Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Book
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DIRECT THERMAL AND THERMAL TRANSFER BOOK Labeling a smarter future. Find the right solution for your brand at upmraflatac.com CONTENTS Variable Information Printing DIRECT THERMAL (DT) Thermal Transfer (TTR) and Direct Thermal (DT) are part of Variable Information Printing (VIP). In VIP, information can be 3 AN INTRODUCTION changed from one printed piece to the next without slowing TO DIRECT THERMAL down the printing process. With pressure sensitive labels, VIP 4 DT TECHNOLOGY printing is usually done at the point of applying the label on the substrate. Prior to VIP printing, the labels can be pre-printed with 5 THERMAL PAPERS AND SENSITIVITY a logo or with a Prime labeling type of multi-color layout. UPM Raflatac is one of the global leaders in VIP 6 THE DIRECT THERMAL business. We are part of UPM, the frontrunner in the PRODUCT RANGE new Biofore segment that combines the expertise and 8 DIRECT THERMAL AND technologies of the bio and forest industries. Our technological PRE-PRINTED PRESS INKS leadership sets new standards for the entire industry: efficiency, ecology and economy. We are constantly innovating for new 8 STORAGE AND HANDLING RECOMMENDATIONS and improved labeling products to cater for our customers’ needs for higher performance materials with unrivalled visual appeal. UPM Raflatac is known for its high quality products THERMAL TRANFER (TTR) with sustainable lifecycles and excellence in customer service. 9 AN INTRODUCTION TO THERMAL TRANSFER THE APPLICATIONS 10 TTR TECHNOLOGY Direct Thermal printing is mainly used in the Retail end-use area, but also in Logistics and Food. In these end-uses, the shelf-life 11 THE THERMAL TRANSFER of print is usually relatively short, even though there are also PRODUCT RANGE special thermal grades for longer print durability. In Retail, the most common applications are in fresh service counters, especially self-service weigh price labeling, but also in backroom meat labeling. The main benefits of DT are easy and relatively cost competitive printing and scanning equipment, since label is the only consumable used. It is also possible to reach good quality bar codes with high speed. TTR is mainly used in different logistics and food segment applications where longer print life or higher durability is required. UPM Raflatac offers a wide range of face materials for both DT and TTR, ranging from short shelf-life labels to applications requiring high durability and print speed. Both printing methods are relatively mature but market volumes are growing thanks to growth in retail and manufacturing, the trend towards smaller packages as labels do not shrink in proportion, internet and home shopping, and limited threat from other labeling technologies. 2 AN INTRODUCTION TO DIRECT THERMAL Because labels printed by direct thermal have a comparatively short the printed image against chemicals, water and abrasion lifespan due to the way the image tends to fade over time, the main is limited. The thermal layer on papers with a single coat is end-use areas for labels printed by direct thermal are service counter protected on the printed side of the label to provide higher and self-service price labeling, backroom weight-price labeling in image stability and good scratch resistance. Thermal papers retail, industrial shipping & logistics applications as well as automatic with a barrier coat on both sides provide even greater image labeling in food industry. stability and resistance to water, plasticizers and oil, for example. The second coat also prevents substances migrating Direct thermal papers are classified into three main categories, up through the reverse side of the label. Even so, it should be Eco, barrier-coated on one side and barrier-coated on both sides. remembered that printed thermal papers with a barrier coat The thermal layer on Eco papers is unprotected, and the stability of on both sides still have a limited lifespan. 3 DT Technology ECO OR BARRIER-COATED? HOW IT WORKS Direct thermal products derive their functionality from thermochromism, which ECO describes the ability of a substance to alter in • No topcoat colour due to a change in temperature. • No resistance to plasticizers, oil or water • No scratch resistance The thermal layer in most of direct thermal • Recommended for short life in a safe products contains three main components: environment a colourless dye (colour former), an acidic material (colour developer) and a sensitizer. Thermal coat Various quantities of pigments, binders and additives are also included. Base paper Thermal head ONE-SIDE COATED • Barrier-coated on topside • High bar-code scratch resistance Heat • Good image stability Image • Recommended for logistic labels Top barrier Backing roll Thermal coat Base paper Thermal paper TWO-SIDES COATED Thermal print head generates heat energy • Barrier-coated on top and reverse side which cause melting of colour former and • Smudgeproof developer, consequently colourless dye is • Resists plasticizers, oil and water protonated by the developer and cause • Good scratch resistance pH-change of the dye. This pH-decrease • Well protected against chemical and forms colour change of the dye (e.g. black). mechanical stress and high humidity This reaction is reversible, so the printed image can fade or totally disappear due to Top barrier exposure to water, light, oil, plasticizers and solvents. Thermal coat Base paper Reverse-side barrier 4 THERMAL PAPERS AND SENSITIVITY The sensitivity of a direct thermal paper is a key influence on the speed at which it can be printed and the quality of the image. There are two types of sensitivity: static and dynamic. In general it can be said that an optimum thermal paper has low static sensitivity coupled with high dynamic sensitivity. STATIC SENSITIVITY DYNAMIC SENSITIVITY Static sensitivity indicates the temperature at which the thermal coating Dynamic sensitivity defines the reaction speed of the thermal material starts to react, and this influences both the heat resistance and the when printed. A high printing speed means that less heat energy is resolution of the printed image. Low static sensitivity prevents a supplied by the print head, in which case the thermal paper must premature reaction of the thermal layer during label converting and have high dynamic sensitivity to generate a good optical image makes it possible to use the printed labels in a warm environment. Low density. UPM Raflatac defines high-speed printing as above 200 static sensitivity also prevents an undesirable reaction in the thermal mm/s. Dynamic sensitivity of the thermal material is the most important coating during the cooling stage of each printing pulse, ensuring a technical characteristic in direct thermal printing. crisp image for trouble-free scanning and reading. 2,02,0 2,02,0 1,81,8 1,81,8 1,61,6 1,61,6 1,41,4 1,41,4 1,21,2 1,21,2 1,01,0 1,01,0 0,80,8 0,80,8 0,60,6 0,60,6 0,40,4 0,40,4 0,20,2 0,20,2 Optical density 0,00,0 0,00,0 60 70 80 90 100 11 0 120 13 0 140 150 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Temperature (°C) Head energy (mJ/mm2) Thermal Top Logistics NXT+PEFC Thermal Top Food NXT+PEFC Thermal Eco BPA-Free NXT+FSC 5 THE DIRECT THERMAL PRODUCT RANGE ECO PRODUCTS TOP-COATED PRODUCTS Products for short-life information THERMAL ECO TP FREE NXT+FSC Products for dry environment labeling in dry environments, with Next generation total phenol-free non top- applications requiring good bar limited resistance to scratching and coated paper with a high sensitivity thermal code scratch resistance to coating. Produced without phenol-based smudging. guarantee excellent scanning chemistry. For information labeling in dry environments such as price marking and other properties , in end-use areas RETAIL ECO BPA FREE NXT+FSC short-life retail and logistics end-uses. Verified including retail and logistics. Pre- A non top-coated thermal paper with as positive climate action. printable with all conventional standard sensitivity. For retail labeling in short printing methods. life applications requiring standard dynamic THERMAL ECO BPA FREE-FSC sensitivity. Optimal performance in weigh- A non top-coated paper with a high price scale and retail backroom labeling. sensitivity thermal coating. Produced without THERMAL TOP LOGISTICS NXT+FSC Verified as positive climate action. BPA-based chemistry. For information labeling Top side barrier coated paper with a in dry environments such as price marking standard sensitivity thermal coating. Verified RETAIL ECO TP FREE NXT+FSC and other short-life retail and logistics end- as positive climate action. Next generation total phenol-free non uses. top-coated thermal paper with standard THERMAL TOP 200-FSC sensitivity. For retail labeling in short life THERMAL ECO TP FREE-FSC Top side barrier coated paper with a applications requiring standard dynamic A non top-coated paper with a high standard sensitivity thermal coating. sensitivity. Optimal performance in weigh- sensitivity thermal coating. Produced without price scale and retail backroom labeling. phenol-based chemistry. For information THERMALITE TOP 200-FSC Verified as positive climate action. labeling in dry environments such as price A thin, top side barrier coated paper with marking and other short-life retail and logistics standard sensitivity thermal coating designed THERMAL ECO BPA FREE NXT+FSC end-uses. for retail, logistics and transport applications. A non top-coated thermal paper with standard sensitivity. For retail and logistics THERMALITE TOP OPAQUE BLACK labeling in short life applications requiring 200-FSC standard dynamic sensitivity. Verified as A thin, top side barrier coated paper positive climate action. with standard sensitivity thermal coating designed for information labeling and retail applications where high opacity is needed to cover un-wanted information.