What is Thermal Paper???

Thermal paper is a special type of paper coated with a heat-sensitive chemical that turns black when exposed to heat from a thermal printer. This process creates images or text without the need for ink or toner, making it a cost-effective and fast solution for high-volume printing needs like receipts, shipping labels, and tickets. 

How it works

A thermal printer uses a heated print head to selectively warm the paper's coating.

The heat triggers a chemical reaction in the coating, which consists of dyes and activators that change color to create the desired image or text.

The print head's dots heat up and cool down very quickly to imprint dots onto the paper. 

Common uses

Point-of-sale (POS) receipts

Shipping and barcode labels

Tickets for events or transportation

Medical charts and wristbands

Kiosk and ATM receipts 

Advantages

Inkless: No need for ink cartridges or toner, which reduces ongoing costs.

Speed: Prints quickly, making it ideal for high-volume transactions.

Efficiency: Reduces maintenance because there are fewer components to replace or clean.

Clarity: Produces sharp, clear, and legible prints. 

Disadvantages

Fading: The printed image can fade over time, especially when exposed to heat, light, or chemicals.

Durability: Not ideal for documents that need to be preserved for a very long time without proper storage.

Chemicals: Some older or cheaper thermal papers contain chemicals like BPA or BPS, although BPA-free options are now widely available.