EP0390432B1

EP0390432B1 - Color-former

Info

Publication number: EP0390432B1
Application number: EP19900303121
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masahiro C/O Oiso Branch Sakamoto; Tsutomu C/O Oiso Branch Murano; Shozo C/O Oiso Branch Harada
Original assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd; Jujo Paper Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd
Priority date: 1989-03-27
Filing date: 1990-03-23
Publication date: 1994-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-23
Also published as: JPH0741738B2; DE69013383T2; EP0390432A2; EP0390432A3; AU5210390A; JPH02252576A; DE69013383D1; AU630680B2

Description

The present invention relates to a color-former comprising microcapsules suitable for use as a pressure-sensitive recording material and a temperature-indicating material.
Recording materials using an electron-donating colorless dye are well known, such as pressure-sensitive recording papers, heat-sensitive recording papers, light-sensitive recording papers, electrical heat-sensitive recording papers and temperature-indicating papers, see GB-A-2,140,449, US-A-4,480,052, US-A-4,436,920, JP-B-60-23922, JP-A-57-179836, JP-A-60-123556 and JP-A-60-123557.
The documents disclose that various electron-donating colorless dyes are dissolved in microcapsules and thus the kinds of the electron-donating colorless dye and of the solvent are limited in dissolving the dye sufficient for obtaining a required image density, and particularly, the solvent is restricted to aromatic solvent having a superior safety.
GB-A-2,026,425 discloses the preparation of microcapsules containing a water-insoluble liquid by forming an emulsion from an aqueous medium containing a nonionic emulsifier and a solvent which is substantially insoluble in the aqueous medium, adding an organic acid which is soluble in the aqueous medium, adding urea and formaldehyde, and heating to produce a wall film or membrane by polycondensation of the urea and formaldehyde.
The present invention provides a color-former comprising microcapsules containing an electron-donating colorless dye dispersed in a hydrophobic liquid by a nonionic surfactant, a polymerized surfactant, or an oil-soluble pelar compound of long chain.
As the electron-donating colorless dyes there can be used any previously disclosed for pressure- or heat-sensitive recording papers, for example phthalide dyes, fluorane dyes, spiropyran dyes, diphenylmethane dyes, azine dyes and triarylmethane dyes.
Examples for phthalide dyes include 3,3-bis(P-dimethylamino)-6-dimethylamino phthalide, 3-(P-dibenzylamino phenyl)-3-(1',2'-dimethyl-3-indolyl)-7-azaphthalide, 3,3-bis(4'dimethylamino phenyl) phthalide, 3-(4-diethylamino-2-ethoxyphenyl)-3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindol-3-yl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(4-diethylamino-2-ethoxyphenyl)-3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindol-3-yl)-7-azaphthalide, 3,3-bis(1-ethyl-2-methylindol-3-yl)-4-azaphthalide, 3,3-bis(1-ethyl-2-methylindol-3-yl)-7-azaphthalide, and 3,3-bis(1-ethyl-2-methylindol-3-yl) phthalide.
Examples for fluorane dyes include 3,6-dimethoxyfluorane, 4-amino-8-diethylaminobenzo[a] fluorane, 2-amino-8-diethylaminobenzo[a]-fluorane, 4-benzylamino-8-diethylaminobenzo[a] fluorane, 3-diethylamino-6-methylfluorane, 3-diethylamino-7-aminofluorane, 3-diethylamino-7-chlorofluorane, 3-diethylamino-5-methyl-7-t-butylfluorane, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-chlorofluorane, 2-methyl-6-(N-p-tolyl-N-ethylamino)-fluorane, 10-diethylaminobenzo[c] fluorane, spio(xanthene-9,1′-phthalan)-6-diethylamino-2-phenyl-3′-on, spiro(xanthene-9,1′-phthalan)-6-diethylamino-2-methoxy-3′-on, spiro(xanthene-9,1′-phthalan)-6-diethylamino-2-(N-methyl-N-acetoamino)-3′-on, 3-cyclohexylamino-6-chlorofluorane, 3-diethylaminobenzo[a] fluorane, 3-diethylamino-6,8-dimethylfluorane, 3-benzyamino-6-chlorofluorane, 3-cyclohexylamino-7-methylfluorane, 2-methoxy-8-diethylaminobenzo[c] fluorane, 3,6-bis(diethylamino) fluorane-γ -anilinolactam, 2-[3,6-bis(diethylamino)-9-(0-chloroanilino) xanthyl] benzoic acid lactam, 3,6-bis(diethylamino) fluorane-γ -(4′-nitro)-anilinolactam, 3-diethylamino-7-cyclohexylaminofluorane, 2-(N-phenyl-N-methylamino)-6-(N-p-tolyl-N-ethyl aminofluorane, 3-(N,N-diethylamino) 5-methyl-7-(N,N-dibenzylamino) fluorane.
2-mesidino-8-diethylaminobenzo[c] fluorane, spiro [xanthene-9,1′-phthalan]-2,6 bis(diethylamino)-3′-on, 3-N,N-diethylamino-7-methylaminofluorane, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-alkyl (C₈₋₁₆) aminofluorane, 3-(N,N-diethylamino)-7-(N,N′-dibenzylamino) fluorane, 3-(N,N-diethylamino)-7-bis(dimethylbenzyl) aminofluorane, 3-diethylamino-7-N-cyclohexyl-N-benzylaminofluorane, 3-pyrolidino-7-cyclohexylaminofluorane, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-p-butylanilinofluorane, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-p-phenetidinofluorane, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-xylidinofluorane, 3-diethylamino-7-chloroanilinofluorane, 3-diethylamino 7-(2-carbomethoxyanilino) fluorane, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino) fluorane, 2-p-toluidino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino) fluorane, 3-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane, 3-pyrolidino-6-methyl-7-p-butylanilinofluorane, 3-pyrolidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane, 3-pyrolidino-6-methyl-7-toluidinofluorane and 3-piperidinofluorane.
Examples for spiropyran dyes include 2,2′-spiro (benzo[f] chromene), spiro[3-methylchromene-2,2′-7′-diethylaminochromene], spiro[3-methyl-benzo(5,6-a) chromene-2,2′-7′-diethylaminochromene], spiro[3-methylchromene-2,2′-7′-dibenzylaminochromene] and 3-methyl-di-β-naphthospiropyran.
Examples for diphenylmethane dyes include 4,4′-bis(4,4′-tetramethyldiamino diphenylmethylamino) diphenylmethane, bis{4,4′-bis(dimethylaminobenzhydryl} ether, N,N′-bis[bis(4′dimethylaminophenyl) methyl]-1,6-hexamethylene diamine, N-bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl) methylglycine ethyl ester and 4,4′-bis-dimethylaminobenzhydryl benzyl ether.
Examples for azine dyes include 3,7-bis(dimethylamino) 10-benzoylphenothiazine, 10-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxy-benzoyl)-3,7-bis(dimethylamino) phenothiazine and 3-diethylamino-7 (N-methylanilino)-10-benzoylphenoxazine.
Examples for triarylmethane dyes include N-butyl-3-[bis{4-(N-methylanilino) phenyl} methyl] carbazole, 4H, 7-diethylamino-4,4′-bis(9′-ethyl-3′-methyl-6′-carbazolyl)-2-t-butyloylamino-3,1-benzothiazine, 4H-7-diethylamino-4-(p-diethylaminophenyl)-4-(9′-ethyl-3′-methyl-6′-carbazolyl)-2-pivaloylamino-3,1-benzothiazine, 4H-6-methyl-4,4-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-pivaloyl-3,1-benzothiazine, 4H-7-dibenzylamino-4,4-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-phenyl-3,1-benzothiazine, 4H-7-dibenzylamino-2-isobutoxy carbonylamino-4,4-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-3,1-benzothazine, 4H-7-diethylamino-4,4-bis {p-[N-ethyl-N-(p-tolyl)]aminophenyl}-2-pivaloylamino-3,1-benzothiazine, 4H-6-methyl-4,4-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-phenyl-3,1-benzoxazine, 1-oxy-1,3,3-tris(p-dimethylaminophenyl) phthalan.
Examples for the dyes used in the present invention include 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1,1-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-oxisobenzo[b] thieno[2,3-c] furane, spiro {chromeno[2,3-c]-4(H)-1'-phthalan}-7-diethylamino-3-methyl-1-(p-tolyl)-3'-on, spiro[11H-benzo[b] thieno [3,2-b] chromene-11,1'-phthalan]-3-diethylamino-7-methyl-3'-on, spiro[11H-benzo[b] thieno [3,2-6] chromene-11,1'-phthalan]-8-chloro-3-diethylamino-6-methyl-3'-on, lactone of 1-benzyl-2-(2-carboxy-4-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-hydroxyraphthostyryl, 2-(4'-hydroxystyryl)-3,3-dimethyl-3H-indol, 2-(4'-N-methyl-N-β-cyanoethylaminostyryl)-3,3-dimethyl-3H-indol and 7-dimethylamino-4-methylcumarin.
Owing to the state of an electron-donating colorless dye dispersed in a hydrophobic liquid, it is an important point of the present invention how a uniform and stable dispersion is achieved without preventing color-formation and encapsulation. The inventor has researched on this important point and found that the uniform and stable dispersion is prepared by using particular dispersing agents.
Cationic or amphoteric surfactants easily prevent color-formation. Anionic surfactants tend to form the color of a colorless dye. However, non-ionic surfactants cause neither a self color forming nor the prevention of color-forming and thus are suitable for the present invention.
Among the non-ionic surfactants, the surfactants suitable for the present invention are, e.g. sorbitan fatty acid esters, such as sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan sesquistearate, sorbitan monotall oil fatty acid ester, sorbitan monoisostearate, etc.; polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters of fatty acids such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan hexastearate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan tetraoleate; polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, such as polyoxyethylene monooleate and diethyleneglycol stearate; polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl esters such as polyoxyethylene nonylphenylether and polyoxyethylene octylphenylether; derivatives of lanoline or bees wax such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan bees wax and polyoxyethylene lanoline.
In addition to nonionic surfactants, the so-called polymerized surfactants can be used to obtain a uniform and stable dispersion of an electron-donating colorless dye in a hydrophobic liquid, for example such polymerized surfactants as lauryl methacrylate/diethylamino acrylate copolymer polymethacrylate, polyacryl amide, vinylcarboxylate/dialkyl fumarate copolymer and alkyl-polysulfide. Also oil-soluble polar compounds of long-chain, such as dialkyl dithiophosphate, can be used.
The nonionic surfactants, polymerized surfactants and polar compounds of long chain can be used alone or together with another compound.
The hydrophobic liquid for dispersing an electron-donating colorless dye include natural and synthetic hydrophobic liquid and is used alone or in combination. Examples for the hydrophobic liquid include natural oils such as plant oils and animal oils; petroleum destillate and derivatives thereof, such as machine oil, kerosine, paraffin and naphthene oil; synthetic oils such as alkylbiphenyl, alkylterphenyl, chlorinated paraffin, alkyl-naphthalene and diphenyl alkane; and semi-synthetic oils.
The dispersing of the dye is carried out as follows. A certain amount of the electron-donating colorless dye is introduced into a hydrophobic liquid, and is dispersed by means of a dispersing machine without heating.
As the dispersing machine, there can be used, for example, ball mill, sand mill, horizontal sand mill attritor or colloid mill. It is suitable that the electron-donating colorless dye is dispersed in the hydrophobic liquid in a concentration of 2 - 60% by weight, preferably 10 - 50% by weight. With a concentration of less than 2% by weight, a sufficiently high color-formation is not obtained.
With a concentration of more than 60% by weight, the dispersing is insufficient and thus the dispersing time is too long or the mechanical treatment is difficult, which causes practical problems.
It is suitable that the hydrophobic liquid comprises the nonionic surfactant, the polymerized surfactant and/or the polar long-chain compound in a concentration of 2 - 40% by weight, preferably 5 - 35% by weight. With less than 2% by weight, the dispersing of dye is insufficient. With more than 40% by weight, the adjustment of emulsified particle size in the capsule-forming process after the dye-dispersing is difficult and the capsule wall tends to be insufficient.
The particle size of dye in the dye-dispersion is not otherwise limited. But with the particle size of less than 0.1µ, the stability of the emulsified particles is reduced and the coagulation occurs easily, and with the particle size of more than 5µ, color-formation is not sufficient and the smudging can be formed through dye-particles in application as a color-former for a pressure-sensitive recording paper. Accordingly, it is suitable to use a dye particle size of 0.1 - 5µ, preferably 0.5 - 2µ.
The electron-donating colorless dye dispersed in a hydrophobic liquid of the present invention can be colored, with the change of temperature or in contact with an electron-accepting color-developing agent, in the same way as the dye dissolved in a solvent. In the use as a temperature-indicating material, the color-former is coated with a binder on a base material, and in the use as a top sheet for pressure-sensitive recording sheets, the color-former is coated with a binder and a buffer agent on a base sheet.
The color-former of the present invention can be used in the same way as the microcapsules comprising an electron-donating colorless dye dissolved in a solvent.
The microcapsules obtained by dispersing an electron-donating colorless dye in a hydrophobic liquid are not easily ruptured. The use as the temperature-indicating material or the color-former for a pressure-sensitive recording sheet, under coating the material of the present invention on a substrate, provides a clear dense color-formation with little smudging and stable preservability in storage. The reason for the above excellent features is unclear. However, it is assumed that in the conventional dye-dissolution-type color-former, dye is deposited as crystals with the lapse of time, and the capsule wall is ruptured by a slight pressure on the end or a corner of the obtained crystal.

Example

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following examples.

Example 1.

(1) Preparation of dye-dispersing liquid

80g of CVL as an electron-donating colorless dye, 40g of sorbitan sesquistearate as a nonionic surfactant and 20g of polymethyl methacrylate as a polymerized surfactant were added into 60g of mineral turpentine oil as a hydrophobic liquid, and were dispersed to an average particle size of 1.2µ by means of a sand mill. 37.5g of the dispersed liquid were added into a mixed oil of 60g diaryl alkane oil (Hysol SAS 296, manufactured by Nisseki Chemical Co.) and 52.5g isoparaffin-base oil (Isosol 400, manufactured by Nisseki Chemical Co.) to obtain a color-former dispersing liquid.

(2) Reaction for forming capsules

10g of urea and 1.2g of resorcinol were dissolved into 180g of 5% aqueous solution of acrylic acid/styrene sodium sulfonate/butyl acrylate copolymer (average molecular weight: 900,000) and adjusted to a pH-value of 3.4. 24g of 37% formaldehyde solution were added thereto, heated under continued agitation for 3 hours, the reaction-solution was adjusted to pH-value of 7.5 by using 28% ammonium hydroxide solution, and the encapsulation was completed.

(3) Preparation of color-former for pressure-sensitive recording papers

30g of starch, 30g of SBR-latex and 465g of water were added to 200g of the above capsule liquid to prepare a coating liquid. The coating liquid was coated in a coating amount of 5g/m² on a fine paper of 40g/m² by using a meyer bar (No. 8). Thus, a color-former (top-sheet) for pressure-sensitive recording sheets was obtained.

(4) Evaluation

The utility as pressure-sensitive recording papers were evaluated with regard to the following articles.

Color-forming velocity

A sheet (a top sheet) coated with microcapsules was laid on a bottom sheet (W-40-R, produced by JUJO PAPER CO., LTD.) and treated by a calender in a pressure of 50kg/cm² to develop a color. After 6 seconds, Y-value of the color image was measured by means of Color-Difference Meter, and expressed as color-forming velocity. The smaller the value, the greater the color-forming velocity.

Image density

A sheet coated with microcapsules was laid on the above bottom sheet and treated by a calender in a pressure of 50kg/cm² to develop a color. After 1 hour, Y-value of the color image was measured by means of Color-Difference Meter and expressed as image density. The smaller the value, the denser the image.

Smudging under static pressure

A sheet coated with microcapsules was laid on the bottom sheet and treated by a calender in a static pressure of 5kg/cm² to develop a color. After 1 hour, Y-value of the color image was measured by means of Color-Difference Meter. The difference between the above Y-value and the Y-value of non color-developed part of the bottom sheet was expressed as smudging under static pressure. The smaller the value, the slighter the smudging.

Copying ability

A sheet (top sheet) coated with microcapsules was laid on the bottom sheet. Also, 6 sheets were superposed and typewritten. The cleaness of the letter on the 6th sheet was determined by means of eyes.

Examples 2

A color-former for pressure-sensitive recording sheets was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 3,6-di-(N-dimethylaminofluorane-9-spiro-3′-(6′-dimethylamino) phthalide (Green 118, produced by Yamamoto Kagaku (0) was used as an electron-donating colorless dye.

Example 3

80g of 3-dimethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane (ODB, produced by Yamamoto Kagaku Co.) as an electron-donating colorless dye, and 50g of polyoxyethylene octylphenyl ether (nonionic surfactant) as a dispersing agent were added to 70g of mineral and dispersed to a particle size of 0.75µ by means of colloidal mill. 37.5g of the dispersed liquid were further dispersed in 62.5g of dimethyl naphthalene oil (KMC-R, produced by Kureha Chemical Co.) to prepare a 15% dispersion of an electron-donating colorless dye. Then, the capsules and the color-former were obtained and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 4

In Example 1-(1), 50g of 3-cyclohexylamino-6-chlorofluorane (OR-55, produced by Yamada Kagaku Co.) as an electron-donating colorless dye and 20g of dialkyl tindithiophosphate (an oil-soluble polar long-chain compound) as a dispersing agent were added to 30g of plant oil (colza oil), and dispersed to an average particle size of 1.5µ by means of a sand mill. This dispersed liquid was added to 450g of diaryl alkane oil (Hysol SAS 296), and further dispersed. 150g of the obtained liquid were encapsulated in the same manner as in Example 1. Then, a top sheet for pressure-sensitive recording sheet was obtained and evaluated in the same way as in Example 1.

Example 5

50g of 5-hydroxy-10-(N-ethyl-N-p-tolylamino) fluorane as an electron donating colorless dye and 15g of polyoxyethylene lanoline as a nonionic surfactant were added to 35 of a paraffin base oil (Norpara H, produced by Nisseki Chemical Co.), and dispersed to an average particle size of 0.9µ with a sand mill, and diluted by using 450g of a diaryl alkane oil (Hysol SAS 296). 150g of the obtained liquid were encapsulated in the same way as in Example 1. A top sheet for pressure-sensitve recording sheets was obtained and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

Examples 6 and 7

Microcapsules and a top sheet for pressure-sensitive recording sheets were obtained and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 4g of a liquid dispersing CVL (Crystal Violet Lactone) (Example 6) or ODB (3-dimethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane) (Example 7) in mineral turpentine oil were further dispersed in the solvent of Example 1 or 3, and thus a dispersed liquid having a dye concentration of 2.5% was used.

Comparative Examples 1 and 2

CVL and ODB (as electron-donating colorless dyes) used in Examples 1 and 2 were added into a mixture of diaryl alkane oil and isoparaffin oil (a mixture of Hisol SAS 296 and Isosol 400) and a dimethyl-naphthalene oil (KMC-R) to provide dye concentrations of 10% and 15% in liquids, respectively, and then were heated and dissolved at 105°C, and finally were cooled to a room temperature. Although the dye was partly deposited, the encapsulation was carried out by following the procedures of Example 1-(2). Top sheets for pressure-sensitive recording sheets of blue color- and black color-formation were prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.
The raw materials used in Examples 1 - 7 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were summarized in Table 1, and their evaluated results were indicated in Table 2. As clearly seen from Table 2, the Examples using as a color-former the dye-dispersion-capsules of the present invention provide practically sufficient abilities with respect to image density, color-forming velocity, smudge under static pressure and copying ability.
In comparison of the color-former using mainly the dye-dispersion capsules of the present invention with the color-former using the conventional dye-dissolution-capsules (in comparison of Example 1 with Comparative Example 1 in blue-color-former, and in comparison of Example 3 with Comparative Example 2 in black-color former), the former is evidently superior to the latter in all of the evaluated abilities.
In Examples 2, 4 and 5 using the electron-donating colorless dyes with a poor solution-stability, the dye-dispersion capsules provide better effects in comparison with the dye-dissolution capsules giving an insufficient image density. In Examples 6, 7 and Comparative Examples 3, 4 using the electron-donating colorless dyes with a good solution-stability, the dye-dispersion-capsules provide the same effects as the dye-dissolution capsules.

Example 8

Preparation of temperature-indicating sheet

(1) Preparation of color heat-changeable material
30g of CVL as an electron-donating colorless dye were added into a solution dissolving 60g of cetyl phosphate (as a nonionic surfactant and hydrophobic liquid) in 110g of a isoparaffin oil (Isosol 300, made by Nisseki Chemical Co.), and were dispersed to an average particle size of 1.7µ by means of a ball mill.
(2) 100g of the above dispersion were dispersed in 100g of 5% aqueous solution of an acrylic acid-sodium styren-sulfonate-butylacrylate copolymer (an average molecular weight: circa 900,000) which have been adjusted to a pH-value of 4 to prepare an o/w-emulsion having an average particle size of 5.5µ. On the other hand, a mixture of 6g of melamine, 11g of 37% aqueous formaldehyde solution and 83g of water were heated and stirred at 60°C. After 30 minutes, an aqueous solution of melamine-formaldehyde-precondensate was obtained. This precondensate was added to the above o/w-emulsion, and was adjusted under mixing with agitation to a pH-value of 5.0 by using a 20% aqueous citric acid. The obtained liquid was heated to 60°C, held at 60°C for 2 hours, and then adjusted to a pH-value 7.5 with a 28% aqueous ammonia solution to complete the process for forming capsules.
(3) Production of a temperature-indicating sheet
15g of the capsules containing the above color heat-changeable material, 35g of a 1% aqueous polyvinylalcohol solution and 50g of SBR-latex (48% solid) were mixed to prepare a coating material. The coating material was applied to a coated material, whereby a brown color heat-changeable sheet was obtained. The obtained sheet was placed in a polyethylene sack and hanged in a water bath. In heating the bath, the sheet is turned clearly blue at 65°C. The blue sheet was returned to a pale-yellow brown color at circa 61°C. Thus, a reversible temperature indicating material was obtained.

Comparative Example 3

Instead of the dye-dispersion, 15g of CVL and 95g of cetyl phosphate were heated and dissolved at 80°C and cooled to a room temperature. In this case, the dye was deposited, the entire system was coagulated in a solid state and thus the encapsulation was impossible. Also, the system was again heated, dissolved to 80°C again, and then held at 75°C. Capsules containing a color heat-changeable material were prepared in the same manner as in Example 8, except that the capsules-forming temperature is 75°C. The obtained capsules had a poor particle size distribution. The color heat-changeable sheet, which was produced in the same way as in Example 8 by the application on a coated sheet, provides only a partial color-formation with unclear hue.

The raw materials used in Examples and Comparative Examples are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

Example	Dye	Nonionic surfactant	Solvent in encapsulation	dye-concentration in encapsulation
1	CVL	·Sorbitan sesquistearate	SAS-296	10%
1	CVL	·Polymethyl-methacrylate	Isosol 400
2	Green 118 3,6-Di(N-dimethylamino) fluorene-9-spiro-3'-(6'-dimethylamino) phthalide	·Sorbitan sesquistearate	SAS-296	10%
2		·Polymethyl-methacrylate	Isosol 400
3	ODB 3-Diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane	·Polyoxyethylene-octyl phenylether	KMC-R	15%
4	OR-55 3-Cyclohexylamino-6-chlorofluorane	·Sn-Dialkyldithiophosphate	SAS-296	10%
5	5-Hydroxy-10-(N-ethyl-N-p-tolylamino) fluorane	·Polyoxyethylene lanoline	SAS-296	10%
6	CVL	·Sorbitan sesquistearate	SAS-296	2.5%
6	CVL	·Polymethyl-methacrylate	Isosol 400
7	ODB	·Polyoxyethylene octyl phenylether	KMC-R	2.5%

Comparative Example
1	CVL	-	SAS-296 Isosol 400	10%
2	ODB	-	KMC-R	15%

Example
8	CVL	·Cetyl phosphate	Isosol 300	15%

Comparative Example
3	CVL	-	Cetyl phosphate	5%

The color-former of the present invention provides the following superior effects, compared with the conventional color-former obtained by a dye dissolved in a solvent.

(1) The dispersant of a high dye concentration and the colored image of a high density and resolution can be obtained.
(2) Since many kind of dyes, which was previously impossible to be employed owing to the absence of suitable solvents, can be used, the previously impossible hue can be obtained.
(3) Since more kinds of solvents can be chosen, non-aromatic hydrophobic liquids with a high safety can be used.
(4) Although the conventional dye-dissolution capsules cause dye-deposition with an elapsed time, the dye-dispersing capsules prevent the dye-deposition and thus prevent the problem of smudging a coated surface owing to the deposited crystal.

Claims

A color-former comprising microcapsules containing an electron-donating colorless dye dispersed in a hydrophobic liquid by a nonionic surfactant, a polymerized surfactant, or an oil-soluble polar compound of long chain.
A color-former according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of said dye in said hydrophobic liquid is 2 to 60% by weight.
A color-former according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said dye is dispersed in said hydrophobic liquid by, as nonionic surfactant, at least one of sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters of fatty acids, polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers and derivatives of lanoline or bees wax.
A color-former according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the amount of non-ionic surfactant, polymerized surfactant or oil-soluble polar compound of long chain is 2 to 40% by weight based said hydrophobic liquid.
A color-former according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said dye has an average particle size of 0.1 to 5 µm.
A color-former according to claim 5, wherein said dye has an average particle size of 0.5 to 2 µm.
Use of a color-former as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in a pressure-sensitive recording material or a temperature indicating material.