Due to their fast and ink-free printing characteristic, thermal papers are widely used in everyday life. Uses include retail stores, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, credit/debit card machines, couriers, warehouses, weight slips, product labels, etc
If you run a business, there is a high chance you will issue receipts to your customers daily. Issuing quality receipts is important for a win-win situation. There are many different types of print paper available for various applications. This article is a full guide about what is thermal paper?, how we measure it?, it’s uses, how to buy?, composition, differences and beyond.
What is Thermal Paper?
Thermal Paper can be defined as a special type of paper that changes color when heated due to the coated material on it. Thermal Paper is coated with such chemicals and dyes that give black or some other color upon reacting with heat.
Uses of Thermal Paper
Thermal Papers are used in Thermal Printers. Due to their characteristic of fast and ink-free printing, these are widely used in different industries. Following are some of their uses depending on the industry.
- Receipts and Billing Systems
- Banking and Financial Services
- Logistics and Transport
- Healthcare and Medical Devices
- Gaming and Entertainment
- Office and Industrial Uses
Receipts and Billing Systems
To generate receipts, Thermal Paper is used in retail stores, restaurants, and gas stations.
Banking and Financial Services
In banking and Financial Services, Thermal Paper is used in ATMs and Credit/Debit Card Machines for issuing payment slips for customers.
Logistics and Transport
In the logistics and transport industry, Thermal Paper is used by couriers and warehouses for barcodes, tracking numbers, and address labels.
Healthcare and Medical Devices
In the Healthcare and Medical Industries, Thermal Paper is used in ECG Machines, and for generating Lab reports and pharmacy labels.
Gaming and Entertainment
In the Gaming and Entertainment Industry, Thermal Paper is widely used for printing lottery tickets, and in Arcade Machines for printing prize vouchers.
Office and Industrial Uses
In offices and different industries, Thermal Paper is used for printing weight slips and for labelling products.
Mechanism of Action
Everyone wonders about how images or anything can be printed on Thermal Paper due to the heat instead of the usage of ink. So, the following is the mechanism of the action of how the chemical coating on thermal Paper reacts with heat.
- First of all, everyone must know that all Thermal printers have heads that contain tiny heating elements.
- On operating, Thermal Printers provide heat to specific points on the paper.
- Then, upon heating, the chemicals and dyes in the Active Layer of the Thermal Paper react with heat and produce either black or some other color.
In this way, images and texts have appeared on Thermal Papers, and due to the simplicity of the mechanism, Thermal Printers are both cost-effective and widely used in various industries.
How to Make Difference Between Thermal Paper and Regular Paper
To identify the Thermal Paper and highlight its difference from Regular Paper. The following tests might be considered to be taken:
- Scratch Test (Fingernail or Coin Test)
- Heat Test
- Texture and Appearance Check Test
- Water Test(Absorption Check)
- Light Test
Scratch Test (Fingernail or Coin Test)
To identify the Thermal Paper as compared to Regular Paper, scratch the surface of the paper either with a finger or coin. If it is Thermal Paper, then it leaves a black or dark mark due to the heat-sensitive coating on it.
Heat Test
Thermal Paper can also be identified by the Heat Test. For this purpose, expose both papers to some heat source, like a lighter or hairdryer. The paper that starts to turn black or brown is the Thermal Paper.
Texture and Appearance Check Test
Thermal Paper can also be identified by the Texture and Appearance check test. Thermal Paper always gives the smooth texture feelings, while Regular Paper gives the rougher texture feelings.
Water Test (Absorption Check)
If you drop a small amount of water on both papers. Then, water may resist absorption in the case of Thermal paper. In the case of Regular paper, water absorbs more quickly and evenly.
Light Test
Examine both papers with a proper Light source. Usually, due to heat-sensitive coating, Thermal Paper has only one smoother and shinner side. While Regular Paper has both sides almost the same texture.
Thermal Paper Composition
Thermal Paper is composed of different types of dyes, acid developers, binders, and additives. All these chemicals together make the paper heat-sensitive. Following is a brief description of different compositional layers of thermal paper.
Base Layer
The base layer is just the paper, typically composed of wood pulp or recycled paper. The base layer gives the necessary structural integrity to the Paper.
Coating Layer
The coating layer usually contains heat-sensitive dyes such as Leuco Dyes, and acid color developers. Both the dyes and acid color develop together upon reacting with heat giving the color.
The coating layer also contains the binders, that hold the dye and developer onto the paper surface, so that the dye and acid color developer adhere well during the printing process.
Protective Layer
Some thermal paper has a protective layer, which acts as a protective coating. Protective Layer ensures the longevity of paper by protecting it from different environmental factors such as moisture and UV light.
How to Measure Thermal Paper Roll Size?
Before purchasing, you must be fairly familiar with what Thermal Paper Roll size you require according to your usage purposes. For this purpose, if you know your printer model, then just Google the Printer Model and you will get the size you need.
However, if you do not know the Printer Model then you can also determine the Paper Roll size by taking the following measurements.
Measure the Width of the Paper Roll
To determine the desired Paper Roll size, the width of the roll can be measured by measuring across the face of the roll from one side to the other side.
Usually, the width of the Paper Roll measures in Millimeters(mm) or inches(in). Paper Roll with an 80mm width might be best for POS systems, while Paper Roll with a 57mm width is commonly in use for credit card machines.
Measure the Outer Diameter of the Roll
Measurement of the Outer Diameter of the roll can also give the desired Paper Roll size. To determine the Outer diameter, measure from edge to edge of the Thermal Paper Roll.
Usually, the diameter of a Thermal Paper Roll measures in Millimeters(mm) or Inches (in). Paper Rolls with the diameter of 50mm, 70 mm, or 3 inches are common in use.
Measure Core Size of the Roll (Inner Diameter)
Measure the diameter of the tube on which the Thermal Paper wound, Usually, the Core Size of the roll measures in Millimeters (mm) or inches(in).
Thermal Rolls with core sizes of 12mm, 25mm, or 1 inch are common in use for different purposes, and almost in all industries.
Measure the Paper Length of the Roll
Paper Roll Size can also be determined by measuring the Paper Length. For this purpose, either you must read the product specifications or at least you must know the thickness of the paper.
If you know the thickness of the Paper, then you can determine the Paper length by using the following formula.
L= Π × (D2 – d2 )/4 × T
L = length of the paper in meters
D= Outer Diameter of the roll
d= Inner Core Diameter
T= Thickness of the Paper (usually provided by the manufacturers)
For example, if a Paper Roll has 80mm Width, with 60mm Diameter, and 12mm Core Size, then the Roll Size would be 80mm×60mm×12mm.
How to Buy Good Quality Thermal Paper Rolls?
To buy good-quality Thermal Paper Rolls, consider the following factors before purchase. These factors might help you in buying the best quality product according to your needs.
- Know your Needs
- Research Suppliers
- Check the Quality of Thermal Paper
- Compare Prices
- Look for Certifications
- Test before Committing
- Consider Brand Reputation
- Keep an Eye on Return Policies
Know your Needs
First of all, know your needs what size of thermal paper you need and for what purpose. They are easily available in common sizes of 2 ¼ inches and 3 ⅛ inches in width with various lengths. They are used for POS systems, receipts, and labels, as different applications may require specific types of paper.
Research Suppliers
After that, research for
- local suppliers to buy locally and to save shipping costs,
- online retailers to select between a wide range of variety and competitive prices,
- bulk suppliers to buy in bulk and to save money.
Check the Quality of Thermal Paper
Then, check the quality of the paper. Usually, thicker papers with protective coating are more durable and offer more longevity and print clarity.
Compare Prices
After the quality check, compare the prices of the Thermal Paper Rolls that suppliers offer. Also estimate the shipping or delivery charges, so you can purchase good products according to your budget.
Look for Certifications
For health purposes and for environmental safety, ensure that your selected product must be free of harmful chemicals and must be made from recycled materials. Along with it, your selected product must be FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council) for Environmental sustainability purposes.
Test before Committing
If possible, request samples from suppliers or place a small order to check compatibility with your printer and evaluate the quality and performance of the product before purchasing.
Consider Brand Reputation
Always think about purchasing from well-known and trusted brands that have good customer reviews and ratings to gauge overall satisfaction.
Keep an Eye on Return Policies
Before final purchasing, carefully check if the supplier has a return policy so that if the paper does not meet your expectations, you can easily return the product.
Toxicity of Thermal Paper and Preventions to Minimize its Effects (H2)
Bulk use of Thermal Paper in daily life for different purposes is considered safe. However, Bisphenol A(BPA) or its alternative Bisphenol S (BPS) may be one of its main composition ingredients.
BPA and BPS are mainly used for the coating of Thermal Paper. But both of these have negative health effects. For example, they both act as endocrine disruptors and cause major reproductive problems and cancers. However, to prevent health risks, take some precautions while usage of Thermal Paper such as limiting your handling, washing your hands after interacting, wearing gloves while interacting, always choosing BPA-free paper, minimizing heat sources, and proper disposal of paper after use.
Conclusion
So now you are aware of what is thermal paper and what impact it has on daily life. Hence, Thermal Paper is best for use in all industries for different purposes due to its fast printing capability and cost-effectiveness. However, make sure that your selected thermal paper must be free from any hazardous material such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternative Bisphenol S (BPS).