Carbon Pills or Nickel Pills? A Simple Guide to Conductive Particles for Your Silicone Keypads

As a leading silicone keypad manufacturer, we often get this question: “What’s the best conductive particle for our buttons?” The truth is, the most common choices—conductive carbon pills and conductive nickel pills—each have their own strengths.

Choosing the right one is crucial for the performance, cost, and lifespan of your product. Let’s break it down in simple terms.

What Are They?

First, a conductive particle is a small, electrically conductive piece embedded into the bottom of a silicone button. When you press the button, this particle makes contact with the circuit on the PCB (printed circuit board) underneath, completing the circuit and registering a keystroke.

There are two main types:

1. Conductive Carbon Pills: Made from a carbon-based compound, these are molded directly into the silicone rubber during the manufacturing process.
2. Conductive Nickel Pills: These are small, dome-shaped metal pieces that are physically inserted into a molded pocket on the silicone button.

Carbon Pills vs. Nickel Pills: How to Choose?

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

Feature	Conductive Carbon Pills	Conductive Nickel Pills
Feel & Tactility	Softer, quieter, and mushier feel.	Crisp, positive “clicky” tactile feedback.
Durability & Life	Good (1-5 million cycles). Can wear down over time.	Excellent (5-10+ million cycles). Very resistant to wear.
Cost	✅ More cost-effective. No secondary process.	❌ More expensive. Higher material and labor cost.
Manufacturing	Molded-in during a single process. Simple and fast.	Requires a secondary insertion step after molding.
Conductivity	Stable and reliable.	Excellent and highly consistent.
Appearance	Black color, fully integrated into the keypad.	Metallic silver, visible at the bottom of the button.

So, Which One is Right for Your Project?

Choose Conductive Carbon Pills if:

• Your product is cost-sensitive.
• You need a softer, quieter keystroke (e.g., for remote controls, medical devices, household appliances).
• Your expected lifespan is in the range of a few million cycles.

Choose Conductive Nickel Pills if:

• Superior tactile feedback is a top priority (e.g., for industrial controls, gaming keyboards, high-end interfaces).
• You require an extremely long operational life.
• Your application faces harsher environments where maximum durability is needed.

Still Not Sure? Let’s Talk!

At  Rilong, we have over 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing high-quality silicone keypads. We don’t just supply parts—we provide solutions.

Let us help you:

• Analyze your specific application needs.
• Recommend the best material and conductive solution.
• Provide reliable, high-performance keypads that meet your budget and quality standards.

Contact us today for a free consultation and quote! Let’s build the perfect interface for your product together.