Polyester (PET) and Polycarbonate (PC) membrane keyboards have been a mainstay in electronics manufacturing for many years. Simple to design and a low-cost tooling investment, membranes can deliver reliable and effective solutions for electronic user interfaces.
Membrane Keyboards:
For specific applications, membranes have a number of advantages over silicone keypads such as:
- Low profile solution for smaller devices
- Integrated flexible circuit (FPC) with a range of connector options
- High IP rating making them a simple solution for applications subject to dust/fluid ingress
- Reverse screen printing delivers protection from chemical contact and high levels of user contact
- Flat/low profile design makes cleaning easy and effective
- Tactile response so the user knows the switch has been activated
- Embossed keys to enhance user experience – this can include embossed symbols, braille, dome, pillow and frame embossing.
Textured surfaces can be applied to display windows to provide anti-glare properties, whilst tinting can also be applied to icons that are illuminated once back lit.
Shielding layers such as RFI, ESD and EMC can also be incorporated into designs.
Membrane Overlays:
When seeking a high-quality, durable labelling solution, polyester (PET) membrane overlays are a popular choice. Typically rigid in structure and often supplied with adhesive backing, assembly on to a plastic or metal surface is easy and repeatable. PET has a high level of scratch, crack and tear resistance in comparison to Polycarbonate (PC) or vinyl alternatives.
PET overlays are commonly used on outdoor applications, where they can be subjected to temperature fluctuations, moisture, UV radiation and corrosion. Additional layers of coating can be applied to further enhance scratch resistance.
If you’re working on a new design that may incorporate a membrane keyboard or overlay, or even if you’re interested in enhancing an existing product, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us via the links below and our Team will be in contact to learn more about your requirements.
