Once the silicone keyboard has been formed and the painting process of any additional keys or key markings has been completed, a protective coating can optionally be applied to increase the keyboard's resistance to wear and tear. Several common coatings include:
1. PU coating
2. Oil Coating
3. Matte Smooth
4. Epoxy Coating
Polyurethane (PU) Coating
Polyurethane (or PU) is a protective surface coating applied to rubber keypads. This clear coat provides abrasion resistance for high-use applications or products used in harsh environments. Adding a polyurethane coating to silicone rubber keys can enhance the durability of the keyboard, improve wear resistance, increase UV resistance, and extend the life of the rubber. It has excellent corrosion resistance and chemical resistance. This specific coating is also a cost-effective solution.
The PU coating protects the liquid silicone keyboards from grease, dirt, and contaminants. PU can be coated in a glossy or matte finish to meet the aesthetic requirements of rubber keys. PU coating is deposited on the top surface of the key, covering the printed portion. PU coatings are widely used in various industries to improve the appearance and longevity of materials.
Oil Coating
The oil coating is a protection for the rubber keypads surface. This coating is usually composed of silicone oil or other lubricants, and its purpose is to increase the smoothness and waterproof performance of the silicone rubber keyboard surface. Silicone rubber keys buttons with an oil coating will be more durable because the oil coating protects the symbols and characters on the rubber button surface from scuffs, scratches, and other wear and tear. After the icon or graphic is printed, oil is sprayed on the rubber keyboard surface. The oil-coated silicone rubber buttons keyboards has a nice texture. The surface of the silicone buttons keypad become matte and smooth after oiling. Oil coating is widely used in keyboards with silk-screen characters and symbols, while laser-etched silicone keyboards are mostly PU coating.
Matte Smooth
Matte smooth is a coating effect that is usually applied to the keyboard surface to improve its appearance and feel. It is a kind of processing that creates an unpolished, slightly rough, matte surface. technology. The matte smooth coating gives the surface of the silicone key keyboard a matte gloss, making it look softer and more low-key. This coating reduces surface reflections and is softer to the touch, making the keyboard feel more comfortable when using it. Additionally, the matte-smooth coating also helps reduce the visibility of fingerprints and dirt, keeping the keyboard clean and looking better. Matte smooth are widely used in silicone rubber keypads because they improve the look, feel and cleanliness of the keypad. This coating makes the keyboard surface less susceptible to fingerprints and dirt, while also providing a more comfortable touch, thereby enhancing the user experience.
Epoxy Coating
Epoxy coating is a protective clear epoxy coating applied only to the top of silicone rubber keys. The epoxy drop coating on these keytops gives silicone rubber keypads a hard plastic feel and glossy appearance. Epoxy coating can extend the life of key top graphics because it is abrasion resistant and protects key tops from chemicals, dirt, and oil.
This finish can make your product stand out from the competition because the top is more visually appealing than standard rubber key tops. The keys have a plastic appearance, but the cost of producing an epoxy-coated rubber keyboard is significantly lower than making plastic keys. We recommend using an epoxy coating in applications that receive heavy handling or are exposed to abrasion. Additionally, the epoxy-coated keys can also be backlit like a standard silicone rubber keyboard. The silicone rubber is laser etched onto the top of the keys before the epoxy is applied.