How long is the shelf life of color thermal label paper?

The shelf life of color thermal label paper is not a fixed time, it is affected by a variety of factors, including the quality of thermal paper, storage conditions and environmental factors. The following is a detailed analysis of the shelf life and related factors of color thermal label paper:

First, the impact of thermal paper quality

High-quality thermal paper: Some high-quality color thermal label paper claims that it can be stored for a long time, and some can reach more than 30 years. This type of paper usually has a uniform heat-sensitive coating and protective layer that slows down the chemical reactions caused by light, thus extending the shelf life.

Poor quality thermal paper: If the coating of thermal paper is uneven or poor quality, it may lead to poor printing results and reduce storage time. Poor quality thermal paper may only last a few months or less.

Second, the impact of storage conditions

Temperature: The shelf life of thermal paper is closely related to the ambient temperature. If placed in direct sunlight and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, the life of thermal paper may be limited to about ten days. It is feasible to keep it in a cool place for about a year. Therefore, it is recommended to store thermal paper in an environment that avoids direct sunlight, moisture, sun protection, high temperature and ultra-low temperature.

Humidity: Thermal paper is based on the principle of chemical color development, the thermal paper will speed up the fading after moisture, and the moisture will decompose the chemical composition of the thermal paper color. Therefore, maintaining the appropriate humidity is also an important factor in extending the shelf life of thermal paper.

Packaging and sealing: the label should have an outer packaging, it is recommended that plastic film sealed packaging, each time after use to seal the package again, so as to provide better storage conditions for the label.

Third, other precautions

Avoid prolonged contact with air: The oxidation function of air will also destroy the protective coating of thermal paper, so the contact time between thermal paper and air should be minimized.

Choose the right printer and consumables: If you need long-term labels or documents, but do not want to use traditional laser, inkjet and other large printers, thermal transfer label/printer is also a good choice. Heat transfer label writing is not easy to be affected by the outside world, with sun fast (anti-ultraviolet), waterproof, oil, scratch, high and low temperature resistance and other excellent performance, conventional storage 8-10 years, the longest can even be stored for more than 20 years.

In summary, the shelf life of color thermal label paper varies due to many factors such as quality and storage conditions. In order to extend its storage time, it is recommended to choose high quality thermal paper and store it properly under suitable storage conditions. At the same time, you can also consider the use of thermal transfer printers and other printing solutions that are more suitable for long-term storage.