ABS vs. PBT Keycaps: Keycap Materials You Should Know (2024)

FAQs

ABS vs. PBT Keycaps: Keycap Materials You Should Know? ›

PBT, as compared to ABS, is far more robust, so it both wears more slowly than ABS, and the pattern of wear is more even, so the keycaps stay usable and pretty for longer. Additionally, PBT is more resistant to degradation caused by UV light. UV being the main cause of vibrant keycaps losing their color over time.

PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) is a stronger and thicker plastic. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a versatile, affordable plastic used more often. PBT keycaps are of higher quality than ABS keycaps, thanks to their better material properties.

Generally, PBT is known to be better for long-term use and will not wear or get greasy as much, good for people with hands on the sweatier side. The ABS keycaps, on the other hand, have more vivid color options available and offer a silky, skin-like touch.

Abs and pbt is just the material used for the keycaps and have no impact on what it's compatible with.

Enthusiasts often refer to the satisfying, crisper, and cleaner sounds of PBT keycaps as "thocky". On the other hand, lower quality ABS keycaps tend to sound quiet and "hollow", although the "hollow" sound is less noticeable in high-quality, thick ABS keycaps.

GMK and PBT keycaps both have their pros and cons. While the ABS used by GMK comes in more vibrant colors, the feel and softness of the material are downsides. PBT, on the other hand, may have more subdued coloring, but stand the test of time and provide a silky texture throughout their lifecycle.

The best keycap profiles for gaming are Cherry and OEM, although XDA can also work well depending on your playstyle. Ergonomic keycaps are usually ideal for gaming since their curved tops can make it easier to grip the keys. If you have large hands or clumsy fingers, though, you might prefer XDA keycaps.

Do ABS keycaps get shiny? ›

The type of keycap that suffers most from the greasy look problem is the ABS keycap. Due to the material's nature, it's easy to be polished just by frequent contact with people's fingertips, thus, becoming shiny.

Some plastics, such as ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, and polystyrene, are more susceptible to stress cracking. These are amorphous plastics, and they bond readily.

PBT, as compared to ABS, is far more robust, so it both wears more slowly than ABS, and the pattern of wear is more even, so the keycaps stay usable and pretty for longer. Additionally, PBT is more resistant to degradation caused by UV light. UV being the main cause of vibrant keycaps losing their color over time.

ABS keycaps can be single shot, meaning only one layer of plastic is used which can make them significantly lighter and less expensive. They can also be made as double shot keycaps where two layers of plastic are used.

ABS can be way less dense than PBT in the majority of cases, so reasonably enough, comparing two keycaps of same volume, should result in the PBT producing a deeper sound because it's more dense.

Mechanical properties: PBT offers higher tensile strength and stiffness compared to ABS. However, ABS excels in impact resistance and flexibility, making it more suitable for demanding applications. Thermal properties: PBT exhibits better thermal stability and dimensional accuracy over a wide temperature range.

PBT performs much like Nylon but can handle higher temperatures and does not absorb moisture. PBT has excellent impact strength but is very notch sensitive. PBT is very anisotropic in shrinkage, so it is difficult to mold to extremely tight tolerances.

Both ABS and PBT keycaps can be single-shot or double shot and designed for unlit or backlit and RGB keyboards.