As a receipt and transaction record, the long-term preservation of supermarket receipts is crucial. The color stability of thermal cash register paper directly determines whether the text, numbers and patterns on the receipt can be clearly distinguished for a long time, which has a far-reaching impact on consumer rights protection, merchant account verification and tax supervision.
The color development principle of thermal cash register paper is based on the chemical reaction of the thermosensitive material in the coating. When the print head is heated, the colorless dye and the developer in the coating react to reveal the text and pattern. However, this color development reaction is not a one-time solution, and its stability will be challenged by many factors. If the coating material of the thermal paper is of poor quality or the production process is not up to standard, the color development reaction will be insufficient or the material after the reaction will be unstable. Over time, the handwriting on the receipt will easily fade and blur, making important information difficult to recognize.
Environmental factors have a particularly significant impact on the color development stability of thermal cash register paper. Temperature and humidity are the two key "enemies". In a high temperature environment, the already colored part of the thermal paper may continue to react chemically, causing the color to deepen and the handwriting to deform, while the uncolored part may also react in advance, resulting in inexplicable color spots. A humid environment is equally tricky. Water vapor will penetrate into the paper, destroy the chemical components in the coating, accelerate the decomposition of the dye and the developer, and gradually fade the text and pattern. For supermarkets, if a large number of receipts are not properly stored, they may become unrecognizable after being stored in a high-temperature and humid warehouse for a period of time, and lose their value as transaction vouchers.
Light can also have an adverse effect on the color stability of thermal cash register paper. Long-term exposure to sunlight or strong light will cause the dye on the receipt to undergo photooxidation. The originally clear handwriting will gradually become lighter, and in severe cases, it will even disappear completely. This is like the paper "chronic suicide". The receipts that consumers have worked hard to save may not be used as the basis for after-sales or rights protection in a short time because they are placed by the window, which brings unnecessary trouble to both consumers and merchants.
In addition to the external environment, the quality differences of thermal cash register paper itself will also lead to different color stability. High-quality thermal paper will use dyes and color developers with high purity and good stability, and through precise ratios and advanced coating processes, the coating is evenly and firmly attached to the surface of the paper. Such cash register paper can keep the handwriting clear for a long time under normal storage conditions. However, some inferior thermal papers use cheap chemical raw materials to reduce costs, with uneven coating thickness and even cutting corners. The receipts printed on this type of paper may not be clear in just a few months, and cannot meet the needs of long-term information preservation.
For supermarkets, the poor color stability of thermal cash register paper will bring a series of chain reactions. When consumers request a return or exchange or conduct after-sales rights protection, if the receipt information is vague, it is difficult for merchants to confirm the purchase time, price and quality of the goods, which may not only damage the rights of consumers, but also easily cause disputes and affect the reputation of merchants. In terms of financial accounting and tax inspections, unclear receipts cannot be used as valid original vouchers, which increases the difficulty of account reconciliation and may even face tax risks.
In order to ensure the long-term preservation of information on supermarket receipts, it is crucial to control the quality of thermal cash register paper from the source of production. Manufacturers need to strictly screen raw materials, optimize production processes, strengthen quality inspections, and ensure that each batch of thermal paper has good color stability. When purchasing thermal paper, supermarkets should not only seek cheapness, but also choose suppliers with good reputation and reliable quality. In daily use and storage, supermarkets should guide employees and consumers to store receipts correctly, try to place receipts in a light-proof, dry, and low-temperature environment, avoid contact with sharp objects, and prevent the coating from being scratched and damaged.
With the development of technology, new thermal materials and production processes are constantly emerging, which is expected to further improve the color stability of thermal cash register paper. At the same time, digital storage methods are also gradually emerging, and some businesses have begun to promote electronic invoices and electronic receipts, which fundamentally solves the problem that paper receipt information is difficult to preserve for a long time. However, for a considerable period of time, thermal cash register paper will still occupy an important position in commercial transactions. Therefore, improving its color stability and ensuring the long-term information preservation of supermarket receipts are still important issues that the industry needs to continue to pay attention to and solve.
