What are ABS keycaps?
Full name of ABS: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
ABS is a terpolymer of acrylonitrile (A), butadiene (B), and styrene (S). The material offers advantages such as low cost, high strength, good toughness, and ease of processing. Due to these properties, ABS material is extremely widely used.
Thanks to the sophisticated manufacturing process, ABS keycaps typically have a smooth appearance, fine details, and a consistent texture. ABS keycaps not only offer high-quality craftsmanship but also a pleasant and comfortable feel, enhancing the typing experience.
ABS keycaps offer a convincing design and feel, but they have one notable disadvantage: after prolonged use, the surface tends to become shiny due to the low hardness of the material.
ABS is a widely used material for peripherals. In addition to keyboards, it is also used for mice , cases, and monitor enclosures.
Advantages:
- Cheap
- Easy to make
- Soft feel
- Can be manufactured as translucent keycaps
Disadvantages:
- Quickly becomes greasy, which can affect the feel and visual aesthetics
Akko ABS Marrs Green Keycap
What are PBT keycaps?
Full name of PBT: Polybutylene terephthalate
PBT is a popular plastic known for its excellent mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. It is strong and rigid, yet offers excellent dimensional stability. Due to its strength, PBT is also known as "white rock."
Although PBT is more expensive and requires more complex processing than ABS, the material's strength is generally better. Shrinkage during injection molding is lower. Processing technology has advanced significantly, allowing even permanently durable lettering to be created using double-shot molding. PBT keycaps have a distinctive matte surface and feel robust and dry.
The biggest advantage of PBT over ABS is its superior wear resistance. Compared to ABS, PBT requires significantly less lubrication and doesn't become greasy as quickly with regular use of mechanical keycaps.
Advantages:
- Long-lasting, does not become oily quickly
- Good for DIY projects
Disadvantages:
- High costs
- The quality of the material has a great influence on the typing feel
Main differences between ABS and PBT keycaps
| feature | ABS keycaps | PBT keycaps |
| Cost | Usually cheaper | Usually more expensive |
| Haptics | Smooth and shiny | Structured and matte |
| durability | Tends to shine and wear over time | More resistant to wear and shine |
| Appearance | Strong colors, may fade over time | Less vibrant but more uniform colors |
| sound | Higher, sharper sound | Deeper, more muted sound |
| Production | Simpler, cost-effective | Requires more advanced processing |
| Care | Can become sticky | Requires less maintenance |
1. Costs
ABS: Usually cheaper.
PBT: Usually more expensive.
ABS keycaps are generally more affordable due to lower material and production costs, making them a popular choice for budget keyboards. PBT keycaps, while more expensive, offer better durability, a more pleasant texture, and greater resistance to wear. Therefore, they are especially popular with enthusiasts and users looking to invest in higher-quality keycaps.
2. Texture and feel
ABS: Smooth and shiny, can become sticky and greasy over time.
PBT: Textured and matte, remains unchanged even after long use.
ABS keycaps are less durable than PBT keycaps. After extended use, ABS keycaps can become shiny and sticky, while PBT keycaps retain their matte finish. Therefore, if you prefer a more durable keyboard, PBT keycaps are a better choice.
3. Durability
ABS: Tends to wear and shine over time.
PBT: More resistant to wear, retains its appearance longer.
Even though ABS keycaps are cheaper, they show signs of wear more quickly, such as gloss and fading. PBT keycaps, while more expensive, offer superior durability and remain visually and tactilely consistent even with intensive use. Those who value longevity and a consistent typing feel should opt for PBT keycaps.
4. Appearance
ABS: Can be dyed in vibrant colors, but colors may fade over time.
PBT: Less vibrant, but more colorfast.
PBT keycaps have a more subtle color scheme and are opaque, making them particularly suitable for mechanical keyboards with red or brown switches. ABS keycaps, on the other hand, offer brighter colors and greater translucency, making them ideal for RGB lighting.
5. Sound
ABS: Produces a higher, sharper sound.
PBT: Thicker and denser, therefore deeper, more muted sound.
ABS keycaps have a smooth surface and produce a clearer, higher-pitched sound when typing. PBT keycaps, on the other hand, have a slightly rough, matte surface and a rather muffled sound. Sound preferences vary from individual to individual—some prefer the softer typing feel of PBT, while others prefer the crisp sound of ABS.
6. Production
ABS: Easier and cheaper to produce.
PBT: Requires more advanced processing.
ABS keycaps are cheaper and easier to manufacture, allowing for a wider variety of colors and designs. However, they are less durable and more prone to wear. PBT keycaps are more expensive and harder to produce, but offer greater resistance to wear and tear and retain their texture and appearance longer. Those who value durability and high-quality lettering are better off with PBT keycaps.
7. Care
ABS: Can become sticky.
PBT: Requires less maintenance.
ABS keycaps require more frequent cleaning, as they tend to develop a shiny, greasy surface and colors can fade over time. They require regular maintenance to maintain their appearance. PBT keycaps are more resistant to wear and tear, making them easier to care for and looking new longer. Those who prefer a low-maintenance solution should opt for PBT keycaps.
ABS vs. PBT: Which is better?
- Budget: If you're on a budget, ABS keycaps are a better choice.
- Aesthetics: If you value a wide selection of colors and designs, ABS offers more variety.
- Durability: If you want durable keycaps that retain their appearance even with intensive use, PBT is the better choice.
- Feel and texture: If you prefer a higher-quality typing experience, PBT keycaps are often appreciated for their matte finish.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your personal preference. Opt for ABS keycaps if you want a smoother, quieter typing experience and a more cost-effective solution. However, keep in mind that they are less heat-resistant and can become shiny over time. Choose PBT keycaps if you value durability, a matte finish, and greater resistance to wear and tear. While more expensive, they are more heat-resistant and better suited to high-quality printing techniques like dye-sublimation.
Keycap printing techniques: Double-shot vs. dye-sublimation
What are double-shot keycaps?
Double-shot keycaps fuse two layers of plastic together, ensuring the characters never fade. This technique can be used with both ABS and PBT materials.
- ABS double-shot keycaps: Bright colors, smooth surface, but tend to become shiny over time.
- PBT Double-Shot Keycaps: Less prone to gloss formation, slightly rougher surface, more durable, and retain their original appearance.
In general, double-shot keycaps —whether made of ABS or PBT—are popular with many users because they are robust, have legible characters, and are visually appealing. The choice of material ultimately depends on personal preference, cost, and desired durability.
Akko Mod 007B ISO PBT Double-shot Keycaps
What are dye-sublimation keycaps?
The dye-sublimation process utilizes the ability of ink to sublimate at high temperatures. This allows the ink to penetrate deep into the material and permanently print the design onto the keycap.
Since ABS plastic deforms at temperatures above 80°C and is not heat-resistant, PBT is the best material for dye-sublimation keycaps.
Types of dye sublimation
Dye sublimation can be divided into two types:
- Single-sided dye-sublimation → printing on the front of the keycap.
- Five-sided dye-sublimation → printing on all five sides of the keycap.
While single-sided dye-sublimation is simpler and cheaper, five-sided dye-sublimation is more expensive, complicated, and technically demanding. Therefore, inexpensive dye-sublimation keycaps are usually printed only on the main side, while only a few models use the more complex five-sided process.
Limitations of dye sublimation
A major limitation of this method is that it is currently technically very difficult to print light characters on dark keycaps . This is due to the physical principles of dye-sublimation, which has limited applications for high-contrast colors on dark surfaces.
Akko 5-Side Dye-sublimation Keycaps
Summary
ABS and PBT keycaps are easy to compare – both have their advantages and disadvantages.
- ABS keycaps are more common and cheaper, but tend to become shiny and worn over time.
- PBT keycaps are rarer and more expensive, but they are more durable and retain their texture longer.
The choice between ABS and PBT ultimately depends on budget, feel, and durability .
