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What does it mean that these are dye-sublimted PBT?
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keyboard_arrow_downElderSage
88
Mar 4, 2020
Sublimation is the process of turning a substance from a solid directly to a gasious state without passing through a liquid phase. During dye sublimation, the solid dye is exposed to high heat and turned into a gas. In the gas state it is able to permeate the crystaline structure of the PBT keycap. The end result is a legend that goes below the surface of the plastic thereby making it very durable.
JohnW_25
166
Dec 8, 2019
The two most popular kinds of plastic are currently used for keyboards are:
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) - the most common keycap plastic used, tends to feel smooth, is durable, a tad cheaper and easier to manufacture than PBT
PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) - tends to have a “matte” texture, a bit stiffer than ABS, a bit more durable than ABS, and doesn’t develop a “glossy” look with use over time like ABS, harder and more expensive to manufacture than ABS
Sublimated dying infuses the ink with the plastic through a manufacturing process Elder Sage perfectly describes:
https://drop.com/talk/27150/what-does-it-mean-that-these-are-dye-sublimted-pbt/2582700
The ink sinks into the keycap just a bit so the font doesn't wear out even if the keycap gets worn down.
Hence “Dye-Subbed PBT”.
(Edited)
lukelight27
129
May 5, 2020
JohnW_25Technically you should say that they are the two most common plastics used to make keycaps. Polycarbonate and acrylic are very common materials to find cases made out of
FoxtechDH
101
Oct 28, 2021
JohnW_25Great run down on primary differences, I would add that light bleed and sound profile will change as well and is highly dependent on the types of abs used as well as whether they keys are double shot. I have found that most double shot SA profile ABS will give a similar thockier sound profile while being slightly more hollow due to higher profiles and the amount of nylon in the mix vs say gmk which has a very similar but more "dead" thock. Most higher profiles will give you more hollow feedback and single shot nylon and pbt will be higher pitched no matter the thickness of the material. This is where switch selection, plate and dampening become more of a variable sound wise. Your sound will objectively be different for what you like so pair accordingly. Example maximum thock is what I like, I'll shoot for a doubleshot cap and a cream or an alpaca nylon switch, if I want some shine through I'll sacrifice a bit of that hollow thick with a gateron ink lower, which will be much higher pitch on stem bottom out but still have a bit of thock where the cap contacts the nylon top of the switch, in this mod example. Most drop pcbs are north facing leds so lighting preferences will change depending on your pcb orientation as well. Stem and switch materials are the next sounds step along with your main stab mods, wires band-aid mods etc. Hope this adds a little insight. I Franken-switch mod a lot of mx's with a lot of different materials from pc, nylon, unwhpe etc so feel free to ask if I can help I'll try and give some advice for what to try. Have fun with it!
(Edited)
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