Thermal paper is not like regular plain paper. There is a special coating over the thermal paper which allows it to change colors when heat is applied. Purpose of protective top coating:
- It mainly prevents the image from exposure to UV light, water and grease.
- It also proves to be an improved print head.
- It even eliminates all kinds of residues and impurities from the thermal print head.
Thermal papers are sometimes coated by a chemical named Bisphenol A (BPA) which is endocrine disruptor. It can even pollute recycled paper and could easily enter the skin, usually in tiny amounts. For this reason, thermal papers coated with this type of chemical are considered hazardous for human health. If you hold such thermal papers with greasy or wet hands, the chemical tends to enter tour skin faster. Regular exposure to thermal receipts or thermal cash registers for about 10 hours daily is a very big health concern.
Advantages of Thermal Papers
Printing on thermal papers produces high definition images. Thermal printing plays a very important role in medical and health care field as these printouts play important role in ultrasounds. Thermal papers are also used as point-of-sale applications, like ATM, and grocery stores etc. Basically thermal printing is used to get accurate values and larger number of prints so it is mainly used in ticketing agencies as well as lottery systems. The images produced from thermal printing on thermal papers are mostly very speedy and reliable. As compared to all the other kinds of printers thermal printers are much faster and reliable. The images produced from thermal printing are very clearer and brighter. And the thermal printers have the ability to print top quality bar code scans on thermal receipts. This makes returns and exchange very much easier for the customers and the retailers. Also this is extremely vital in stopping shoplifting or making fake receipts.
Thermal printers prevents smudging and fading. Thermal papers are very reliable and durable. Thermal printing is always time saving. Thermal printing is a very quality printing. The printing is done by a specially designed printer which includes bar code printers. Thermal printing is done on a special type of paper which is called thermo chromic paper. Thermal printers use heat sensitive ribbons. It comprises of many other components like thermal head, platen, springs and controller boards. Thermal printing is of two types, direct thermal and thermal transfer printing. Both of them use thermal print head. Thermal printers are also quieter and very much comfortable. These thermal printers are portable and very comfortable.
Thermal papers are considered vital if used in devices like cash registers, adding machines, and others like credit card terminals. Thermal Printing is widely used in light weight devices and comparatively less expensive devices also. Thermal Printing also contributes less to noise pollution. As there are less moving parts involved in thermal printers they rarely get jammed as well as are less likely to get damaged as compared to other printers. If quality and durability are your first priorities, better always go for thermal papers!
