| abstract |
The invention describes an improved heat-sensitive recording material comprising a substrate having coated thereon a thermally-sensitive color-forming composition in one or more layers. The thermally sensitive color forming composition comprises a chromgenic dye precursor, an acidic developer material and a first binder material, and at least one protective layer comprising a dimer form of benzotriazole, namely, 2,2′-methylenebis(6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol) dispersed in a second binder material, wherein the first binder material and the second binder material can be the same or different. Preferably 2,2′-methylenebis(6-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol) is dispersed in both the protective layer and the thermally sensitive color forming layer or layers. The thermally sensitive record material is remarkably resistant to scuffing, has a high degree of background whiteness, is resistant to printhead dusting and is remarkably resistant to fade as compared to other systems with other UV absorbers. The dimer form surprisingly contributes to a significant increase in coating hardness, reduced scuffing, reduced printhead contamination and dramatically increased resistance to fade as compared to the benzotriazoles taught in the art for record material applications. |