JP2000355171A - Heat-sensitive recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a heat-sensitive recording medium which displays a high color developing sensitivity even at a low energy by arranging a heat-sensitive color developing layer containing a dye precursor, a specific developer which develops color in chemical reaction with the dye precursor during heating and a specific sensitizer on a support. SOLUTION: A heat-sensitive color developing layer containing a colorless or pale-color dye precursor, a developer, represented by formula I, which makes the dye precursor develop color through chemical reaction during heating and a heat-sensitive color developing layer containing a sensitizer compound represented by formula II (R1, R2 are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group), is laminated on a support. This heat-sensitive recording medium can be manufactured by applying a coating obtained by finely granulating the developer, dye precursor and sensitizer with the help of a grinder such as a ball mill or an emulsifier and adding various kinds of fillers and additives and further, dispersing the mixture into an aqueous water-soluble binder solution to an arbitrarily selected support using various kinds of coaters such as an air knife coater and a blade coater.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermosensitive recording medium having particularly excellent coloring properties.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a thermosensitive recording medium is prepared by grinding and dispersing a colorless or light-colored dye precursor as an electron donating compound and a developer as an electron accepting compound into fine particles. Mix, binder, filler, sensitizer,
A coating solution obtained by adding a lubricant and other auxiliaries is applied to a support such as paper, synthetic paper, film, plastic, etc., and develops color by an instantaneous chemical reaction caused by heating with a thermal head, hot stamp, laser light, etc. Get the record. These heat-sensitive recording materials are applied to a wide range of fields such as measuring recorders, computer terminal printers, facsimile machines, automatic ticket vending machines, and barcode labels. In recent years, high-speed printing and high-speed image formation have become possible along with the diversification of recording devices and the advancement of high performance, and higher quality is required for recording sensitivity and storage stability of thermosensitive recording media. ing.

As a method for satisfying this requirement, it has been proposed to use a sensitizer in combination with a dye and a developer. For example, when the developer is composed of a phenolic compound represented by bisphenol A, p-benzylbiphenyl (JP-A-60-82382) and benzyl p-benzyloxybenzoate (JP-A-57-201691) And benzyl naphthyl ether (JP-A-58-87094) are used as the most suitable sensitizer. When a sensitizer is used, when heated, the sensitizer first melts, which dissolves the dye and the developer, so that the two combine at the molecular level to induce a color-forming reaction. It is important to consider the agent, the dye and the color developer.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-217616 proposes a heat-sensitive recording material in which a sensitizer 1,2-di (phenoxymethyl) benzene is combined with a developer 4-hydroxy-4'-methyldiphenylsulfone. However, in this combination, the color development sensitivity was good when the applied energy was high, but when the applied energy was low or when printing was performed at high speed, sufficient color density was not obtained, and high-speed facsimile and It was not sufficient for practical use on laminated thermal paper.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a thermosensitive recording medium having high color development sensitivity even at a low applied energy.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a thermosensitive color-forming layer contains a compound represented by the following chemical formula (1) as a color developer and a compound represented by the following general formula (2) as a sensitizer. To provide a heat-sensitive recording material.

[0007]

Embedded image

[0008]

Embedded image (However, R ¹ and R ² represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.)

In the present invention, at least one compound represented by the general formula (2) is used as a sensitizer. In the general formula (2), R ¹ and R ² are a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (2) include the following (2-1) to (2-30), but are not limited thereto. Among them, (2-1) is preferably used because the effect when used with the developer represented by the general formula (1) is good.

[0011]

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[0012]

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[0013]

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In the present invention, the content of the sensitizer represented by the general formula (2) is controlled by the developer represented by the general formula (1).
If the amount is less than 0.01 part per 1 part, the sensitizing effect is not sufficient, and if the amount is more than 5 parts per 1 part of the color developer, a sufficient color density cannot be obtained. Therefore, the general formula (2)
The sensitizer represented by the formula (1) is preferably used in an amount of 0.01 to 5 parts with respect to 1 part of the developer represented by the general formula (1). More preferably, it is desirable to use 0.01 to 2 parts.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to produce the thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention, various known production methods can be used. Specifically, it can be produced by the following method. That is, the developer, the dye precursor, and the sensitizer are each atomized by a pulverizer or an emulsifier such as a ball mill, an attritor, and a sand grinder, and various fillers and various additives are added, and dispersed in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble binder. To make a paint, this is an air knife coater, blade coater,
A thermosensitive recording medium can be obtained by coating the coating on an arbitrary support with a coater such as a roll coater.

In the present invention, examples of the thermal recording system utilizing a color development reaction between an electron donating compound and an electron accepting compound include, for example, a combination of a dye precursor and a color developer, a combination of a diazonium salt and a coupler, iron, and the like. Examples of the combination of a transition element and a chelate compound, a combination of an aromatic isocyanate compound and an imino compound, and the like, but the combination of a dye precursor and a developer is excellent in color density and recording sensitivity. A heat-sensitive recording material utilizing a color development reaction between a dye precursor and a color developer will be described in detail.

As the dye precursor used in the present invention, various known compounds can be used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more, and are selected depending on the application and required characteristics. Specific examples include, but are not limited to, the following compounds.

(1) Triarylmethane compound 3,3'-bis (4-dimethylaminophenyl) -6
Dimethylaminophthalide <trade name: crystal violet lactone, CVL>, 3- (4-dimethylamino-
2-methylphenyl) -3- (4-dimethylaminophenyl) phthalide, 3,3′-bis (2- (4-dimethylaminophenyl) -2- (4-methoxyphenyl) ethenyl) -4,5,6 , 7-Tetrachlorophthalide <NI
R-Black>, 3,3′-bis (4-dimethylaminophenyl) phthalide <MGL>, 3- (4-dimethylaminophenyl) -3- (1,2-dimethylindol-3-yl) phthalide, 3 -(4-dimethylaminophenyl) -3- (2-phenylindol-3-yl) phthalide, 3,3'-bis (4-ethylcarbazole-3
-Yl) -3-dimethylaminophthalide, 3,3'-bis (1-ethyl-2-methylindol-3-yl) phthalide <indolyl red>, 3,3'-bis (2-phenylindole- 3-yl) -5-dimethylaminophthalide, tris (4-dimethylaminophenyl) methane <LCV> and the like. (2) Diphenylmethane compounds 4,4-bis (dimethylamino) benzhydrin benzyl ether, N-halophenyl-leuco auramine, N
-2,4,5-trichlorophenylleuco auramine and the like. (3) Xanthene compound Rhodamine B-anilinolactam, 3-diethylamino-7-dibenzylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-butylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-anilinofluoran <Green-2 >, 3-diethylamino-7- (2-chloroanilino) fluoran, 3-dibutylamino-7- (2-chloroanilino)
Fluoran <TH-107>, 3-diethylamino-7
-(3-trifluoromethylanilino) fluoran <B
rack-100>, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran <ODB>, 3-dibutylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran <ODB-
2>, 3-piperidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3- (N-isoamyl-N-ethylamino)-
6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran <S-205>,
3- (N-ethyl-N-tolylamino) -6-methyl-
7-anilinofluoran, 3- (N-cyclohexyl-
N-methylamino) -6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran <PSD-150>, 3-diethylamino-6-chloro-7- (β-ethoxyethylamino) fluoran,
3-diethylamino-6-chloro-7- (γ-chloropropylamino) fluoran, 3-cyclohexylamino-6-chlorofluoran <OR-55>, 3-diethylamino-6-chloro-7-anilinofluoran, 3-
(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino) -6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7
-Phenylfluoran and the like. (4) Thiazine-based compounds Benzoyl leucomethylene blue, p-nitrobenzoyl leucomethylene blue and the like can be mentioned. (5) Spiro compound 3-methylspirodinaphthopyran, 3-ethylspirodinaphthopyran, 3-benzylspirodinaphthopyran, 3
-Methylnaphtho- (6'-methoxybenzo) spiropyran; (6) Pentadiene compound 1,1,5,5-tetrakis (4-dimethylaminophenyl) -3-methoxy-1,4-pentadiene,
1,5,5-tetrakis (4-dimethylaminophenyl) -1,4-pentadiene and the like can be mentioned.

In the present invention, one or more known developers conventionally used can be used in combination with the developer represented by the general formula (1). Examples of the developer usable in the present invention include 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 1,7-di (4-hydroxyphenylthio) -3,5-dioxaheptane, and 4,4′-. Bisphenols such as cyclohexylidene diphenol, 4-
Benzyl hydroxybenzoate, ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, normal propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 4
4-hydroxybenzoic acid esters such as isopropyl-hydroxybenzoate and butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, dimethyl 4-hydroxyphthalate, diisopropyl 4-hydroxyphthalate, dibenzyl 4-hydroxyphthalate, dihexyl 4-hydroxyphthalate and the like 4-
Phthalic acid monoesters such as hydroxyphthalic acid diesters, phthalic acid monobenzyl ester, phthalic acid monocyclohexyl ester, phthalic acid monophenyl ester, phthalic acid monomethylphenyl ester, bis (4
-Hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl) sulfide, bis (4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethylphenyl) sulfide, bis (4-hydroxy-
Bishydroxyphenyl sulfides such as 2-methyl-5-ethylphenyl) sulfide;
4-hydroxyphenylarylsulfones such as 4'-isopropoxydiphenylsulfone, 4-hydroxy-4'-methyldiphenylsulfone, 4-hydroxy-4'-normalpropoxydiphenylsulfone, 4-hydroxyphenylbenzenesulfonate, 4- 4- such as hydroxyphenyl-p-tolylsulfonate and 4-hydroxyphenyl-p-chlorobenzenesulfonate
Hydroxyphenylarylsulfonates, 1,3-
Di [2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -2-propyl]
1,3 such as benzene, 1,3-di [2- (4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) -2-propyl] benzene
-Di [2- (hydroxyphenyl) -2-propyl] benzenes, benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoyloxybenzoate, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoyloxybenzoate, ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoyloxybenzoate,
4-hydroxybenzoyloxybenzoic acid esters such as normal propyl 4-hydroxybenzoyloxybenzoate, isopropyl 4-hydroxybenzoyloxybenzoate, and butyl 4-hydroxybenzoyloxybenzoate; bis (3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy -6-methylphenyl) sulfone, bis (3-ethyl-
4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, bis (3-propyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, bis (3-isopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, bis (3-ethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, bis (4- Bishydroxyphenyl sulfones such as (hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, 2-hydroxyphenyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl sulfone, bis (3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, and bis (3-bromo-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone; p-tert
Phenols such as -butylphenol, p-phenylphenol, p-benzylphenol, 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol, benzoic acid, p-tert-butylbenzoic acid, trichlorobenzoic acid, 3-sec-butyl-4
Of aromatic carboxylic acids such as -hydroxybenzoic acid, 3-cyclohexyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, terephthalic acid, salicylic acid, 3-isopropylsalicylic acid, and 3-tert-butylsalicylic acid; Metal salts and the like.

In the present invention, one or more sensitizers represented by the general formula (2) and known sensitizers conventionally used can be used in combination. Specific examples are shown below, but the present invention is not limited to these. Stearic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, methoxycarbonyl-N-stearic acid benzamide, N-benzoylstearic acid amide, N-eicosanoic acid amide, ethylenebisstearic acid amide, behenic acid amide, methylenebisstearic acid amide, methylolamide, N −
Methylol stearamide, dibenzyl terephthalate, dimethyl terephthalate, dioctyl terephthalate,
benzyl p-benzyloxybenzoate, phenyl 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate, dibenzyl oxalate, di-p-methylbenzyl oxalate, di-p-chlorobenzyl oxalate, 2-naphthylbenzyl ether, m- Terphenyl, p-benzylbiphenyl, tolylbiphenyl ether, di (p-methoxyphenoxyethyl) ether, 1,2-di (3-methylphenoxy) ethane,
1,2-di (4-methylphenoxy) ethane, 1,2-
Di (4-methoxyphenoxy) ethane, 1,2-di (4
-Chlorophenoxy) ethane, 1,2-diphenoxyethane, 1- (4-methoxyphenoxy) -2- (2-methylphenoxy) ethane, p-methylthiophenylbenzyl ether, 1,4-di (phenylthio) butane, p
-Acetotoluidide, p-acetophenethidide, N-acetoacetyl-p-toluidine, di (-biphenylethoxy) benzene, p-di (vinyloxyethoxy) benzene, 1-isopropylphenyl-2-phenylethane and the like. You.

Further, in the heat-sensitive recording material of the present invention, a storage stabilizer can be used for stabilization during storage. Specific examples of the storage stabilizer include 1,1,3-tris (2
-Methyl-4-hydroxy-5-tert-butylphenyl) butane, 1,1,3-tris (2-methyl-4-
(Hydroxy-5-cyclohexylphenyl) butane,
4,4'-butylidenebis (2-tert-butyl-5
-Methylphenol), 4,4'-thiobis (2-te
hindered such as rt-butyl-5-methylphenol), 2,2′-thiobis (6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) and 2,2′-methylenebis (6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) Phenolic compound, 4-benzyloxy-4 ′-(2-methylglycidyloxy) diphenylsulfone, sodium 2,
2'-methylenebis (4,6-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate and the like. These storage stabilizers are usually used in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight based on 1 part by weight of the dye precursor. .

In the thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention, specific examples of the binder used for each layer include starches, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, gelatin, casein, gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol, Acetyl group-modified polyvinyl alcohol, silicon-modified polyvinyl alcohol, isobutylene-
Water-soluble binders such as maleic anhydride copolymer alkaline salt, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer alkaline salt, ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer alkaline salt, styrene-acrylic acid copolymer alkaline salt, and styrene-butadiene copolymer Latexes such as polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers, methyl acrylate-butadiene copolymers, and water-dispersible binders such as urea resins, melamine resins, amide resins, and polyurethane resins. At least one of these binders is used in the range of 15 to 80% by weight based on the total solid content of the heat-sensitive recording layer, protective layer, intermediate layer or under layer.

As the filler, activated clay, clay,
Calcined clay, diatomaceous earth, talc, kaolin, calcined kaolin, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium carbonate, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, inorganic fillers such as aluminum hydroxide, urea-formalin resin, polystyrene resin, phenol resin, An organic filler such as a bowl-shaped styrene-butadiene rubber resin is used.

In addition, a heat-fusible substance can be added for the purpose of preventing head abrasion and sticking.
Examples thereof include animal waxes such as beeswax and shellac wax, vegetable waxes such as carnauba wax, mineral waxes such as montan wax, petroleum waxes such as microcrystalline wax, higher fatty acid polyhydric alcohol esters, and stearin. Higher fatty acid amides such as acid amides, metal salts of higher fatty acids such as zinc stearate and calcium stearate, higher amines, condensates of fatty acids and amines, condensates of aromatics and amines, synthetic paraffins, chlorinated paraffins, oxidized paraffins, higher grades Synthetic waxes such as linear glycol, dialkyl 3,4-epoxyhexahydrophthalate, polyethylene, and polyethylene oxide.

Further, a dispersant such as sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, an ultraviolet absorber such as benzophenone or triazole, a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, a fluorescent brightener, a water-proofing agent, a lubricant, an antioxidant, etc. are desirable. It is used according to.

As the support in the heat-sensitive recording material of the present invention, paper such as high-quality paper, medium-quality paper, coated paper and recycled paper is mainly used, but various nonwoven fabrics, plastic films, synthetic papers, metal foils and the like are used. Alternatively, a composite sheet or the like obtained by combining these is arbitrarily used.

Using the various materials described above, the thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention can be manufactured by a conventionally known method. The method for preparing the coating solution for each layer of the thermal recording medium is not particularly limited, and is generally prepared by mixing and stirring water, a dispersion medium, a binder, a filler added as necessary, and a lubricant. In the case of a heat-sensitive recording layer, the adjustment is performed by adding a dye precursor and a color developer.

The dye precursor and the developer are separately pulverized and dispersed in an aqueous system using a sand grinder, an attritor, a ball mill, or the like, and then mixed to obtain an aqueous paint. A method of obtaining a water-based paint after microencapsulating any of the agents is known. The use ratio of the dye precursor and the developer is appropriately selected depending on the type of the dye precursor and the developer used, and is not particularly limited. In general, the ratio is 0.5 to 1 part by weight of the dye precursor. ~ 50 parts by weight, preferably 2 ~
A developer of about 10 parts by weight is used.

The method of forming each layer of the thermosensitive recording medium is not particularly limited, and air knife coating, buriba blade coating, pure blade coating,
Rod blade coating, short dwell coating, curtain coating, die coating, and the like can be appropriately selected. For example, after coating the coating solution for the heat-sensitive recording layer on the support and drying, the coating solution for the protective layer is further coated with the coating solution for the heat-sensitive recording layer. It is formed by a method such as coating and drying. Further, the coating amount of the heat-sensitive recording layer coating liquid is 2 to 12 g by dry weight.
/ M ² , preferably about 3 to 10 g / m ² , and the coating amount of the coating solution for the intermediate layer or the protective layer is 0.1 to 15 by dry weight.
g / m ² approximately, it is preferably adjusted in the range of about 0.5~7g / m ^2.

The heat-sensitive recording medium of the present invention can be provided with a back coat layer on the back side of the support, if necessary, to further improve the storability. Furthermore, after each layer is formed, a smoothing treatment such as super calendaring is performed, or an adhesive treatment is performed on the back surface of the thermosensitive recording material to form an adhesive label, a magnetic thermosensitive recording layer, a printing coating layer, and a thermal transfer thermosensitive layer. Various known techniques in the field of heat-sensitive recording material production, such as providing a recording layer, can be added according to the application.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to specific embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In the examples, “parts” and “%” indicate “parts by weight” and “% by weight”, respectively, unless otherwise specified.

-Manufacture of thermosensitive recording medium- [Example 1] In the thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention, 4-
Hydroxy-diphenyl sulfone, 3 as dye precursor
-Dibutylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran <ODB-2>, which is an example using (compound 2-1) as a sensitizer. First, a dye dispersion (solution A) having the following composition,
The developer dispersion (liquid B) and the sensitizer dispersion (liquid C) were each ground to a mean particle size of 1 μm with a sand grinder. (Solution A: Dye dispersion) 3-Dibutylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran 2.0 parts 10% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol 4.6 parts Water 2.6 parts (Solution B: developer dispersion liquid) ) 4-Hydroxydiphenylsulfone 6.0 parts 10% aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution 18.8 parts Water 11.2 parts (Solution C: sensitizer dispersion) Compound 2-1 6.0 parts 10% aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution 18.8 Part water 11.2 parts Next, the following liquids were mixed with a liquid A, a liquid B, a liquid C and a dispersion liquid of kaolin clay to obtain a heat-sensitive paint. Liquid A: dye dispersion 9.2 parts Liquid B: developer dispersion 36.0 parts Liquid C: sensitizer dispersant 36.0 parts kaolin clay (50% dispersion) 12.0 parts ^3. Coating amount on one side of 50 g / m ² base paper
This sheet was coated and dried so as to have a thickness of 0 to 4.5 g / m ² , and this sheet was treated with a super calender so that the smoothness became 500 to 600 seconds, to produce a thermosensitive recording medium.

Example 2 As a sensitizer for solution C in Example 1, (Compound 2-3) was used instead of (Compound 2-1).
A thermosensitive recording medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that

Example 3 As a sensitizer for solution C in Example 1, (Compound 2-2) was used in place of (Compound 2-1).
A thermosensitive recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 5) was used.

Example 4 As a sensitizer for solution C in Example 1, (Compound 2-2) was used instead of (Compound 2-1).
A thermosensitive recording medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 8) was used.

Comparative Example 1 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that, in the sensitizer dispersion liquid (liquid C) in Example 1, ethylene bisstearamide <Armowax> was used in place of (Compound 2-1). In the same manner as in Examples 4 to 4, a thermosensitive recording medium was prepared.

-Evaluation of thermosensitive recording medium- [Coloring method]
Using a PMD (thermal recording paper print tester, equipped with a thermal head manufactured by Kyocera Corporation), recording was performed on the produced thermal recording medium at an applied energy of 0.25 and 0.33 mj / dot. Next, the image density of the recording portion and the blank portion was measured by a Macbeth densitometer (RD-914, using an amber filter). Using this as a test sample, the following test was performed.

[Moisture resistance test]: applied energy 0.33
The test sample printed at mj / dot was humidified at 90% RH.
It was left at −40 ° C. for 24 hours, and the densities of the printed portion and the blank portion were measured with a Macbeth densitometer.

Table 1 shows the results of the coloring and storage tests. The larger the value in the printed portion, the better the image storability, and the smaller the value in the blank portion, the better the stability of the ground color.

[0040]

[Table 1]

Note) The values in the table are (Macbeth value of the printing part)
/ (Macbeth value of blank part).

As is clear from the results shown in Table 1, Examples 1 to 4 in which the developer and the sensitizer used in the present invention were combined were compared with Comparative Example 1 in which the conventional sensitizer was used. It can be seen that the sensitivity has been significantly improved. Furthermore, even if the sensitivity is increased, it is excellent in moisture resistance.

[0043]

According to the present invention, when 4-hydroxydiphenylsulfone represented by the chemical formula (1) is used as a color developer, the compound represented by the general formula (2) is used as a sensitizer. By having such a compound, the dye precursor has sufficient ability to form a color even at a low applied energy. Further, this heat-sensitive recording material is extremely useful because it is very excellent in image storability of a recording portion and wetland color stability of a blank portion.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Reiji Ohashi 5-21-1, Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo Nippon Paper Industries Central Research Laboratory F-term (reference) 2H026 AA07 BB02 BB25 DD02 DD45 DD53

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heat-sensitive recording medium having a heat-sensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or light-colored dye precursor and a color developer which reacts upon heating to develop the dye precursor on a support. A thermosensitive recording material comprising: a compound represented by the following chemical formula (1) as an agent; and a compound represented by the following general formula (2) as a sensitizer. Embedded image Embedded image (However, R ¹ and R ² represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.)