How to Tell Thermal Paper：5 Ways to Tell Thermal Paper
Thermal paper has a wide range of applications in our lives, such as ATM machines, receipts, banks, hospitals and so on. How can I tell if the paper in my hand is thermal paper?
1,Observe and Feel the Paper Surface
Run your fingernail gently over the paper and if it feels a little slippery, it is thermal paper. The thermal coating on the surface of the thermal paper is smooth. However, since there are bond papers that also have a smooth surface, the results from this method are sometimes not always correct.
2,View Product Description
Check the composition of the paper or the label to see if it can change color when wet. If so, it is usually labeled "for thermal printers" on the package. However, it should be noted that some merchants will deceive us, although the product has the word "thermal", but in fact there is no thermal coating. In order to prevent this from happening, it is best to ask the manufacturer for the specifications of the thermal paper.
3,Fire Roasting
Heat the paper briefly (don't overdo it) to see if there is a reaction. If there are any signs of any kind of discoloration, then this is thermal paper. The thermal coating in thermal paper changes color when it is heated. However, it should be noted that this method cannot be used in areas such as food or medical devices where accuracy is critical.
4,Test the Paper on Thermal Printer
You can put the paper in a thermal printer, and when the printer is working, the temperature of the thermal printer's needle rises, and the thermal paper that contacts with it changes color to form text or a picture. If the text or picture appears, it is thermal paper. This test method is accurate.
5,Scratch hard with your fingernails or other hard things
If you scratch the paper surface hard with your fingernail or other hard things vertically and quickly, you will get a black or dark gray line, as if you have "written" on it with your fingernail. This is because the friction between the fingernail and the paper generates heat.The heat makes the thermal coating on the paper develop color and turn black. If there are black or gray lines, it is thermal paper.
Overall, determining whether or not it is thermal paper needs to be verified by considering a number of factors and in a combination of ways. If you are not sure if it is thermal paper, you can consult us or review the documentation to ensure proper use of thermal paper.
How to Tell High Quality Thermal Paper?
When you have two rolls of thermal paper in your hand, how can you tell which roll is the high quality thermal paper? You should know that good quality thermal paper means better printing results and longer shelf life. So how to judge the high quality thermal paper is important for you.
Observe the Paper Surface
If the thermal paper is very white, it means that the protective coating of the thermal paper or the thermal coating of the thermal paper has added too much phosphor, and good quality thermal paper should be slightly greenish. The thermal paper is not smooth, indicating that the coating is not uniform. If the ability to reflect light is strong, it means that the thermal paper adds too much phosphor.
Fire Roasting
Heat the back of the paper with fire, if the color that appears is brown, it means that the thermal paper is not formulated properly and will have a shorter shelf life. If it is black, but not uniform, indicating that the thermal coating is not uniform. Good quality thermal paper should be black-green when heated, and the color is uniform, the color from the center to the surrounding gradually fade.
Contrasting Color Change by Sunlight
Coat the thermal paper with a highlighter and place it in the sun (to speed up the reaction of the thermal coating to light). The faster the thermal paper turns black, the shorter it will last.
