Will the color of colored thermal label paper fade after printing?

There is indeed a possibility of color fading after printing on colored thermal label paper. This is mainly because the color reaction of thermal paper is reversible, and colored products will decompose to varying degrees on their own, causing the color of handwriting or images to gradually fade. The following is a detailed analysis of the color fading phenomenon after printing on colored thermal label paper:

1、 Reason for fading

Reversibility of chemical reactions: The color development of thermal paper is based on the chemical reaction between colorless dyes and color developing agents. However, this reaction is reversible, meaning that colored products will decompose to varying degrees on their own after prolonged storage or exposure to specific environmental conditions such as light, high temperature, humidity, etc., leading to color fading.

Environmental conditions impact:

Light exposure: Prolonged exposure to strong light can accelerate the decomposition of chemicals in the thermosensitive coating, leading to color fading.

Temperature: High temperature environments can also accelerate chemical reactions, causing colors to fade faster.

Humidity: A humid environment may cause hydrolysis or other chemical reactions of chemicals in thermal sensitive coatings, thereby affecting the stability of color.

Exposure to chemical substances: Certain chemicals, such as plasticizers, may damage dye molecules in thermal sensitive coatings, leading to color fading.

2、 Methods to slow down fading

Choose a suitable environment: Store colored thermal label paper in a cool, dry, and dark environment to reduce the impact of environmental factors on color stability.

Avoid contact with chemicals: Try to avoid exposing colored thermal label paper to items containing plasticizers or other chemicals to prevent damage to dye molecules.

Use protective coating: Some high-quality colored thermal label paper may have a protective coating that can slow down the fading rate and extend the shelf life of the label.

Using other printing techniques: If long-term storage of printed content is required, other printing techniques such as thermal transfer printing (carbon tape printing) can be considered. The content printed by this technique has a longer storage time and can withstand high and low temperature environments.

3、 Precautions

Understanding product characteristics: When purchasing colored thermal label paper, it is important to understand its characteristics, storage conditions, and expected storage time in order to select the appropriate product.

Test samples: Before extensive use, some samples can be printed for testing to evaluate their fading speed and durability.

Reasonable storage: Ensure that colored thermal label paper is not affected by adverse factors such as direct sunlight, high temperature, and humidity during storage.

In summary, there is indeed a possibility of color fading after printing on colored thermal label paper. However, by choosing a suitable environment, avoiding contact with chemicals, using protective coatings, and adopting other printing techniques, the fading rate can be slowed down and the shelf life of the label can be extended.