Silicone rubber buttons have been widely popular in multiple fields such as electronic products, medical equipment, and the automotive industry. The increasing demand for silicone buttons can be attributed to their numerous advantages over other materials. In the following text, I will introduce you to the main advantages of silicone buttons in detail.
The Silicone Button Is Non-Toxic
- Silica gel has stable chemical properties and is non-toxic in itself. During the production of silicone buttons, there is no need to add toxic plasticizers such as methyl phthalate. If your product is targeted at infants and toddlers, medical equipment, food equipment, and other fields, choosing a completely safe material is more likely to gain market recognition.
- If you are engaged in exporting trade products, silicone buttons are easy to pass the CE and RoHS tests. The material itself is free of halogens and has complete heavy metal test reports, which can shorten the certification cycle. During small-scale trial production, silicone rubber keys can be customized in terms of color and texture without affecting their non-toxic properties.
- Compared with traditional plastics, this type of silicone rubber button can significantly reduce the risk of skin allergies for users and resist the growth of microorganisms. By choosing silicone buttons, you can not only meet consumers’ demands but also enhance brand loyalty and satisfaction.
Silicone Buttons Are Suitable for Extreme Environments
The Thermal Stability of Silicone Buttons
Silicone itself has excellent thermal stability, and its physical properties remain unchanged within a wide temperature range (-50°C to 250°C). If your product is to be used in factory workshops, engine compartments, or outdoors in winter, silicone buttons are your ideal choice.
Silicone buttons can also work normally in high-temperature environments. It will not soften like ordinary plastic buttons, nor will its surface temperature change with the ambient temperature like metal buttons. When you press the silicone button, it still has the familiar rebound force, and the conductive contacts inside will not shift due to high temperatures.
At low temperatures, ordinary plastic buttons tend to become brittle and hard, but silicone buttons can still maintain their toughness.
In the long run, silicone buttons can help you avoid many after-sales issues due to temperature problems, and also improve the reputation of your device among users.
Silicone Buttons Are UV-Resistant
Silicone buttons can withstand ultraviolet rays (UV light) and resist ozone erosion. Oxidation can cause traditional materials to age rapidly. However, transparent silicone buttons and semi-transparent silicone buttons will not turn yellow until they are exposed to sunlight for a long time.
Some medical devices are exposed to ultraviolet rays, as well as outdoor equipment and ozone released by high-voltage halos when machines are running in factory workshops. In these circumstances, it is obvious that silicone buttons are the best choice.
The Silicone Button Is Waterproof
Silicone can be used to make fully sealed folding keyboard buttons. This type of silicone keyboard is completely waterproof and is an ideal choice for many products in damp environments. If you want to enhance its water resistance, you can also apply an oil-spraying process to its surface. In the kitchen, bathroom, outdoors, and even when you occasionally fall into water, silicone keyboards can shield you from most of the troubles.
Users can directly cut off the power of this silicone keypad and clean and disinfect it in water. It not only brings great convenience to users but also enhances the manufacturer’s reputation. It is worth noting that there is another type of incompletely sealed silicone keypads, with a circuit board at the bottom and a silicone button cover on top. These types of silicone keypads, like other traditional keyboards, are also not waterproof.
Silicone Rubber Buttons Are Durable
- Silicone rubber button keypads are durable. Third-party professional testing institutions such as China Yitong Testing and Zhongke Testing have conducted tests in accordance with Chinese national standards (GB/T). The data shows that silicone buttons can withstand over 10 million keystrokes at most.
- When you choose to integrate buttons into your product, you will consider whether the buttons can withstand repeated pressing without cracking, and hope that your buttons can be used normally in various environments. Silicone has excellent weather resistance. No matter whether your product is positioned as affordable or high-end, silicone buttons can enable you to demonstrate your commitment to quality to customers.
Non-Stick
The Importance of Buttons Not Sticking
When you were choosing a button component, you must have encountered the problem that users reported was “sticky when pressed”, right? Especially when it comes to industrial instruments and handheld devices, such as adjusting the range of an oscilloscope, switching modes of an ammeter, and inputting instructions to a PLC, the fingers of the operators are inevitably stained with sweat and oil.
If the surface of the button feels rough and sticky at this time, it not only affects the smoothness of operation, but also may accidentally touch other keys when repeatedly rubbed.
The Secret of Silicone Buttons Not Sticking
When choosing silicone buttons, the first solution is precisely the sticky problem. Ordinary plastic or rubber buttons, after long-term use, tend to absorb sebum and dust on their surfaces, becoming increasingly slippery the more you touch them. Silicone is different. The molecular structure on its surface is loose, and when your fingers touch it, there won’t be a feeling of getting stuck.
The engineer operated the oscilloscope while wearing gloves, and the touch of the silicone buttons was still refreshing. Silicone rubber key suppliers can do a good job in the detailed experience of users, thereby improving consumer satisfaction in the long term.
Unique Haptic Feedback of The Silicone Button
As a manufacturer of silicone button terminal products, you will surely be interested in the touch of silicone buttons, which is directly related to the user’s detailed experience. They should be easy to press, durable, and have integrated functions such as trigger switches and indicator lights.
Try the silicone rubber button. It’s not the cheapest option, but it can solve multiple pain points at once, such as hand feel, durability, and multi-functionality. The unique tactile feedback of the silicone buttons is reflected in the following details, which are the confidence for the brand to quietly increase its investment.
Silicone Rubber Button Webbing Structure
The interaction between users and products often begins with a single click. The anti-webbing structure of the silicone button has brought the tactile experience to the ultimate level.
Webbing Structure
When you install the silicone button on the product and the user presses it, the surface webbing of the silicone button will deform along with the force exerted by the finger. It doesn’t just collapse in softly, but rather has an elastic and snug fit. The fingers can clearly sense the process of pressing down. When the hand is raised, the webbing immediately springs back to its original position like a spring.
Tactile Feedback for Push Silicone Buttons
This kind of feedback is not exaggerated, but it is sufficient for users to experience precise control: for instance, when adjusting the volume of high-end headphones, pushing the silicone buttons can precisely stop at a certain gear. The emergency stop button of industrial equipment, with the elastic feedback of silicone, enables the operator to confirm the successful trigger.
The Push-Button Silicone Cover Is Ergonomic
Even better is the ergonomic fit of the silicone buttons. In scenarios where buttons are pressed for a long time (such as the continuous operation of silicone rubber button gameboy and medical devices), the softness and hardness of silicone just buffer the pressure on fingers. Users will not give up the product due to tired fingers when operating.
According to a study in the International Journal of Product Development, consumers’ evaluation of the hand feel of silicone buttons is significantly higher than that of traditional material buttons. Recent industry reports indicate that the optimal tactile response when pushing silicone rubber keyboard buttons can increase user satisfaction by nearly 20%.
Carbon-Based Conductive Contacts of Silicone Buttons
Traditional mechanical switches are prone to wear and tear and have high costs. If you want to make touch buttons, you are afraid of unstable contact. The carbon-based conductive contact design of silicone buttons might be able to solve these problems.
How the Conductive Silicone Button Works
Conductive silicone rubber buttons rely on carbon-based contacts hidden inside. When you press the button, the silicone elastic layer drives the carbon contact to press down and come into contact with the circuit on the PCB board, instantly conducting to form a circuit.
This process does not require complex mechanical structures; it can be accomplished merely by the elasticity and electrical conductivity of the silicone itself. For manufacturers, this means eliminating the assembly process of mechanical switches and making production line commissioning simpler.
Conductive silicone buttons are commonly implemented in two ways.
Option One: Back-Molded Carbon Contact Sheet
When silicone button suppliers produce silicone buttons, they directly form carbon sheets in one piece on the back of the buttons. This design integrates the conductive function into the silicone body, eliminating the need for additional conductive sheets to be adhered.
The advantage is that the cost is low, an assembly process is omitted, and the yield rate can also be improved. More importantly, it is reliable. The carbon sheet and silicone are closely combined and will not fall off even when repeatedly pressed, avoiding the poor contact caused by the loosening of traditional conductive sheets.
Option Two: Replace Mechanical Contacts With Conductive Elastomers
Silicone keypad manufacturers evenly mix carbon powder into silicone to make elastic conductors. When pressed, the entire conductive layer evenly presses down into contact with the PCB, providing a larger contact area and more stable conduction.
This design is particularly suitable for scenarios that require large-area conduction, such as large-sized control panels. Compared with the single-point contact of traditional mechanical switches, the contact of carbon elastomers is more uniform, reducing the risk of false connections.
The Functional Integration of Silicone Rubber Keypads
Silicone buttons can achieve “one button, two roles”. For instance, placing a carbon pellet or gold particle at the center of the switch base can not only serve as a conductive contact to perform the switching function but also achieve other uses through position design. Different instructions are triggered by adjusting the position of carbon particles. This dual function eliminates the cost of installing additional sensors or switching keys, and the product structure is more compact.
Choosing carbon-based conductive contacts for silicone buttons is not about chasing new technologies, but about selecting a more worry-free and reliable solution. The conductive silicone rubber button keyboard meets the circuit conduction requirements while also enhancing durability by taking advantage of the properties of silicone rubber.
Supports Backlight Technology
Does your product need to be operated in a low-light environment? Silicone buttons support three basic backlighting schemes, which can solve the pain point of not being able to see the buttons clearly in dark places.
Silicone Button Basic Backlight Solution
LED backlight: Silicone button manufacturers will install LED light beads behind the silicone rubber tape, and the light diffuses through the silicone layer. Low cost and easy integration, suitable for general scenarios, such as volume keys in consumer electronics and silicone keyboards for Game Boy.
EL electroluminescent backlight: It emits light by exciting the phosphor through an electric field, making the light more uniform and soft, without the graininess of LED. Silicone buttons are easy to clean. If your products are used in a car dashboard or an industrial console, this kind of backlight can help users in the tunnel, workshop, and other dark environments quickly locate keys, reduce accidents.
Silicone Button Light Optimization Design
Fiber backlighting: The fiber itself does not emit light, but it can guide the light from the LED or EL to the surface of the silicone. For instance, in the case of silicone keys in medical devices, optical fibers disperse the light to the edges of the keys, which is both aesthetically pleasing and avoids glare.
Light guide backlighting: Similar to optical fiber, but it pays more attention to the uniformity of the overall light effect and is suitable for scenarios that require large areas of uniform lighting. For instance, the silicone buttons on smart home panels, with their light guide, ensure that each button has a consistent brightness, making them look neater visually.
Light guide plate backlight: Converts point light sources into surface light sources. After the silicone rubber keys of industrial equipment are equipped with light guide plates, there are no dark areas on the surface of the keys. Operators can clearly see the outline of the keys in both strong and weak light.
Customized Silicone Button Backlight Function
Silicone button laser etching combined with backlighting: Micro-patterns are etched on the surface of the silicone button, and after removing part of the coating, the underlying light-colored material is exposed. For instance, the silicone keys of smart speakers are etched with brand logos. In the dark, the logos emerge with the backlight, being low-key yet highly recognizable. This design is more durable than silk screen printing and will not become blurred due to wear and tear.
Color and intensity customization: The backlight color can be adjusted to warm white, cool white, single color, or RGB dynamic color, and the intensity can also be adjusted as needed. Outdoor equipment silicone buttons manufacturers choose cold white light backlighting to enhance visibility at night. For silicone buttons of household appliances, warm yellow light is used to create a cozy atmosphere. When users press the children’s silicone buttons, they can sense the exclusive design.
The backlight of the silicone button integrates practical lighting and visual design into the details. You don’t need to make a separate mold for the backlight. The light transmittance and elasticity of the silicone make the solution easy to implement. When you consider the user experience of your product, you might as well try the backlight function of silicone buttons – it could become a “memory point” for users to choose your product.
Low Price And High Cost Performance
Production And Raw Materials Are Cheap
The raw material of silicone buttons is silicone rubber, which has a stable source and a mature production process. Compared with the mold opening cost of metal buttons, the cost of silicone injection molds is lower. Compared with the imported raw materials of high-end plastic buttons, the price of silicone particles is more transparent. When conducting small-scale trial production, the mold-making and sample-making fees for silicone buttons are more friendly, and the trial-and-error cost is low.
High Long-Term Cost Performance
When choosing materials, one should not only look at the purchase price but also calculate the “full life cycle cost”. Silicone buttons may not be the cheapest at the beginning, but after three or five years of use, the overall cost is actually lower.
Silicone buttons are rarely repaired. For industrial equipment, plastic buttons should be replaced every six months, while silicone ones need not be touched for three years. You have saved time for manual replacement and also reduced customer complaints.
Silicone Button Has A Wide Range of Applications
Silicone buttons for electronic products: high-frequency operation devices such as silicone buttons for remote controls, silicone keys for game consoles, and computer keyboards.
Silicone buttons in the automotive industry: Dashboard controls and silicone buttons on the steering wheel. The silicone rubber is tough and shock-absorbing. When pressed, it makes a solid “tap-tap” sound, allowing users to clearly sense the successful trigger.
Medical device silicone button: For scenarios with high safety requirements, such as infusion pumps, defibrillators, and auxiliary equipment, the biocompatibility and ease of cleaning of silicone are the core.
Silicone buttons are not universal keys, but they can be adapted to the needs of multiple scenarios with a single set of materials. You don’t need to choose different buttons for electronics, automobiles, and medical care, respectively. Silicone buttons can withstand frequent pressing, tolerate temperature differences inside the vehicle, and also meet medical-grade hygiene requirements.
Silicone Rubber Button Keypads Can Be Made Foldable
Do you want to create a portable keyboard for your product that can be carried in a backpack, is shock-resistant and waterproof, and can be folded repeatedly without getting the keys stuck? The fully sealed and foldable design of the silicone button might become a core selling point.
Fully Sealed Silicone Keyboard
Silicone itself has good elasticity, and the gap between the keys can be made extremely small through mold design. The sealing performance will be very high when combined with the silicone sealing gasket.
Foldable Silicone Keyboard
Traditional plastic keys get stuck after being folded a few times, rubber keys stick easily, but silicone keys can remain soft. You fold the keyboard into the size of a palm and stuff it into your bag. After unfolding it, each key remains sensitive, and users don’t need to repeatedly adjust it.
It Can Be Carried Around
Portability also depends on silicone. It is lightweight, and the entire keyboard feels no burden when held in the hand. The foldable silicone keyboard can be carried around and used for office work anytime and anywhere.
Silicone Rubber Push Button Is Environmentally Friendly
- Silicone is mainly composed of siloxane polymers and does not contain harmful chemicals such as halogens and phthalates. If your product is exported to Europe or North America, it can easily pass environmental protection certifications such as RoHS and REACH
- Some silicone waste can be recycled into low-grade products, reducing the amount of landfill. If your users care about “green consumption”, the product label “Silicone buttons are recyclable” will become a selling point
- These environmental protection features are not add-ons; they are the admission tickets for your products to enter the green market. As consumers become increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of products, silicone buttons can help convey a responsible brand image. From materials to production, use, and recycling, they align with the environmental protection trend in modern manufacturing.
Silicone Buttons Compared With Traditional Buttons
Silicone Buttons vs Plastic Buttons
Plastic Buttons
Although plastic buttons are low in cost and easy to mold. However, after long-term use, its short surface is prone to wear and paint peeling, and the edges of the keys gradually collapse due to repeated pressing. What’s more troublesome is that it has poor moisture resistance. Plastic keys are prone to penetration and corrosion, resulting in poor contact.
Silicone Buttons
Silicone buttons are different. Silicone buttons are more dirt-resistant and easier to clean, especially the fully sealed foldable silicone keyboard. It can be directly washed with the power off. The elastic structure disperses pressure, and it can still maintain its shape after three years of high-frequency pressing.
Silicone Buttons vs Metal Buttons
Metal Buttons
Metal buttons are durable and durable, making them a favorite in industrial equipment. But it is afraid of temperature fluctuations. The surface gets hot after being exposed to the sun in summer and cold in the low temperatures in winter, resulting in a poor user experience. Metal buttons are more vulnerable to corrosion. The oil mist in the workshop and the salt spray from equipment by the seaside will gradually erode the metal surface, causing the buttons to malfunction.
Silicone Buttons
Silicone buttons have good weather resistance. It remains elastic in an environment ranging from -50℃ to 200℃. Silicone buttons are even more resistant to corrosion and can withstand the corrosion of acids, alkalis, and salts. If your product is used in extreme environments, silicone is more suitable than metal.
Silicone Buttons vs Capacitive Touch Buttons
Capacitive Touch Buttons
Capacitive touch keys have a strong modern feel and a high level of appearance. However, it lacks haptic feedback. When users press it, they don’t know if it’s successful or not. In high-risk scenarios (such as industrial emergency stop buttons), it is prone to misoperation. Moreover, it is afraid of environmental interference. When wearing gloves or when fingers sweat, the touch is not sensitive.
Silicone Buttons
The physical press feedback of the silicone button precisely fills this shortcoming. When pressed, a rebound can be perceived, and the user clearly knows that the trigger was successful.
Summary
A report by Smithers Pira estimates that the market size of silicone rubber is expected to reach 12.9 billion US dollars by 2023. Silicone rubber keys have clearly become a popular choice for manufacturers seeking to enhance user experience. Legensilico is an experienced manufacturer of silicone buttons. We can provide you with customized silicone rubber button services. If you have any other questions, please contact us directly.
FAQ
How to Make Silicone Rubber Buttons?
First, you need to determine the button silicone mold and accurately fit the button contour.
The material should be liquid silicone, food-grade or medical-grade, depending on the product’s application.
The injection molding machine presses the rubber into the mold, and the vulcanizing furnace heats and sets the shape.
After edge trimming and cleaning, the surface can be laser-etched with the LOGO or sandblasted.
Can The Hardness of Silicone Buttons Be Customized？
The softness and hardness of silicone buttons can be customized. Silicone buttons can be made in both soft and hard types.
- The key to the softness and hardness of custom silicone buttons lies in the adjustment of the formula and process. In the formula of silicone buttons, if there is a lot of vinyl, the resulting buttons will be relatively hard. If there is less vinyl, the keys will be softer.
- The higher the proportion of silica filler added, the harder the silica gel will be; conversely, it will be more flexible. During the vulcanization process, with high temperature and long duration, the cross-linking is more complete, and the keys become harder.
- The temperature is low and the time is short, which retains more elasticity, and the keys are relatively soft. You can also mix in a small amount of plasticizer to further reduce the hardness.
This degree of customization freedom enables you to match product functions more flexibly and meet the needs of different users
What Color Options Are Available for Custom Silicone Buttons？
If you want to customize colored silicone buttons for your product, you can start from three aspects
- Choose the standard color directly. Specify the color number with the Pantone color card. The silicone material itself can be pre-dyed into the corresponding color without additional adjustment, making it suitable for quickly implementing basic brand color keys.
- Multi-color molded customization. Want to make a multi-color key with a brand logo? Compression molding can co-mold several colors, but the proportion of pre-vulcanized materials needs to be repeatedly adjusted until the color is precise.
- Transparent silicone + functional superposition. Choose transparent silicone buttons without pigments or semi-transparent silicone buttons that are compatible with backlighting. An LED is installed at the back, allowing the light to pass through evenly and emit light. It can also laser-etch text patterns, and the key markings in dark areas are clear.
