Thermal paper is impregnated with a chemical that changes color when exposed to heat.

Thermal paper is impregnated with a chemical that changes color when exposed to heat. It is used in thermal printers and particularly in cheap, lightweight devices such as adding machines, cash registers, and credit card terminals.

The paper is impregnated with a solid-state mixture of a dye and a suitable matrix; a combination of a fluoran leuco dye and an octadecylphosphonic acid is an example. When the matrix is heated above its melting point, the dye reacts with the acid, shifts to its colored form, and the changed form is then conserved in metastable state when the matrix solidifies back quickly enough.

Thermal paper is cleaner than your standard ink, produces a crisper resolution, and is ultimately cheaper. Though thermal paper used to be considerably more expensive, the price has come down in recent years, thanks in part to better technology that allows its manufacturers to produce it at a more reasonable cost. Moreover, a thermal paper roll is quieter than bond paper, which is an added bonus for any shopper at the end of a long day.

Appleton uses ideas that make a difference to create product solutions through its development and use of coating formulations and applications, encapsulation technology, and specialized and secure print services. The Company produces carbonless, thermal, security, and performance packaging products. Appleton is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has manufacturing operations in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom, employs approximately 3,400 people, and is 100 percent employee owned.

When it comes to buying thermal paper, you could possibly be facing high prices at the store. This shouldn't stop you from using this superior product. I've found that it's far easier and more affordable to simply buy your receipt paper rolls and other cash register supplies from online vendors.

In fact, you can find just about all the printing supplies your business needs by shopping online. From register tape to carbonless paper, from printer cleaning accessories to inkjet cartridges, the selection cannot be beat! When you consider the many volume discounts available, it won't make any sense to not stock up on these necessities.