Thermal paper is a specialized fine paper coated with a heat-sensitive chemical layer that changes color—typically to black, blue, or red—when exposed to heat from a thermal printer head. It requires no ink, toner, or ribbons to print.
Key Features & Specifications
• Printing Technology: Direct thermal (activates via heated printhead dots).
• Paper Structure: Wood-free or synthetic base layer, a pre-coat, a thermal coating (leuco dyes like ODB-2 and developers like BPA/BPS or phenol-free alternatives), and often a protective topcoat.
• Common Roll Sizes:
• 57mm x 38mm / 57mm x 40mm / 57mm x 50mm (handheld POS terminals, credit card machines, mobile printers)
• 80mm x 80mm (standard receipt and cash register printers)