Granted Patent B2

US 12,545,045 · App. 18/230,368 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Inventor: Mark R. Fisher (Appleton, WI)

Assignee: Appvion, LLC

B41M5/3333B41M5/42B41M5/3275B41M2205/04

Abstract

Claims (23)

1 . A recording medium, comprising:

a substrate;

a thermally responsive layer carried by the substrate, the thermally responsive layer include a leuco dye and a plurality of developers;

wherein the recording medium is substantially phenol-free;

a basecoat between the thermally responsive layer and the substrate, wherein the basecoat comprises hollow sphere pigments; and

wherein the plurality of developers include N,N′-dipvneylurea (“DPU”) and a derivative of DPU having the structure

and

wherein the DPU and the derivative of DPU are present in the thermally responsive layer in a relative weight ratio of DPU/derivative of DPU that falls within a range from 40/60 to 50/50.

2 . The medium of claim 1 , further comprising:

a topcoat carried by the substrate such that the thermally responsive layer is disposed between the topcoat and the substrate.

3 . The medium of claim 1 , wherein the DPU and the derivative of DPU are dispersed throughout the thermally responsive layer.

4 . The medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of developers consists essentially of the DPU and the derivative of DPU.

5 . The medium of claim 1 , wherein the recording medium is phenol-free.

6 . The medium of claim 1 , wherein the thermally responsive layer has a coat weight form 1.5 to 6 pounds/3,300 ft 2 .

7 . A recording medium, comprising:

a substrate;

a thermally responsive layer carried by the substrate, the thermally responsive layer including a leuco dye and a plurality of developers consisting essentially of N,N′-diphenylurea (“DPU”) and a derivative of DPU in a relative weight ratio of DPU/derivative of DPU from 40/60 to 50/50; and

a basecoat between the thermally responsive layer and the substrate, wherein the basecoat comprises hollow sphere pigments;

wherein the derivative of DPU has the structure

and

wherein the recording medium is substantially phenol-free.

8 . The medium of claim 7 , wherein the DPU and the derivative of DPU are dispersed throughout the thermally responsive layer.

9 . The medium of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of developer consists of DPU and the derivative of DPU.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (164)