A Definition of Rubber Keypad Protective Coatings

Protective keypad coatings are important for many electronic products, as they can enhance the value of the product. The protective keypad coatings also offer superb tactile operation and multiple finishing techniques. Rubber keypad protective coatings help to increase a keypad’s lifecycle by enhancing wear resistance. They also can preserve the product by helping to reduce dust and the chance of the surface feel of the silicone changing after heavy use.

What finishes are available and how do I choose?

It is extremely important to apply the correct protective coating to rubber keypads, based on their applications and intended use. Rubber keypad protective coatings include silicone coating, polyurethane, parylene, epoxy, and clear coat, among others.

  • Silicone Spray

    Applied by spray and wear resistant. This coating is typically used for low to medium use applications. Wear resistance is better than that of screen printed coating. In fact, silicon spray overcoat can double the abrasion resistance of printed graphics on rubber keypads.

  • PU Coating

    Polyurethane coating is a smooth, abrasion resistant, clear spray coating that is applied to highly used applications. This spray coating is the most commonly used abrasion resistant coating on rubber keypads.

  • Epoxy Key Top Coating

    Protective clear coating applied to keytops only. 100% wear resistant thick coating for high use applications. These clear epoxy drip coatings on keytops provide a hard plastic feel or lens effect.

  • Parylene

    Protective clear coating applied to 100% of the keypad. This coating has high resistance to wear for high use applications. The best coating that is 100% applied to keypads and provides resistance to most chemicals.

  • Clear Coat

    The resin offers even greater wear protection than the PU spray coating and also offers a smooth gloss, high value finish to the keypad.