Gluconolactone Color Developing Agent for Eco-Friendly Thermal Recording

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a demand for an environment-friendly color developing agent in thermosensitive recording media, as conventional phenol-type materials are not eco-friendly, and existing alternatives like ascorbic acid and saccharin have limitations in performance and sustainability.

Innovation Solution

The use of gluconolactone as an electron accepting color developing agent in a thermosensitive recording medium, which can be used alone or in combination with other agents to enhance performance while maintaining environmental friendliness, with a preferred ratio of gluconolactone to other agents for optimal results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional phenol-type color developing agents are used, then color development performance is achieved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidcolor development performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter by replacing conventional phenol-type color developing agents with gluconolactone, a sugar derivative. This parameter change maintains color development functionality while improving environmental friendliness, as gluconolactone is biodegradable and non-toxic compared to phenolic compounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses gluconolactone, a naturally occurring sugar derivative that is inexpensive and biodegradable. This replaces persistent phenolic compounds with a short-lived, environmentally benign alternative that decomposes naturally after use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ascorbic acid is used as color developing agent, then environmental friendliness is improved, but thermal resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidthermal resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameter from ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to gluconolactone. This structural modification maintains the electron-accepting capability needed for color development while significantly improving thermal stability, allowing the recording medium to withstand higher temperatures without degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If gluconolactone is combined with other color developing agents, then color development performance is enhanced, but environmental benefits deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor development performanceVSAvoidenvironmental friendliness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs composite color developing agent systems where gluconolactone is combined with other electron-accepting compounds. This composite approach synergistically enhances color development performance and thermal resistance while maintaining improved environmental friendliness compared to conventional phenolic agents, as the primary component remains biodegradable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Gluconolactone provides effective color development performance comparable to ascorbic acid, with improved thermal and hygrothermal resistance, and when combined with other agents, enhances the overall performance of the thermosensitive recording medium, although the environmental benefits may decrease with higher agent ratios.

Implementation Method 1

a coloring reaction between a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye (referred to as 'leuco dye') and an electron accepting color developing agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectron transfer reaction: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 2

Thermosensitive recording medium develops color through an instantaneous chemical reaction when heated using a thermal head, hot stamp, hot pen, laser light and the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10464362B2Thermosensitive recording medium

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 NIPPON PAPER IND CO LTD

AI summary

As a thermosensitive recording medium utilizes a coloring reaction between a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent, a thermosensitive recording medium using an environment-friendly color developing agent is provided. Provided is a thermosensitive recording medium having a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent on a substrate, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer comprises a gluconolactone as the electron accepting color developing agent.