What is the production process of colored thermal label paper?

The production process of colored thermal label paper is a complex and delicate process, mainly including the following steps:

1、 Paper based selection

The bottom layer of colored thermal label paper is the paper base, usually using high-quality paper with a certain thickness and strength as the substrate to ensure stability and durability during the printing process. The quality of paper-based materials directly affects the adhesion and printing effect of subsequent coatings.

2、 Preparation and coating of thermosensitive coating

Thermal sensitive coating composition: Thermal sensitive coatings are mainly composed of thermal sensitive pigments (such as colorless dyes, phenols or other acidic substances), polymers, and other additives. These components can undergo chemical reactions under heating conditions, releasing colors. Polymers play a role in adhering thermosensitive pigments to paper substrates.

Coating process: Use a roller or other coating equipment to evenly apply thermal sensitive coating onto the paper substrate. During the coating process, it is necessary to strictly control the thickness and uniformity of the coating to ensure printing quality. For colored thermal label paper, it is also necessary to add colored pigments or dyes to the coating to achieve a color printing effect.

3、 Drying and solidification

After coating, the paper needs to undergo drying and curing treatment to ensure that the coating firmly adheres to the paper and achieves the best printing effect. There are various drying methods, including airflow drying under low temperature conditions and rapid drying using ultraviolet lamps. The drying process not only helps to remove moisture, but also ensures the gloss and smoothness of the coating.

4、 Protective layer coating (optional)

In order to improve the durability and adhesion of thermal label paper, sometimes an additional protective layer is applied on top of the thermal coating. The protective layer can absorb some of the light that causes chemical reactions in the thermal sensitive coating, slow down the deterioration of the printing paper, and protect the thermal sensitive components of the printer from damage. The coating and drying method of the protective layer is similar to the production of thermosensitive coatings.

5、 Cutting and packaging

Slitting: Cut the coated and dried thermal label paper according to the required specifications to form single sheet or roll label paper. The slitting process requires strict control of slitting accuracy and edge quality.

Packaging: Pack the cut thermal label paper to prevent moisture, contamination, and damage. The packaging material is usually moisture-proof paper or plastic film, and is labeled with relevant product information and usage instructions.

6、 Quality inspection

Throughout the entire production process, strict quality testing is required for raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products to ensure that the quality of thermal label paper meets standards and customer requirements. The testing content includes the flatness of the paper, the uniformity of the coating, the printing effect, and durability.

In summary, the production process of colored thermal label paper involves multiple links and steps, and strict control of each link is required to ensure product quality. By continuously optimizing production processes and technological means, the performance of colored thermal label paper can be further improved and costs can be reduced to meet the diverse needs of the market.