{"id":1639,"date":"2020-12-29T05:30:54","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T05:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gorillaoutput.com\/?p=1639"},"modified":"2020-12-30T03:41:27","modified_gmt":"2020-12-30T03:41:27","slug":"what-is-receipt-paper-made-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gorillaoutput.com\/what-is-receipt-paper-made-of\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Receipt Paper Made Of?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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This article talks extensively about what receipt paper is made of. Many people who use thermal receipt papers often wonder about its composition. Our team has examined several brands of thermal receipt papers, and in this post, we will give you all the details about what they are made of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is receipt paper made of? Thermal paper rolls often called receipt papers, are made of a substrate layer which is plain paper, and layers of special coating. The printable surface of thermal receipt papers has a pre-coat layer and a thermal layer. Other than these, some thermal receipt papers have protective coatings on either surface of the paper. This means that thermal papers have a base paper layer coated with two to four chemical layers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you read on we will briefly explain each of the layers of receipt papers. We will also look more closely at the thermal layer and what it contains. Read on to find out more about the composition of receipt papers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image by Ioannis Karathanasis<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What Are The Layers of Thermal Receipt Papers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The layers of thermal receipt papers are usually between three and five depending on the type. The three primary layers of a receipt paper are the substrate layer, the thermal layer, and the pre-coat layer that joins the thermal layer to the substrate layer. The substrate layer is made up of plain paper while the thermal layer contains the heat-sensitive ink pigments that create imprints on the paper. Aside from these three primary layers, some thermal receipt papers also have a top coat and reverse coat for additional protection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at each of these five layers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Substrate Layer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The substrate layer is where the life of a receipt paper begins. This layer is made up of the paper material itself, which is often a product of wood pulp. It is the fundamental layer that carries all the other coatings of the receipt paper. The base sheet or substrate layer of receipt papers varies in density from one product to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-coat Layer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This layer, also called the \u201cbase coat\u201d, functions like a primer that seals the substrate. It fills up every space between the surface fibers of the substrate paper and provides an even surface for the active thermal coating to stay on. This layer also absorbs activated dye pigments after printing, thus stabilizing the printed receipt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, without this layer, the melted dye will stick to the printhead of your thermal printer and may damage it. But by absorbing the activated dye pigments, the pre-coat layer prevents this from happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thermal Coat Layer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The thermal coat layer is also known as the \u201cActive Coat\u201d layer of the thermal paper<\/a>. This layer is the one responsible for creating imprints on the thermal paper upon heat application. It contains colorless heat-sensitive dye pigments that change color as a response to heat application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This layer contains two major substances \u2013 leuco dye crystals and color developers. These two substances are usually separated by a solid solvent. But some thermal papers hide the dye crystals in a microcapsule to prevent them from mixing with the color developer (usually BPA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon the application of heat during printing, heat will either melt the solid solvent or burst the microcapsule, as the case may be. This allows the dye crystals to react with the color developer and create black or blue imprints on the receipt paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top Coat Layer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This layer is made up of clear PVA<\/a>. It seals the thermal coat layer and protects it from environmental elements. While this layer is optional, receipt papers that have it often last longer and can hold up to harsh elements, such as water and chemicals, and stressed environments better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reverse Coat Layer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The reverse coat is the optional layer of coating that some manufacturers apply to the back surface of their receipt paper. It adds more protection to the image printed on the receipt paper<\/a>. Thermal labels with a synthetic base, such as polypropylene, have an anti-static reverse coat. The anti-static coat can draw or generate static and break down electronic components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Video – Thermal Paper – Chemistry in Everyday Life I<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This video was created by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to explain the chemistry behind thermal paper receipts to their first-year chemistry students. The video shows and describes the different layers of thermal papers and explains how they interact to generate imprints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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