energy, packaging, food processing and restaurants, electronics, marine, and various other commercial and industrial settings.