Common rubber substrates for special-shaped rubber mouse pads include four types: natural rubber, nitrile rubber (NBR), silicone fabric-combined rubber, and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. Among these, natural rubber, with its good tactile feel and elasticity, is often made into mid-to-high-end office mouse pads or esports mouse pads; nitrile rubber, featuring oil resistance and wear resistance, is suitable for scenarios requiring high durability. Silicone fabric-combined rubber (usually combined with fabric fibers), thanks to its soft and skin-friendly fabric surface, is often made into daily-use mouse pads focused on comfort; EPDM rubber, which is resistant to aging, high temperatures, and freeze-thaw cycles, is sometimes used to make special mouse pads that need to be exposed to variable environments.
What Are the Differences in Hand Feel (Hardness/Softness), Anti-Slip Performance, and Wear Resistance Among Different Rubber Materials for Special-Shaped Rubber Mouse Pads?
Different rubber materials vary in hand feel, anti-slip performance, and wear resistance:
In terms of hand feel, natural rubber is relatively soft and elastic with a warm tactile sensation, and its hardness ranges from Shore A 30 to 40; nitrile rubber is slightly harder (Shore A 45-55) with a solid tactile feel; silicone fabric-combined rubber is the softest (Shore A 25-35), with slow rebound after being pressed and a strong skin-friendly feel; EPDM rubber has moderate hardness (Shore A 40-50) and a relatively dry tactile feel.
For anti-slip performance, natural rubber and nitrile rubber can be easily processed with anti-slip textures, providing high friction when placed on the desktop and thus not easy to move. Silicone fabric-combined rubber, due to its inherently soft material, may see a slight decrease in anti-slip performance after long-term use; EPDM rubber, however, has a stable structure and is not prone to reduced anti-slip performance due to environmental factors.
In terms of wear resistance, nitrile rubber and EPDM rubber perform the best—their surfaces can withstand tens of thousands of friction cycles without pilling or damage. Natural rubber ranks second, with slight wear possible after long-term use; silicone fabric-combined rubber has the poorest wear resistance. If it has a coating, the coating is likely to wear off after prolonged use, affecting the tactile feel.
