What are the steps of the production process of color thermal label paper?

The production process of color thermal label paper involves a number of complex and delicate steps, and the following is a general production process:

First, raw material preparation

Paper base selection: The bottom layer of color thermal label paper is a paper base, and high-quality paper with a certain thickness and strength is usually selected as the base material. This is to ensure that during the printing process, the paper can maintain stability and durability, so as to meet the needs of various application scenarios.

Thermal coating materials: Thermal coating is a key part of thermal paper, mainly composed of thermal pigments (such as colorless dyes, phenols or other acidic substances), polymers and other additives. These components can undergo chemical reactions when exposed to heat, thereby releasing color. Among them, colorless dyes are the key components in the heat-sensitive coating, which can react with the color developer when heated to produce a variety of colors.

Additives and functional fillers: Add functional fillers as needed, such as pigments, dyes, etc., to give the paper a specific color and functional characteristics. At the same time, additives such as antioxidants, lubricants, fluorescent whitening agents, titanium dioxide are also added to improve the processing performance of the paper and the performance of the final product.

Second, coating and drying

Coating process: Coating the prepared thermal sensitive coating evenly on the base paper is an important step in the production process of thermal sensitive paper. This step requires precise control of the thickness and uniformity of the coating to ensure consistent print results. Typically, manufacturers use rollers or other coating equipment to complete this process.

Drying treatment: After coating is completed, the paper needs to be dried and cured to make the coating firmly attached to the paper and achieve the best printing effect. There are a variety of drying methods, including air drying at low temperatures and rapid drying using ultraviolet lamps. These drying methods not only help to remove moisture from the coating, but also ensure the gloss and flatness of the coating.

Third, follow-up treatment

Protective coating: In order to improve the durability and adhesion of thermal paper, a protective layer is sometimes covered on the thermal coating. The protective layer can absorb some of the light that causes the chemical reaction of the thermal coating, slowing the deterioration of the printing paper, while protecting the thermal components of the printer from damage.

Slitting and packaging: Dried and cured paper needs to be slitted according to the desired size. The cutting precision and edge quality should be strictly controlled in the scuttling process. After the slitting is completed, the thermal paper is packed to protect the thermal paper from damage. Packaging is usually in cartons or plastic bags.

Fourth, quality inspection

In the entire production process, it is necessary to carry out strict quality testing on raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products to ensure that the quality of thermal paper meets the standards and customer requirements. The test content includes the flatness of the paper, the uniformity of the coating, the printing effect and the durability.

Fifth, special process (for color thermal label paper)

For color thermal label paper, additional process steps may also be required to achieve the color effect. For example, color printing can be achieved by adding different colors of dyes or pigments to the heat-sensitive coating; Or use multi-layer coating technology, which superimposes different colors of heat-sensitive coatings to produce rich color effects.

In summary, the production process of color thermal label paper is a complex and fine process, which requires strict control of all aspects to ensure product quality. By continuously optimizing the production process and technical means, the performance of thermal paper can be further improved and the cost can be reduced to meet the diversified needs of the market.