PVC keycaps?

[SpaceGhost]

Has anyone ever made PVC keycaps? It seems a logical choice to minimize wear-glossing on matte, grainy-textured top surfaces. The grainy-textured IBM and Lexmark Model M cases were made of PVC, a plastic from the vinyl family of plastics. Vinyl has been used (exclusively, I think) for decades as the material of choice for LP's because of its rather amazing resistance to wear and tear -- vinyl's tremendous "bounce-back" property is why the microscopic undulations, especially those for high frequency content, in the grooves of an LP don't get shaved off immediately when played with a diamond stylus.

I also think it's the reason Model M top covers never show any signs of wear-glossing along the lower front edge, where many users rest the heels of their hand while typing. That same surface on my Unicomp version of the Model M has extreme wear-glossing and loss of texture, which became evident very early in the less than 4 years I've used it. Despite having examined nearly 150 used IBM and Lexmark Model M's in the past couple of years, some of the IBM's as old as 28 years, none have any trace of this problem.

[qwack]

Acording to the DT wiki it is being used by mass-market brands such as HP or Dell. Not sure why it's not more commonly used on mechanical keyboards as an alternative to ABS, but for enthusiasts it looks like PBT or POM are more interesting anyway.

[Findecanor]

PVC has been largely phased out as a material because PVC production has nasty bi-products.

[SpaceGhost]

PVC has been largely phased out as a material because PVC production has nasty bi-products.

That's true, but many materials and manufactured items have nasty byproducts. What is required is that the byproducts be dealt with responsibly and safely, with no harm to environment or workers.

[CPTBadAss]

I don't think I've seen PVC caps but it's an interesting idea.

[Touch_It]

I've wondered myself, but never bothered to ask about it.

[Huxley2500]

Pipe dream.   

[Touch_It]

Pipe dream.   

I see what you did

[njbair]

Pipe dream.   

This thread is going down the drain.