Silicone keypads, also known as silicone buttons or organosilicon keypads, are keypad products made primarily of silicone rubber (mSiO₂·nH₂O). They possess characteristics such as heat resistance (-20℃ to 180℃), cold resistance, electrical insulation, and fatigue resistance. Non-toxic, odorless, and chemically stable, they are widely used in consumer electronics such as calculators, remote controls, and computer keyboards, and have expanded into industrial applications such as automotive air conditioning controls and medical equipment.
Based on pressure, they are categorized into four levels: 50-80g (calculators), 80-120g (remote controls), 120-180g (industrial instruments), and over 180g (special industries). They come in over 20 types, including single-point, conductive, and translucent, with lifespans ranging from 0.5 to 30 million keystrokes. The production process requires strict temperature control and mold release techniques to prevent cracking, and high-precision laser engraving is used to achieve translucent characters, improving nighttime visibility. The product has a contact resistance of less than 150Ω and an insulation strength of 25-30kV/mm, making it suitable for the button requirements of various electronic devices.
Silicone gel (also known as silicone rubber) is a highly active adsorbent material, an amorphous substance with the chemical formula mSiO2·nH2O. It is insoluble in water and any solvent, non-toxic, odorless, and chemically stable, reacting with no substances except strong alkalis and hydrofluoric acid. Different types of silica gel have different microporous structures due to their different manufacturing methods. The chemical composition and physical structure of silica gel give it many characteristics that are difficult for other similar materials to replace: high adsorption capacity, good thermal stability, chemical stability, and high mechanical strength. Silicone gel is classified according to its pore size into: macroporous silica gel, coarse-pore silica gel, type B silica gel, and fine-pore silica gel.