Thermal Paper

Croda is the name behind some of the world's biggest brands providing practical, environmentally safe solutions to the problems of everyday life.
Croda's speciality business includes products recommended for thermal paper. Our range of speciality stearamides can be used in the dispersion of dyes used in such applications. Thermal paper is paper that is impregnated with a chemical that changes colour when exposed to heat. It is used in thermal printers contained within devices such as adding machines, cash registers, and credit card terminals.
The surface of the paper is impregnated with a solid-state mixture of dye precursors and a suitable matrix, such as Crodamide SR. When the matrix is heated above its melting point, the dye reacts with the acid, shifting to its coloured form.  It is important that the composition of this matrix is closely controlled in order to have reproducible melting characteristics suitable for the printing system.
Additional benefits of thermal paper topcoats include:

• Reduce fading of the thermal image caused by exposure to UV light, water, oils, grease, lard, fats, plasticizers, and similar causes
• Provide improved printhead wear
• Reduce or eliminate residue from the thermal coating on the thermal printheads
• Focus the heat from the thermal printhead on the active coating

Products available from Croda for this application include:

• Crodamide EBS
• Crodamide SR, SRV
• Other specialist grades are available on request