Silicone is made of artificially produced polymers made of silicon, hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. Their generic chemical formula is [R2SiO]. Depending on the silicone type, R could be either ethyl or phenyl or methyl group of organic molecules. [SiO] is a long strain of inorganic silicon and oxygen molecules chemically bonded together.
Physical properties of silicones silicone blocks depend on the lengths and spatial positions of their [SiO] strains. These positions and lengths change when silicones enter chemical reactions with several chemical compounds, which leads to changes in silicone physical properties.
Silicones used in production of Silicone Keypads possess a wide array of outstanding qualities. These qualities are:
· Thermal stability under the temperatures ranging from -1000C to 2500C
· Resistance to harmful bacteria
· Chemical inertness
· Non-toxicity
· Ability to serve as electrical insulator
· Resistance to ozone, oxygen and UV light (ultraviolet light)
· Noncorrosive
· Eco-friendliness
· Being non-sticky
· Being waterproof
Advantages of using silicone buttons in electronic products
Silicone buttons are used in wide variety of electronic products including medical devices, calculators, remote controls, industrial keypads, PLCs (programmable logic controllers) and building construction equipment.
In general, silicone keypads in conjunction with carbon contact pills are used to activate and deactivate electric circuits (a contact pill is molded on the back of a silicone rubber button). When a silicone rubber keypad is pressed, its position changes so that a carbon contact pill completes electric circuit thus allowing the electric current to flow. Compared with the other methods of circuit activation, this one is the most cost effective and reliable because it does not employ mechanical switches known for their short lifespan and high production cost.