Understand the working principle and manufacturing process of thermal paper

Whether in our daily life or in the business field, we are often exposed to printers and thermal paper. However, what is less known is that thermal paper has a unique working principle and delicate manufacturing process.
This article explains how thermal paper works and how it is manufactured, giving the reader an in-depth understanding of this common and important material.

1. Working principle
Thermal paper is a special material that produces images or text when heated. Its working principle is based on thermal printing technology. When the printer’s thermal head heats up, the photosensitive layer on the thermal paper begins to change.
The photosensitive layer is usually composed of two main components: a thermosensitive chromophore and a developer. A thermochromophore is a substance that changes color when heated, and a developer enables the thermochromophore to undergo a color reaction. When the printer’s thermal head heats up, the thermal energy causes the thermochrome to become colored. Developers, on the other hand, work by absorbing and diffusing heat energy to make the color richer and last longer.

The control circuit in the printer will heat the thermal head precisely according to the content to be printed, so as to realize the formation of text or images on thermal paper. Due to its simple and effective working principle, thermal paper is widely used in fields such as receipt printing, label printing, and portable printing equipment.

2. Manufacturing process
The manufacturing process of thermal paper is relatively complicated and needs to go through multiple steps and processes. The following is the main manufacturing process of thermal paper:
1. Photosensitive layer coating: First, the photosensitive layer material is evenly coated on the substrate paper by solvent mixing technology. This coating process is very critical, it determines the final printing effect of thermal paper.
2. Drying: After the coating is completed, send the thermal paper into the drying oven and dry it at an appropriate temperature. The purpose of this step is to remove the solvent and increase the stability of the paper.
3. Cutting and winding: After drying, the thermal paper is cut into suitable size and rolled into a paper tray for subsequent use.
4. Packaging and quality inspection: Finally, the thermal paper is packed after quality inspection. This step guarantees the quality of the thermal paper and extends its useful life.

Thermal paper plays an important role in modern printing technology, and its working principle is simple and efficient. By understanding the working principle and manufacturing process of thermal paper, we can better use and choose suitable products. Whether for commercial applications or personal use, understanding thermal paper will help improve printing results and save resources.