EP4034389A1

EP4034389A1 - Heat-sensitive recording material comprising phenol-free organic colour developers

Info

Publication number: EP4034389A1
Application number: EP20780671.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nora Wilke; Claas Boxhammer
Original assignee: Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH
Current assignee: Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH
Priority date: 2019-09-27
Filing date: 2020-09-24
Publication date: 2022-08-03
Also published as: DE102019126220A1; KR20220070021A; US20220363924A1; WO2021058661A1; DE202020005616U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material comprising phenol-free organic colour developers, in particular comprising a colour developer mixture comprising phenol-free organic colour developers, a heat-sensitive recording layer and a coating composition for the production thereof. The invention also relates to the use of the heat-sensitive recording material, to the use of an organic colour developer of formula I for improving the durability of the printed image of a heat-sensitive recording material and to a method for producing a heat-sensitive recording material.

Description

Heat-sensitive recording material comprising phenol-free organic color developers

The present invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material comprising phenol-free organic color developers, in particular comprising a color developer mixture comprising phenol-free organic color developers, a heat-sensitive recording layer and a coating composition for their production, the use of the heat-sensitive recording material, the use of an organic color developer of a formula I to improve the resistance of the print image of a heat-sensitive recording material and a process for the production of a heat-sensitive recording material.

Heat-sensitive recording materials have been known for many years and enjoy great popularity. This popularity is based, among other things, on the fact that the color-forming components are contained in the recording material itself, and printers can therefore be used without toner and ink cartridges. It is therefore no longer necessary to insert, store, change or refill toner or color cartridges. This innovative technology has largely established itself across the board, particularly in public transport and retail.

In the recent past, however, more and more concerns have been expressed about the environmental compatibility, in particular of certain organic developers or color developers (often also referred to as color acceptors), and in some cases also of color developers. Substance precursors with which the color developers react when heat is supplied to form a visually recognizable color, which industry and especially retailers closely follow. For example, the well-known and extensively investigated components known as bisphenol-A (corresponds to 2.2 bis- (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane) and bisphenol-S (corresponds to 4,4'- Dihydroxydiphenylsulfon) increasingly at the center of criticism. Often these are already being replaced by the substitutes Pergafast 201 (corresponds to A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) - / V- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea), "D8" (corresponds to 4-hydroxy-4'- isopropoxydiphenylsulfone), A / - [2- (3-phenylureido) phenyl] benzenesulfonamide or A / - {2 - [(phenylcarbamoyl) amino] phenyl} benzenesulfonamide.

With the aim of improving heat-sensitive recording materials, especially in their use as tickets or lottery tickets, with regard to their resistance to environmental influences such as heat, moisture and chemicals, the underlying chemistry and production technology for producing such recording materials has been continuously developed.

In order to increase the resistance of a thermal printout obtainable on a heat-sensitive recording material (ie a heat-induced recording) to water, aqueous alcohol solutions and plasticizers, document DE 10 2004 004204 A1 proposes a heat-sensitive recording material whose heat-sensitive recording layer has conventional dye precursors and a combination of a phenolic color developer and a Has color developer based on urea-urethane.

The document DE 102015104306 A1 describes a heat-sensitive recording material which comprises a carrier substrate and a heat-sensitive color-forming layer containing at least one color former and at least one phenol-free color developer, the phenol-free color developer being, for example, N-phenyl-N '[(phenylamino) sulfonyl ] urea, N- (4-methylphenyl) -N '[(4-ethylphenylamino) sulfonyl] urea, N- (4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl) -N' [(4-ethoxycarbonylphenylamino) sulfonyl] urea, o- the structurally similar connections are used. JP 2014-218062 A describes a heat-sensitive recording material with a heat-sensitive recording layer which contains at least one leuco dye and a color developer on a carrier. As a color developer, a Mixture of 4,4'-bis (3-tosylureido) diphenylmethane and N- [2- (3-phenylureido) phenyl] - benzenesulfonamide used.

The document WO 2016/136203 A1 describes a crystalline form of N- (2- (3-phenylureido) phenyl) benzenesulfonamide and the use of this crystalline form in a recording material.

The subject of document US 2005/0148467 A1 is a heat-sensitive recording material which contains at least the components of two color-forming systems to form an irreversible print image, one being of the chelate type and the other being a conventional leuco dye system. The document WO 2018/065328 A1 discloses a heat-sensitive recording material comprising a carrier substrate and a heat-sensitive recording layer, the heat-sensitive recording layer comprising a color former and a color developer mixture.

The document WO 2019/166608 A1 describes a heat-sensitive recording material and color developer.

There is, however, a constant need for further and improved heat-sensitive recording materials for a wide variety of applications, it being possible for them to be produced at low production costs due to high sales volumes in a dynamic market and therefore having to have a simple structure. Another challenge is that a printed, heat-sensitive recording material is exposed to a large number of different environmental influences, such as moisture, temperature extremes and / or chemicals, in view of its typical areas of use as tickets, admission tickets, travel tickets, parking tickets and the like.

Thus, within the scope of normal use, heat-sensitive recording materials can come into contact with a large number of different substances which can influence the stability of the thermal printout. In addition to water and organic solvents, these substances also include fats and oils which, for example, are contained in hand care products and which can be transferred to the heat-sensitive recording material when it is touched. For this reason, among other things, there is a particular need for heat-sensitive recording materials which have a high resistance to fats and oils. In addition to being resistant to chemicals, heat-sensitive recording materials should also have high resistance to thermal influences. On the one hand, it should be possible to print on the heat-sensitive recording material in an energy-saving and light manner, for example in order to consume little energy in mobile applications. On the other hand, the printed image should be retained after printing and the exposure to heat should neither fade the printed image nor discolor the unprinted background: this would mean that the print would no longer be legible. Thermal resistance is particularly important for parking tickets that are stored behind the windshield after printing and are therefore exposed to high temperatures and direct sunlight in summer.

The long-term stability of the heat-sensitive recording material is also very important for tickets such as concert tickets or flight tickets, which are often issued a long time in advance, or for receipts or sales receipts that are required as proof of purchase over a long warranty period. In particular, if it must be assumed that the heat-sensitive recording materials can come into contact with moisture, for example if the recording materials used as concert tickets, plane tickets or proof of purchase are kept close to the body (e.g. in the trouser pocket) and can come into contact with sweat as a result ensure that the recording materials remain legible even after contact with moisture.

In the past it has been shown that recording materials containing A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -A / '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea (corresponds to "Pergafast 201") as phenol-free (coloring ) Contain developers, although they have good resistance to fats and oils, but their long-term resistance to the effects of heat, especially at high humidity, is not yet satisfactory.

It has also been shown that recording materials which contain A / - [2- (3-phenylureido) phenyl] benzenesulfonamide as a phenol-free (color) developer have good resistance to the effects of heat, in particular at high atmospheric humidity Resistance to fats and oils is not optimal.

There is therefore a constant need to improve the resistance of the thermal printout of thermosensitive recording materials to various environmental influences. It was therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a heat-sensitive recording material which, when printed, has a high resistance to environmental influences, such as moisture, heat or chemicals. A further, special object of the present invention was to provide a heat-sensitive recording material which has the highest possible heat resistance. Such a heat-sensitive recording material should have a resistance to grease or fats which is improved over the prior art, or at least comparable to that of the prior art. It has now surprisingly been found that the primary object and further objects and / or sub-objects of the present invention are achieved by a heat-sensitive recording material comprising i) a carrier substrate and ii) a heat-sensitive recording layer, the heat-sensitive recording layer having one or more color formers and at least an organic color developer, wherein the at least one organic color developer is a compound of the formula I includes or is. The invention and combinations of preferred parameters, properties and / or components of the present invention which are preferred according to the invention are defined in the appended claims. Preferred aspects of the present invention are also given or defined in the following description and in the examples. The compound of the formula I, also referred to as 5- (N-3-methylphenyl-sulfonylamido) - (N ', N "-bis- (3-methylphenyl) -isophthalic acid diamide, is known per se, for example from the document WO 2019 / 166608 A1, and can be prepared by the methods specified there. The compound of the formula I can exist in several different crystalline forms.These different crystalline forms can have different physical properties that affect a heat-sensitive recording material containing such crystalline forms as a color developer At present, at least three different crystalline forms of the compound of the formula I are known, which are referred to as crystalline modification “a”, as crystalline modification “β” or as crystalline modification “y” (cf. WO 2019/166608 A1, 8, lines 1 to 18 and page 42, lines 24 to 44) The heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention can include any one of these three under different crystalline forms of the compound of the formula I in the heat-sensitive recording layer, in particular as component a) of the color developer mixture indicated above, as well as mixtures thereof. For preferred configurations, see below. Preference is given to a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), where

the heat-sensitive recording layer ii) is completely or partially covered with a further layer, preferably a protective layer; and or

- wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer ii) comprises one or more color formers and a color developer mixture, and wherein the color developer mixture a) a compound of the formula I, as defined above, and b) at least one further, preferably one further, organic color developer which does not contain a phenol group (as a structural component of the chemical formula of the further organic color developer (s)), or wherein the color developer mixture consists of the aforementioned components a) and b).

In our own tests, it was found that a heat-resistant recording material according to the invention as specified above, the heat-sensitive recording layer being completely or partially covered with a further layer, preferably a protective layer, has particularly good resistance to chemicals, in particular to fats (especially lanolin) and plasticizers. Furthermore, it has been shown in our own tests that a heat-resistant recording material according to the invention as specified above, the heat-sensitive recording layer being completely or partially covered with a further layer, preferably a protective layer, also has increased resistance to mechanical effects, especially increased scratch resistance , and also shows better properties for certain further processing steps, such as improved further processability through siliconization. These aforementioned advantages are particularly striking for a heat-resistant recording material according to the invention, the heat-sensitive recording layer of which comprises one or more color formers and only the compound of formula I as organic color developer (as indicated above or below, or as indicated below as preferred) and completely or partially, preferably is completely covered with a protective layer, preferably as described below, or with a protective layer described below as preferred or particularly preferred.

A heat-resistant recording material according to the invention, the heat-sensitive recording layer of which comprises one or more color formers and only the compound of the formula I as organic color developer, furthermore has the advantage of a particularly good heat resistance of the heat-sensitive recording layer (in particular if the heat-sensitive recording layer is completely or partially a further layer, preferably a protective layer, is covered, as described above or below), in particular the unprinted background of the heat-sensitive recording layer, whereby prints with excellent, permanent, contrast are possible. Also preferred is a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text) comprising i) a carrier substrate and ii) a heat-sensitive recording layer, the heat-sensitive recording layer having one or more color formers and a compound of the organic color developer Formula I, preferably only one compound of the formula I, (as indicated above or below, or as indicated below as preferred), and wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer is completely or partially, preferably completely, with a further layer, preferably a protective layer is covered.

By arranging a protective layer covering the heat-sensitive recording layer, the heat-sensitive recording layer is also shielded from the outside or from the carrier substrate of the next layer within a roll, so that it is protected against external influences.

In addition to the aforementioned positive effects, such a protective layer often also has the desired effect of improving the printability of the heat-sensitive recording material - in particular in indigo, offset and / or flexographic printing. For this reason, too, it may be desirable for certain applications that the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention has a protective layer as described in this text.

The protective layer to be used according to the invention of the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention preferably comprises one or more crosslinked or un- crosslinked binders selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols modified with carboxyl groups, polyvinyl alcohols modified with silanol groups, diacetone-modified polyvinyl alcohols, acetoacetyl-modified polyvinyl alcohols, partially and fully saponified polyvinyl alcohols and film-forming acrylic copolymers, preferably alkylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymers.

The coating composition for forming the protective layer of the heat-sensitive recording material of the invention (if present) preferably contains one or more crosslinking agents for the binder (s) in addition to one or more binders (preferably the binders specified above, which are still uncrosslinked in the coating composition). The crosslinking agent is then preferably selected from the group consisting of boric acid, polyamines, epoxy resins, dialdehydes, formaldehyde oligomers, epichlorohydrin resins, adipic acid dihydrazide, melamine formaldehyde, urea, methylolurea, ammonium zirconium carbonate, polyamidamine-eplorohydrin epoxy resins. A heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, the protective layer of which is formed from such a coating composition containing one or more binders and one or more crosslinking agents for the binder or binders, preferably contains in the protective layer one or more binders crosslinked by reaction with one or more crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agent (s) are preferably selected from the group consisting of boric acid, polyamines, epoxy resins, dialdehydes, formaldehyde oligomers, epichlorohydrin resins, adipic acid dihydrazide, melamine formaldehyde, urea, methylolurea, ammonium zirconium carbonate, lactic acid, polyamidamine-epichlorohydrin epoxy resins, titanium (IV) Tyzor LA (CAS # 65104-06-5). “Crosslinked binder” is understood to mean the reaction product formed by reacting a binder with one or more crosslinking agents.

In a first embodiment variant, the protective layer which completely or partially covering the heat-sensitive recording layer can be obtained from a coating composition comprising one or more polyvinyl alcohols and one or more crosslinking agents. It is preferred that the polyvinyl alcohol of the protective layer is modified with acetoacetyl groups, carboxyl groups or silanol groups, in particular with acetoacetyl groups. Mixtures of different polyvinyl alcohols modified with acetoacetyl groups, carboxyl groups or silanol groups can also be used with preference according to the invention. Such a protective layer has a high affinity for the im Offset printing process used, preferably UV-crosslinking printing ink. This makes a decisive contribution to meeting the requirement for excellent printability in offset printing.

The crosslinking agent or agents present in the coating composition for the protective layer according to this first variant are preferably selected from the group consisting of boric acid, polyamines, epoxy resins, dialdehydes, formaldehyde oligomers, polyamidamine-epichlorohydrin resins, polyamine-epichlorohydrin resin, adipic acid dihydrazide, melamine formaldehyde, dihydroxybis lactato) titanium (IV) (Tyzor LA, CAS No. 65104-06-5), sodium glyoxylate, calcium glyoxylate and sodium / calcium glyoxylate. Mixtures of different crosslinking agents are also possible and can be used according to the invention.

In the coating composition for forming the protective layer according to this first embodiment variant, the mass ratio of the modified polyvinyl alcohol to the crosslinking agent is preferably in a range from 20: 1 to 5: 1 and particularly preferably in a range from 12: 1 to 7: 1. A ratio of the modified polyvinyl alcohol to the crosslinking agent in the range from 100 parts by mass to 8 to 11 parts by mass is particularly preferred.

According to the invention, a coating composition for forming the protective layer according to this first variant is particularly preferred, the coating composition containing two or more pigments, one pigment being silica, preferably precipitated silica, and the second or further pigments being selected from the group consisting of made of aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, barium sulfate, bentonite, boehmite, natural calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, urea-formaldehyde resins, natural kaolin, calcined kaolin, kaolinite or calcined kaolinite, kieselguhr, magnesium silicate white, magnesium carbonate, Titanium oxide, alumina, activated alumina and zinc oxide.

It is preferred to use the protective layer according to this first embodiment variant with a mass per unit area in a range from 1.0 g / m ² to 6 g / m ² and particularly preferably from 1.2 g / m ² to 3.8 g / m ² to apply. The protective layer is preferably formed in one layer.

In a second embodiment variant, the coating composition for forming the protective layer comprises a water-insoluble, self-crosslinking acrylic polymer as Binder, a crosslinking agent and a pigment component, the pigment component of the protective layer consisting of one or more inorganic pigments and at least 80% by mass of a highly purified, alkaline processed bentonite, the binding agent of the protective layer consisting of one or more water-insoluble, self-crosslinking pigments Acrylic polymers and the binder / pigment (mass) ratio is in a range from 7: 1 to 9: 1.

A self-crosslinking acrylic polymer within the protective layer according to the second variant described here is preferably selected from the group consisting of styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymers, acrylamide group-containing copolymers of styrene and acrylic acid ester and copolymers based on acrylonitrile, methacrylamide and acrylic ester. Copolymers based on acrylonitrile, methacrylamide and acrylic ester are preferred. Alkaline bentonite, natural or precipitated calcium carbonate, kaolin, silica or aluminum hydroxide can be incorporated into the protective layer as pigment. Preferred crosslinking agents are selected from the group consisting of cyclic urea, methylolurea, ammonium zirconium carbonate and polyamide epichlorohydrin resins.

By choosing a water-insoluble, self-crosslinking acrylic polymer as a binder and its mass ratio (i) to pigment in a range from 7: 1 to 9: 1 and (ii) to crosslinking agent greater than 5: 1, even with a protective layer with a relatively low mass per unit area given a high environmental resistance of the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention. Such mass ratios are therefore preferred.

The protective layer itself can be applied with the aid of customary coating devices, for which, inter alia, a coating composition can be used, preferably with a mass per unit area in a range from 1.0 to 4.5 g / m ² .

Particularly preferred is such a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), the heat-sensitive recording layer being completely or partially covered with a further layer, preferably a protective layer, wherein the further layer or protective layer comprises: j) one or more crosslinked or uncrosslinked, preferably crosslinked, modified polyvinyl alcohols, preferably selected from the group consisting of acetoacetyl-modified polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohols modified with carboxyl groups, polyvinyl alcohols modified with silanol groups and diacetone-modified polyvinyl alcohols, particularly preferably selected from the group consisting of acetoacetyl-modified polyvinyl alcohols; jj) one or more alkylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymers, preferably selected from the group consisting of ethylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, propylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, butylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymer and iso-butylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, particularly preferably selected from

Group consisting of ethylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymers, the alkylene / (meth) acrylic acid copolymer being very particularly preferably an ethylene / acrylic acid copolymer; jjj) one, two or more than two pigments, preferably at least one pigment, two pigments or all pigments being selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, barium sulfate, bentonite, boehmite, natural calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, urea -Formaldehyde resin, natural kaolin, calcined kaolin, kaolinite, calcined kaolinite, kieselguhr, silica (preferably precipitated silica), magnesium silicate, magnesium carbonate, satin white, silicon oxide, talc, titanium oxide,

Alumina, activated alumina and zinc oxide, the further layer c) particularly preferably comprising two pigments and at least one of the two pigments (and preferably both pigments) being selected from the group consisting of silica (preferably precipitated silica) and kaolin.

The further layer, preferably protective layer, according to the particularly preferred variant of the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention described above, and the production of this further layer is described in particular in document WO 2018/211063 A2, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present text. In the preferred variant of the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer comprises one or more color formers and a color developer mixture and wherein the color developer mixture comprises a compound of the formula I as component a) and at least one further organic color developer which does not contain a phenol group as component b) contains, the color developer mixture comprises as component b) preferably a substance selected from the group consisting of A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea (Pergafast 201, as described for example in document WO 00/35679 A1; for the chemical structure of Pergafast 201 see below), a compound of the formula II (as described below or described as preferred) and mixtures thereof.

For the inventive variant of the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which comprises a color developer mixture, the color developer mixture comprising a compound of the formula I as component a) and A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- ( 4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea (Pergafast 201, see above), it was found in our own tests that the proportion of A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4 methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea could be reduced in the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention without any relevant disadvantages occurring as a result in practical use. The reduction of the A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea content of a heat-sensitive recording material is fundamentally desirable because it would, for example, result in a potentially harmful effect of A / - (4 -Methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfony- loxy) phenyl) urea or its degradation products in wastewater can be reduced. Preference is therefore given to a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), the heat-sensitive recording layer ii) comprising one or more color formers and a color developer mixture, the color developer mixture a) being a compound of Formula I as described above or below (preferably a crystalline form of the compound of the formula I indicated below as preferred), and b) (at least) one further organic color developer (which does not contain a phenol group - as a structural component of the chemical formula of the further organic color developer (s)) selected from the group consisting of a compound of the formula II (as described and defined below), A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea (Pergafast 201) and mixtures thereof, or where the color developer mixture consists of the aforementioned components a) and b). The above-mentioned embodiment of the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention also includes the more specific embodiment, the color developer mixture comprising as component b): b) at least one further, preferably one further, organic color developer which contains a compound N- (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N ' - (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea (Pergafast 201) comprises or is.

Particularly preferred is a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer ii) comprises one or more color formers and a color developer mixture and wherein the color developer mixture a) a compound of the formula I, as described above or below (preferably a crystalline form of the compound of the formula I indicated below as preferred), and b) at least one further, preferably one further, organic color developer which is a compound of the formula II comprises or is, comprises, or wherein the color developer mixture consists of the aforementioned components a) and b). It is known to the person skilled in the art that the combination of different developers, such as compounds of the formula I or II, (unlike in the case of the present invention) often leads to a deterioration in the properties of a heat-sensitive recording material. This is because the combination of two or more color developers (unlike in the case of the present invention) usually leads to an undesirable change in the color of the heat-sensitive recording material, so that the heat-sensitive recording material appears gray, for example, without the other properties being improved.

The compound of the formula II is the compound known per se, for example from EP 2 923 851 A1, which is known under the name “NKK-1304” (CAS RN for the compound of the formula II which is not differentiated according to different isomers: 215917-77-4) and which is also referred to as A / - [2- (3-phenylureido) phenyl] benzenesulfonamide. The compound of formula II can exist in several different crystalline forms. These different crystalline forms can have different physical properties which can have influences on a heat-sensitive recording material containing such crystalline forms as a color developer.

At least three different crystalline forms of the compound of Formula II are currently known, as detailed below. The heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention can contain each of these three different crystalline forms of the compound of the formula II as component b) of the color developer mixture in the heat-sensitive recording layer, as well as mixtures thereof. The first of these crystalline forms of the compound with the formula II has a melting point of approx. 158 ° C. This crystalline form has been described in connection with heat-sensitive recording materials, for example in EP 2 923 851 A1.

The second crystalline form of the compound of the formula II has a melting point of approx. 175 ° C. The compound of formula II which is the crystalline form with a

Melting point of 175 ° C is, for example, described in WO 2018/065328 A1.

The third crystalline form of the compound of the formula II has a melting point of approx. 160 ° C to 162 ° C and has been described, for example, in EP 3 263 553 A1.

According to the invention, a heat-sensitive recording material is preferred, the crystalline form of the compound of the formula II having a (preferably endothermic) transition at a temperature between 170 ° C. and 178 ° C. (“second crystalline form of the compound of the formula II”), preferably between 173 ° C ° C and 177 ° C, particularly preferably between 174 ° C and 176 ° C, determined with the aid of differential thermal analysis (DSC), also known as “dynamic differential calorimetry” (DKK), at a heating rate of 10 K / min.

At least the first and the second of the aforementioned crystalline forms of the compounds with the formula II can also be distinguished from one another in the IR absorption spectrum. Particularly characteristic of the crystalline form of the compound of the formula II used according to the invention is an absorption band in the IR spectrum at 3401 ± 20 cm ⁻¹ . In the crystalline form of the compound of the formula II, which has a melting point of approx. 158 ° C., this band is not present, but rather a band at 3322 and 3229 cm ¹ .

According to the invention, a heat-sensitive recording material is also preferred, the crystalline form of the compound of formula II in the IR spectrum absorption bands at 689 ± 10 cm ¹ , 731 ± 10 cm ¹ , 1653 ± 10 cm ^1, 3364 ± 20 cm ¹ and 3401 ± 20 cm 1 and 3401 ± 20 cm 1 ¹ (“second crystalline form of the compound of formula II”).

A heat-sensitive recording material is preferred according to the invention, the IR absorption spectrum of the crystalline form of the compound of the formula II essentially coinciding with the IR absorption spectrum shown in Fig. 1 a), 2a) and / or 3a) of WO 2018/065328 A1 ( “Second crystalline form of the compound of formula II”). At least the first and the second of the aforementioned crystalline forms of the compound of the formula II can likewise be distinguished from one another in the X-ray powder diffractogram or diffraction diagram. According to the invention, a heat-sensitive recording material is preferred, the crystalline form of the compound of the formula II being an X-ray powder diffraction pattern with diffraction reflections at ° 20 values of 10.00 ± 0.20, 11.00 ± 0.20, 12.40 ± 0.20, 13.80 ± 0.20 and 15.00 ± 0.20 (“second crystalline form of the compound of formula II”).

According to the invention, a heat-sensitive recording material is preferred, the crystalline form of the compound of the formula II having an X-ray powder diffractogram which essentially corresponds to the X-ray powder diffractogram shown in FIG. 4b) of WO 2018/065328 A1 ("second crystalline form of the compound of the formula II" ).

In the context of this text, a compound of the formula II is preferably understood to mean the crystalline form which in the IR spectrum has an absorption band at 3401 ± 20 cm ¹ or has a melting point of 175 ° C. or a transition at a temperature between 170 ° C and 178 ° C (determined by differential thermal analysis, at a heating rate of 10 K / min) or, in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern, diffraction reflections at ° 20 values of at least 10.00 ± 0.20, 11.00 ± 0.20, 12.40 ± 0.20, 13.80 ± 0.20 and 15.00 ± 0.20, preferably unless the presence of the other crystal structure is explicitly stated (“second crystalline form of the compound of the formula II”).

It goes without saying that the indication of a) the melting point, b) the diffraction reflections in the X-ray powder diffractogram or c) the absorption bands in the IR spectrum only serve to describe the crystalline form of a compound specified in this text and thus enable this crystalline form to be distinguished from other crystalline forms of connection. Specifying one of these measured variables is usually sufficient to differentiate between the various crystalline forms. Specifying the absorption bands in the IR spectrum is particularly preferred for a compound of the formula II, since an IR spectrum can be measured very easily and with high reproducibility for the person skilled in the art and IR spectrometers are part of the basic equipment in the chemical laboratory.

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above is preferred (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), where - The compound of the formula II comprises a crystalline form or where the compound of the formula II is in a crystalline form (if the heat-sensitive recording layer comprises a color developer mixture, the color developer mixture in addition to a compound of the formula I comprising at least one further organic color developer which is a compound of the formula II comprises or is), the or at least one crystalline form of the compound of the formula II preferably having an absorption band at 3401 ± 20 cm ^-1 in the IR spectrum, and / or

the compound of the formula I comprises a crystalline form or wherein the compound of the formula I is in a crystalline form, the or at least one crystalline form of the compound of the formula I preferably having a melting point in the range from 195 ° C. to 217 ° C., preferably from 200 ° C. to 215 ° C., particularly preferably from 205 ° C. to 213 ° C., determined by differential thermal analysis (DSC).

Preference is given to a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), where the compound of the formula I comprises a crystalline form, or where the compound of the formula I is in a crystalline form, the crystalline form of the compound of the formula I being the crystalline modification “a” as described in WO 2019/166608 A1, p. 8, lines 9-13.

Preference is also given to a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), where the compound of the formula I comprises a crystalline form or where the compound of the formula I is in a crystalline form is present, the crystalline form of the compound of the formula I being an X-ray powder diffractogram with diffraction reflections at ° 20 values (+/- 0.2 °) of 5.5, 6.1, 6.4, 12.1, 16.1, 16.8, 17.1, 18.3, 19.1, 19.9, 20.2, 21.4, 22.1, 22.7, 23.3, 24.3, 24.7, 25.0, 26.4, 27.7 and 29.3. Preference is given to a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), the compound of the formula I being> 95% by mass, preferably completely (100% by mass), as crystalline modification “a” (as described above) is present, based on the total mass of the compound of the formula I present in the heat-sensitive recording layer.

A heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above is preferred (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer ii) comprises one or more color formers and a color developer mixture and wherein the color developer mixture a) a compound of the formula I, preferably a compound of the formula I described as preferred in this text, particularly preferably a crystalline modification of the compound of the formula I described as preferred in this text, and b) at least one further organic color developer, preferably one further color developer, which comprises or is a compound of the formula II, preferably a preferred compound of the formula II described in this text, particularly preferably a crystalline modification of the compound of the formula II described as preferred in this text, comprises, or where the color developer mixture consists of the aforementioned components a) and b), the mass ratio between the compound of the formula II and the compound of the formula I being in the range from> 5:95 to <99.9: 0.1, preferably from 10 10:90 to 99: 1, more preferably from 30:70 to 99: 1 and particularly preferably from 50:50 to 98 : 2 (based in each case on the mass ratio of the compound of the formula II: compound of the formula I).

It has been shown in particular in our own tests that a heat-sensitive recording material, which comprises a color developer mixture comprising a compound of the formula I and a compound of the formula II in its heat-sensitive recording layer, has a higher resistance to fat or fats (in particular to lanolin) than a heat-sensitive recording material which in its heat-sensitive recording layer has either only one compound of the formula I or which has only one compound of the formula II as a color developer. This result indicates a synergistic effect of a color developer mixture comprising a compound of the formula I and a compound of the formula II in relation to an increase in the resistance to fat or fats (in particular to lanolin), in each case to use as a color developer of the compound of the formula in each case I alone or a compound of the formula II alone. In this way, for example, the known advantages of the compound of the formula II as a color developer in a heat-sensitive recording material, such as high sensitivity (print density), can be used and at the same time the resistance of the heat-sensitive recording material to fat or fats can be significantly improved if the above-mentioned mass ratio is used in the heat-sensitive recording material between the compound of the formula II and the compound of the formula I or an above-mentioned preferred mass ratio between the compound of the formula II and the compound of the formula I is observed. In particular, a heat-sensitive recording material in the heat-sensitive recording layer of which the compound of the formula II is present in the above-mentioned mass ratio to the compound of the formula I, in particular in an above-mentioned preferred mass ratio, in addition to a particularly high resistance to grease or fats, also has excellent sensitivity (dynamic sensitivity or dynamic print density).

The above-described compound A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea (Pergafast 201; CAS No. 232938-43-1) is known per se, for example from the document WO 00/35679 A1, and has the following structure of the formula III:

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above is also preferred (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), wherein the carrier substrate comprises or is a paper, synthetic paper or a plastic film; and or

the mass fraction of the at least one organic color developer or of the color developer mixture in the heat-sensitive recording layer is 12% to 35%, preferably 15% to 31%, particularly preferably 17% to 30%, based on the total solids content of the heat-sensitive recording layer; and or

the mass per unit area of the heat-sensitive recording layer is in the range from 1.0 to 6 g / m ² , preferably in the range from 1.2 to 5.0 g / m ² . According to the invention, a heat-sensitive recording material is preferred, the carrier substrate being a paper, synthetic paper or a plastic film. A non-surface-treated coating base paper is particularly preferred as the carrier substrate, since it has good recyclability and good environmental compatibility. As plastic films, films made of polypropylene or other polyolefins are preferred. Papers coated with one or more polyolefins (in particular prolypropylene) are also preferred according to the invention.

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above is also preferred (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), in addition comprising an intermediate layer arranged between the carrier substrate and the heat-sensitive recording layer, the intermediate layer preferably containing pigments.

It is preferred according to the invention if the mass per unit area of the aforementioned intermediate layer is in the range from 5 to 20 g / m ² , preferably in the range from 7 to 12 g / m ² .

The pigments are (if present) organic pigments, inorganic pigments or a mixture of organic pigments and inorganic pigments. Preference is given to a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), the intermediate layer containing pigments and the pigments comprising:

- organic pigments, preferably organic hollow body pigments; and or

- Inorganic pigments, preferably selected from the list consisting of calcined kaolin, silicon oxide, bentonite, calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide and boehmite.

Our own studies have shown that the incorporation of organic pigments into the intermediate layer is advantageous, since organic pigments have a high heat reflectivity. Increased heat reflection of the intermediate layer made with organic pigments increases the response of the heat-sensitive recording layer to heat, since the radiated heat is at least partially reflected into the heat-sensitive recording layer instead of being conducted to the carrier substrate. As a result, the sensitivity and the resolving power of the heat-sensitive recording material are markedly increased and the printing speed in the thermal printer is also increased. In addition, the energy consumption can be reduced during the printing process, which is particularly advantageous in the case of mobile devices. Hollow body pigments have air in their interior, as a result of which they usually have an even higher heat reflection and the sensitivity and the resolving power of the heat-sensitive recording material can be increased even further. If inorganic pigments are incorporated into the intermediate layer between the recording layer and the substrate, in particular the preferred inorganic pigments specified above, these pigments can absorb the constituents (e.g. waxes) of the heat-sensitive recording layer liquefied by the action of heat from the thermal head during the formation of the typeface and thus promote a even safer and faster operation of the heat-induced recording.

It is particularly advantageous if the inorganic pigments of the intermediate layer (if present) an oil absorption of at least 80 ^cm3 / 100 g, and more preferably 100 ^cm3 / 100 g, determined according to the Japanese standard JIS K 5101, have. Calcined kaolin has proven particularly useful due to its large absorption reservoir in the cavities. Mixtures of several different types of inorganic pigments are also conceivable.

A heat-sensitive recording material is preferred according to the invention, the intermediate layer optionally containing at least one binder in addition to the inorganic and / or organic pigments, preferably based on a synthetic polymer, with styrene-butadiene latex giving particularly good results. The use of a synthetic binder with the addition of at least one natural polymer, such as starch, which is particularly preferred, is a particularly suitable embodiment

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above is preferred (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), the one or more color formers being selected from those organic compounds which contain a structural element selected from the Group consisting of fluorane, phthalide, lactam, triphenylmethane, phenothiazine and spiropyran, the or at least one of the several color formers preferably having a fluorane structural element. Our own investigations have shown that these color formers have particularly good properties in combination with the color developer mixture used according to the invention.

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above is preferred (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), wherein the one or more color formers comprise one or more compounds (preferably one or several compounds which have a fluoran structural element) which are selected from the group consisting of 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3- diethylamino-6-methyl-7- (3'-methylphenylamino) fluoran (6 ' - (diethylamino) -3'-methyl-2'- (m-tolylamino) -3H-spiro [isobenzofuran-1, 9'-xanthene] -3-one; "ODB-7"), 3-di-n- pentyl-amino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3- (diethylamino) -6-methyl-7- (3-methylphenylamino) fluorane, 3-di-n-butylamino-7- (2-chloroanilino) fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7- (2-chloroanilino) fluoran, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-xylidinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7- (2-carbomethoxyphenylamino) fluoran, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7- anilinofluoran, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7- (4-n-butyl-phenylamino) fluoran, 3-piperidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 2-anilino-6-dibutylamino-3-methylfluoran (also known as "3-Nn-Dibutylamin-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran" or "ODB-2", CAS RN 89331-94-2), 3- (N-Methyl-N-cyclohexyl) amino-6-methyl-7- anilinofluorane, 3- (N-methyl-N-propyl) amino-6-methyl-7-anili nofluoran, 3- (N-methyl-N-tetrahydrofurfuryl) amino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran), 3- (N-ethyl-N-isoamyl) amino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3 - (N-ethyl-N-tolyl) amino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3- (N-ethyl-N-tetrahydrofuryl) amino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3- (N-ethyl- N-isopentylamino) -6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane, 3- (N-ethyl-4-toluidino) 6-methyl-7- (4-toluidino) fluorane and 3- (N-cyclopentyl-N-ethyl) amino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, the one or more color formers preferably comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 2-anilino-6-dibutylamino-3-methylfluoran, 3- (N-ethyl- N-isopentylamino) -6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran and mixtures thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of 2-anilino-6-dibutylamino-3-methylfluoran and 3- (N-ethyl-N-isopentylamino) -6-methyl -7-anilinofluoran.

Also preferred are heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention which contain the compounds mentioned in paragraphs [0049] to [0052] of EP 2 923 851 A1 as color formers.

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above is preferred (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer comprises a binder, preferably a crosslinked or uncrosslinked binder, preferably the crosslinked or uncrosslinked Binder is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, carboxyl group-modified polyvinyl alcohol, Acetoacetyl-modified polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, a combination of polyvinyl alcohol and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, silanol group-modified polyvinyl alcohol, diacetone-modified polyvinyl alcohol and acrylate copolymers. If desired, the coating composition for forming the heat-sensitive recording layer contains the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, in addition to one or more binders, one or more crosslinking agents for the binder or binders. The crosslinking agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of zirconium carbonate, polyamide amine epichlorohydrin resins, boric acid, glyoxal, dihydroxy bis (ammonium lactato) titanium (IV) (CAS No. 65104-06-5; Tyzor LA) and glyoxal derivatives.

A heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, the heat-sensitive recording layer of which is formed from such a coating composition containing one or more binders and one or more crosslinking agents for the binder or binders, preferably contains in the heat-sensitive recording layer one or more binders crosslinked by reaction with one or more crosslinking agents , the crosslinking agent (s) being selected from the group consisting of zirconium carbonate, polyamidamine epichlorohydrin resins, boric acid, glyoxal, dihydroxy bis (ammonium lactato) titanium (IV) (CAS No. 65104-06-5; Tyzor LA) and glyoxal derivatives. “Crosslinked binder” is understood to mean the reaction product formed by reacting a binder with one or more crosslinking agents.

A heat-sensitive recording material is preferred according to the invention, the heat-sensitive recording layer comprising at least one sensitizer. When using a sensitizer, the sensitizer is first melted during the application of heat during the printing process, and the melted sensitizer dissolves the color formers and color developers present side by side in the heat-sensitive recording layer and / or lowers the melting temperature of the color formers and color developers to cause a color development reaction. The sensitizer itself does not take part in the color development reaction.

A sensitizer is therefore understood to mean substances which serve to set the melting temperature of the heat-sensitive recording layer and with which preferably a melting temperature of approx. 70 to 80 ° C. can be set without the sensitizers themselves being involved in the color development reaction. According to the invention, for example fatty acid salts, fatty acid esters and fatty acid amides (for example zinc stearate, stearic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, oleic acid amide, lauric acid amide, ethylene and methylenebisstearic acid amide, methylol stearic acid amide), naphthalene derivatives, biphenyl derivatives and phtalates can be used as sensitizers.

Preference is given to a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), the heat-sensitive recording layer comprising at least one sensitizer, preferably

- At least one sensitizer with a melting point in the range from 60 ° C to 180 ° C, particularly preferably with a melting point in the range from 80 ° C to 140 ° C, and / or

- Where the at least one sensitizer is selected from the group consisting of 1, 2-bis (3-methylphenoxy) ethane, 1, 2-diphenoxyethane, 1, 2-di (m-methylphenoxy) ethane, 2- (2H- Benzotriazol-2-yl) -p-cresol, 2,2'-bis (4-methoxyphenoxy) diethyl ether, 4,4'-diallyloxydiphenyl sulfone, 4-acetylacetophenone, 4-benzybiphenyl, acetoacetic anilide, benzyl 2-naphthyl ether, benzyl -naphthyl ether, benzyl 4- (benzyloxy) benzoate, benzyl paraben, bis (4-chlorobenzyl) oxalate ester, bis (4-methoxyphenyl) ether, dibenzyl oxalate, dibenzyl terephthalate, dimethyl terephthalate, dimethyl sulfone, diphenyl adipate, Fatty acid anilides, m-terpenyl, N-hydroxymethylstearic acid amine, N-methylol stearamide, N-stearylurea, N-stearyl stearic acid amide, p-benzylbiphenyl, phenylbenzenesulphonate ester, salicylic acid anilide, stearamide, a, especially a'-diphenoxy, and their mixtures preferably the at least one sensitizer are selected from the group consisting of Ben zylnaphthylether, dimethyl terephthalate, 1,2-di (m-methylphenoxy) ethane, 1,2-diphenoxyethane and mixtures thereof. Also preferred are heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention which contain the compounds mentioned in paragraphs [0059] to [0061] of EP 2 923 851 A1 as sensitizers.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, these aforementioned sensitizers are each used alone, that is, not in combination with the other aforementioned sensitizers from the list above. According to a second aspect of the invention, at least two (or more) sensitizers selected from the list above are incorporated into the heat-sensitive recording layer. Furthermore, the use of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (4,4′-DDS, Dapsone) as an additional additive in the heat-sensitive recording layer may prove to be expedient in the heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention. The use of 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone in thermal papers is described, for example, in WO 2014/143174 A1. In this case, the invention can then relate to a heat-sensitive recording material, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone being contained in the heat-sensitive recording layer, in particular additionally as an additive.

In addition, customary image stabilizers, dispersants, antioxidants, release agents, defoamers, light stabilizers, brighteners, as are known in the prior art, can be used in heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention. Each of the components is usually used in a mass fraction of 0.01 to 15%, in particular - with the exception of defoamer - 0.1 to 15%, preferably 1 to 10%, based on the total solids content of the heat-sensitive recording layer. If defoamers are used in the relevant formulations, one or more defoamers can be present in the heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention in proportions by mass of 0.03 to 0.05%, based on the total solids content of the heat-sensitive recording layer.

The present invention also relates to a heat-sensitive recording layer as defined above in this text (ie as defined as part of a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, preferably as part of a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text). With regard to preferred embodiments of the above-specified heat-sensitive recording layer according to the invention and related possible combinations with one another of one or more aspects of the invention specified above, the explanations given above for the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention apply accordingly, and vice versa.

The present invention then also relates to a coating composition for producing a heat-sensitive recording layer, comprising the components of a heat-sensitive recording layer as defined above in this text (as part of a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, preferably as part of a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text ) and preferably (additionally) a carrier liquid. The carrier liquid serves (as is customary in the technical field) preferably to apply the coating composition to a carrier substrate or a pre- or intermediate layer, or to be able to apply it better. The carrier liquid can be partially or completely removed again in a subsequent processing step (e.g. drying).

With regard to preferred embodiments of the above-specified coating composition according to the invention for producing a heat-sensitive recording layer and related possible combinations with one another of one or more aspects of the invention specified above, the explanations given above for the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention and for the heat-sensitive recording layer according to the invention apply accordingly, and vice versa.

A coating composition according to the invention given above is preferred for producing a heat-sensitive recording layer, the carrier liquid (if present) being selected from the group consisting of water, monohydric alcohols with a total number of carbon atoms in the range from 1 to 6, dihydric alcohols with a total number of carbon atoms in the range from 2 to 6, and mixtures thereof. A coating composition according to the invention specified above is particularly preferred for producing a heat-sensitive recording layer, the carrier liquid (if present) comprising or being water, preferably water. The term “coating composition” in the context of the present invention and in accordance with the general understanding of the person skilled in the art, in particular the person skilled in the field of paper technology, preferably paints, preferably containing or consisting of pigments or matrix pigments, binders and (mostly) additives which are applied to the or a surface of a carrier substrate, preferably to the or a surface of a paper substrate (paper surface), or to the layer (s) already applied to the or a surface of a carrier substrate, preferably to the or a surface of a paper substrate ), with special coating devices for surface finishing or modification of the carrier substrate, preferably the paper substrate, are applied (“coated”). Recording materials produced in this way, in particular papers, are often also referred to as “coated papers”. In the context of the present invention, the term “coating composition” is thus the generic term for spreadable coating compositions, preparations and / or solutions for treating, modifying or refining a substrate surface, preferably a carrier substrate surface, particularly preferably a paper substrate surface.

In addition, coating compositions can also contain additives commonly used in papermaking, such as biocides, dispersants, release agents, defoamers or thickeners, which are added to adjust the properties of the coating composition and which usually remain in the layer produced from the coating composition. Here, additives commonly used in papermaking can be used in the usual amounts.

For applying a coating composition to the carrier substrate or to a layer already present on the carrier substrate, the person skilled in the art knows various techniques which are referred to as "painting", for example: blade coating, coating with a film press, cast coating, curtain coating, knife coating, Air brush painting or spray painting. All of these known above-mentioned painting techniques are suitable for applying the above-mentioned coating composition according to the invention to a carrier substrate, preferably a paper substrate which comprises one or more precoats or intermediate coats or which also does not comprise a precoat or intermediate coat.

The present invention also relates to the use of a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably one heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text) as admission tickets, flight, train, ship or bus tickets, gambling receipts, parking tickets, labels, receipts, bank statements, self-adhesive labels, medical chart paper, fax paper, security paper or barcode labels. Another aspect of the present invention relates to products, preferably entry tickets, flight, train, ship or bus tickets, gambling receipts, parking tickets, labels, receipts, bank statements, self-adhesive labels, medical chart paper, fax paper, security paper or barcode labels, comprising a heat-sensitive label according to the invention Recording material. With regard to preferred embodiments of the above-specified use according to the invention or the above-specified products according to the invention and related possible combinations with one another of one or more aspects of the invention specified above, the above for the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, for the above-specified heat-sensitive recording layer according to the invention and for the above-mentioned coating composition according to the invention for producing a heat-sensitive recording layer corresponds to the explanations given, and vice versa.

The present invention also relates to the use of a compound of the formula I. where the compound of the formula I preferably comprises a crystalline form or where the compound of the formula I is present in a crystalline form (preferably the or in the crystalline modification “a”, as described above), where particularly preferably the or at least one crystalline form of the compound of the formula I (as described above or described as preferred) has a melting point in the range from 195 ° C. to 217 ° C., preferably from 200 ° C. to 215 ° C., particularly preferably from 205 ° C to 213 ° C, determined by differential thermal analysis (DSC), to improve the resistance of the printed image of a heat-sensitive recording material, which is a compound of the formula II, comprises, preferably a compound of the formula II in one or more crystalline forms, as indicated above or indicated as preferred, against (or against) fat (preferably against fat or fats) and / or oil and / or lanolin, preferably the compound of the formula I and the compound of the formula II (preferably together) are present in a heat-sensitive recording layer of the heat-sensitive recording material, preferably in a mass ratio of the compound of the formula II to the compound of the formula I in the range from> 5:95 to <99.9: 0.1, particularly preferably from 10:90 to 99: 1, more preferably from 30:70 to 98: 2 and more particularly preferably from 50:50 to 98: 2. With regard to preferred embodiments of the above-specified inventive use of a compound of the formula I and related possible combinations with one another of one or more aspects of the invention specified above, the above apply to the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, for the heat-sensitive recording layer according to the invention specified above, for the above specified coating composition according to the invention for producing a heat-sensitive recording layer, for the above-specified use according to the invention of the recording material according to the invention and for the above-specified products according to the invention in accordance with the explanations given, and vice versa.

The present invention also relates to a method for producing a heat-sensitive recording material, preferably for producing a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention as described above (preferably a heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, which is referred to as preferred in this text), at least comprising the following steps: i. Providing or manufacturing a carrier substrate; ii. Providing or producing a coating composition comprising a compound of the formula I as defined above or as defined as preferred; iii. Providing or producing a coating composition comprising a compound of the formula II as defined above or defined as preferred and / or

Providing or preparing a coating composition comprising N- (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea; iv. Applying the in step ii. and that in step iii. provided or prepared coating compositions on the carrier substrate or on one on the

Carrier substrate arranged intermediate layer; v. Drying the applied coating compositions to form a heat-sensitive recording layer. With regard to preferred embodiments of the above-specified method according to the invention and related possible combinations with one another of one or more aspects of the invention specified above, the above apply to the heat-sensitive recording material according to the invention, for the heat-sensitive recording layer according to the invention specified above, for the inventive coating composition for production specified above a heat-sensitive recording layer, for the above-mentioned inventive use of the recording material according to the invention, the above-mentioned products according to the invention and for the above-mentioned inventive use of a compound of the formula I in accordance with the explanations given, and vice versa.

In the process according to the invention given above, the in step ii. and those in step iii. coating compositions provided or produced in each case in step iv. can be applied individually (separately) or only one coating composition can be applied which comprises both the compound of the formula I and the compound of the formula II, or which comprises both the compound of the formula I and the compound A / - (4- Methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea, or which includes both the compound of the formula I and the compound of the formula II and the compound A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) - N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea. It is preferred in the context of the present invention, in step iv. of the above-mentioned process according to the invention to apply only one coating composition which comprises both the compound of the formula I and the compound of the formula II and which (if a compound A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyl - loxy) phenyl) urea is present or is used) also includes the compound A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea. A method according to the invention as described above is particularly preferred, the aforementioned steps ii. and / or iii. be realized in that a coating composition according to the invention specified above (or a coating composition according to the invention described as preferred in this text) is provided or produced.

A method according to the invention as described above is preferred (preferably a method according to the invention which is referred to as preferred in this text), additionally comprising the method steps a) providing or producing a coating composition comprising pigments; b) applying the provided or produced coating composition to the carrier substrate; c) drying the applied coating composition to form an intermediate layer; where preferably the process steps a) to c) before the process step ii specified above. are carried out and wherein the intermediate layer is preferably arranged between the carrier substrate and the heat-sensitive recording layer. If an intermediate layer is formed, the coating composition provided or produced is applied in step iii. of the method according to the invention on the intermediate layer formed and not directly on the prepared or produced carrier substrate.

A method according to the invention as described above is also preferred (preferably a method according to the invention which is referred to as preferred in this text), additionally comprising the method steps

A) providing or producing a coating composition;

B) applying the coating composition provided or prepared to the heat-sensitive recording layer; C) drying the applied coating composition to form a protective layer; where process steps A) to C) are preferably performed after process step iv. and the protective layer is disposed on the thermosensitive recording layer. Examples:

The examples given below are intended to describe and explain the invention in more detail without restricting its scope. In paper production, a distinction is made between three grades for the dryness of paper and cellulose: “atro” (absolutely dry), “lutro” (air dry) and “otro” (oven dry). Unless otherwise stated, the information in the following examples is given in “% dry”, “% dry” and “% dry”. "Atro" stands for paper or cellulose with 0% water content. For "lutro", a "normal" moisture content (which is fundamentally necessary for the paper) is used as the basis for the calculation. In the case of pulp and wood pulp, the calculation mass is usually 90: 100, i.e. 90 parts of fabric and 10 parts of water. The state of paper or pulp after drying under specified, defined conditions is called "oven-dry". The crystalline modification “a” of the compound of the formula I was used as the compound of the formula I in the examples below.

The “second crystalline form of the compound of the formula II” described in more detail above was used as the compound of the formula II in the examples below.

Example 1: Production of a paper web with an intermediate layer as carrier substrate A paper web of bleached and ground hardwood and softwood pulps with a mass per unit area of 67 g / m ² with the addition of conventional additives is produced in conventional quantities on a Fourdrinier paper machine as carrier substrate. On the front side, an intermediate layer comprising cavity pigments and calcined kaolin as pigment, styrene-butadiene latex as binder and starch as cobinder with a mass per unit area of 9 g / m ^{2 is} applied and conventionally dried.

Example 2: Preparation of coating compositions for heat-sensitive

Recording layers

For the coating composition for producing heat-sensitive recording layers, a formulation was used in each case which comprised a mixture comprising polyvinyl alcohol and an acrylate copolymer as a binder and calcium carbonate as a pigment. Further constituents of the respective coating composition for producing the heat-sensitive recording layers are given in Table 1 below: Table 1: Components of the coating composition for thermosensitive recording layers

The “dry mass fraction [%]” given in the above table 1 relate to the mass fractions of the specified components in the total mass of the coating composition.

In the above table 1, the information “compound formula (I) *” means that the “atro mass fraction [%]” given in the corresponding column relates to the respective Linkage of the formula I (color developer), unless otherwise stated in the column. In the “V2” coating composition, on the other hand, the compound of the formula I is completely replaced by Pergafast 201.

In the above Table 1, the indication “(% FEG)” means the mass fraction of the color developer given in the respective column (in mass%) in the color developer mixture present in the heat-sensitive recording layer.

ODB-2: "one dye black 2"; 2-anilino-6-dibutylamino-3-methylfluorane (IUPAC name: 6'- (dibutylamino) -3'-methyl-2 '- (phenylamino) -3H-spiro [2-benzofuran-1, 9'-xanthenj- 3-one); CAS RN 89331-94-2; (Color former). P201: Pergafast 201 (color developer, see above).

Example 3: Preparation of heat-sensitive recording materials

To produce heat-sensitive recording materials, a coating composition as indicated in Table 1 above with a mass per unit area of 2.3 g / m ^{2 was} applied to a paper web with an intermediate layer as the carrier substrate (for production see Example 1 above) and after application in each case conventionally dried and optionally smoothed to form a heat-sensitive recording layer.

The heat-sensitive recording materials WA-E1 to WA-E8 (each according to the invention) and WA-V1 and WA-V2 (each comparison) were obtained in this way.

Table 2: Heat-sensitive recording materials

Example 4: Production of heat-sensitive recording materials covered with a protective layer

Further heat-sensitive recording materials WA-E1 to WA-E8 (each according to the invention) and WA-V1 and WA-V2 (each not according to the invention, comparison) are produced as indicated in Examples 1 to 3 above. On the heat-sensitive recording layers These further heat-sensitive recording materials WA-E1 to WA-E8 as well as WA-V1 and WA-V2 are each a coating composition for a protective layer, as indicated in the following Table 3, with a basis weight of 1.5 to 2.5 g / m ² applied and then dried.

Table 3: Coating composition for a protective layer In this way, the heat-sensitive recording materials WA-E1S to WA-E8S and WA-V1S and WA-V2S each covered with a protective layer are obtained.

Example 5: Determination of the heat resistance of heat-sensitive recording materials

To measure the heat resistance of a thermal printout on the heat-sensitive recording material of example WA-E1 according to the invention (for preparation see Example 3) and the comparative example WA-V2 not according to the invention, black and white checkered thermal test prints were made on the heat-sensitive recording materials to be tested using a device of the type GeBE Printerlab created.

After the creation of the black and white checkered thermal test printouts, the black-colored areas (referred to as “image” in Table 4 below) and the uncolored areas (referred to in Table 4 below) were taken at three points after a rest period of more than 5 minutes a determination of the print density with a spectral densitometer of the type TECHKON ^® SpectroDens Advanced is carried out as the "background") of the thermal proof printouts. The mean value was formed from the measured values for the black-colored areas and for the uncolored areas (referred to in Table 4 below as “before heating”). The thermal proofs were hung in a drying cabinet at 90 ° C. After 1 hour, the thermal paper printouts were removed again, cooled to room temperature and a determination of the print density was carried out again at three points each of the black-colored areas and the uncolored areas of the thermal test printouts (averaging and densitometer as described above; designated in Table 4 below as "After heating").

The measurement results obtained in this way are listed in Table 4 below: Table 4: Print densities of heat-sensitive recording materials before and after heating

It can be seen from the data given in Table 4 above that a heat-sensitive recording material (WA-E1) according to the invention has excellent heat resistance of the background and thus enables permanent, very high-contrast prints.

Example 6 Determination of the Dynamic Print Density (or the Dynamic Sensitivity) of Heat-Sensitive Recording Materials The sensitivity of a heat-sensitive recording material (in particular of a thermal paper) defines the degree of the reaction with a certain supply of energy. It is usually shown in graphics that show the generated image density or optical density (OD) as a function of the energy or heat supplied. Optical density is a measure of the ratio between incident and reflected light. An optical density, specified in “Optical Density Units” (ODU), of approx. 1.1 is usually completely black for the human eye. Lower optical densities therefore result in different levels of gray. A distinction is made between static and dynamic sensitivity (or static and dynamic print density).

The dynamic sensitivity (or dynamic print density) of a heat-sensitive recording material (especially a thermal paper) shows how quickly a heat-sensitive recording material can be printed. The higher the dynamic sensitivity, the faster a thermal printer can print on the heat-sensitive recording material with otherwise unchanged settings.

To determine the maximum dynamic print density of the heat-sensitive recording materials given in Table 5 below, black and white checkered thermal test printouts were made with a GeBE printer, the heat-sensitive recording materials (see Table 5) with an energy in the range from 3 to 16 mJ / mm ^{2 were} printed out. Each thermal sample print was then examined with a spectral densitometer of the type TECHKON ^{® SpectroDens Advanced.} The measurement results obtained with the aid of a densitometer (as pressure density data in ODU) are given in Table 5 below against the corresponding energy inputs.

Table 5: Dynamic sensitivity (print density) of heat-sensitive recording materials

From the data given in Table 5 above, it can be seen that the inventive heat-sensitive recording materials WA-E2, WA-E3, WA-E4 and WA-E5 (containing between 5 and 50 parts by weight of the color developer mixture present in the heat-sensitive recording layer of compound of formula I) had at least approximately the same dynamic sensitivity values as or higher dynamic sensitivity values than the heat-sensitive recording material WA-V2 not according to the invention used for comparison (only contains the pergafast 201 color developer). From said data it can also be seen that, in comparison, the highest (maximum) values for the print density were achieved with the heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention, which had only a relatively low proportion of compound of the formula I in the color developer mixture present in the heat-sensitive recording layer.

Example 7: Resistance of heat-sensitive recording materials to fat or fats

In each case, the heat-sensitive recording materials listed in Table 6 given below were used for this test: On printed materials produced with a GeBE printer at maximum printing energy (level +1)

Lanolin (wool wax) was applied to surfaces of heat-sensitive recording materials and the excess was dabbed off with a filter paper or cotton cloth after a contact time of 10 minutes. The test sheets pretreated in this way were then stored for 24 hours in a room climate (23 ° C., 50% relative humidity). Before applying the lanolin (“before”) and after expiry of the storage time (“after”), the TECHKON ^® SpectroDens Advanced spectral densitometer was used to determine the optical density (in ODU) of the printed areas “before” and “after” as well as “stability” the proportion (in percent) of the optical density still remaining after the expiry of the storage time (“after”) based on the initial value ("before"). The corresponding values are given in Table 6 below:

Table 6: Resistance of heat-sensitive recording materials to lanolin

From the data given in Table 6 above, it can be seen that the resistance of a heat-sensitive recording material, which contains only a compound of formula II in the heat-sensitive recording layer as a color developer, to fat or fats can be significantly increased by adding even a small amount of Compound of the formula I, so that a color developer mixture comprising a compound of the formula I and a compound of the formula II is formed or is present in the heat-sensitive recording layer.

Compared to a heat-sensitive recording material which only contains a compound of the formula I as a color developer in the heat-sensitive recording layer, the resistance to grease or fats can again be increased significantly by adding increasing amounts of the compound of the formula II, so that in the heat-sensitive recording layer a color developer mixture comprising a compound of the formula I and a compound of the formula II is formed or is present. Accordingly, a heat-sensitive recording material, which comprises a color developer mixture comprising a compound of the formula I and a compound of the formula II in its heat-sensitive recording layer, has a higher resistance to fat or fats (in particular to lanolin) than heat-sensitive recording materials which are in their heat-sensitive Recording layers as color developers either contain only one compound of the formula I or which contain only one compound of the formula II. This indicates a synergistic effect of a color developer mixture comprising a compound of the formula I and a compound of the formula II in relation to an increase in the resistance to fat or fats (in particular to lanolin).

The resistance of a heat-sensitive recording material to lanolin is considered to be higher if the print density of a printed area decreases less than that of the comparative sample.

Example 8: Determination of the long-term climate resistance of heat-sensitive recording materials (at 60 ° C. and 90% r.h.);

For the metrological determination of the climatic resistance of a thermal printout on the heat-sensitive recording materials of the examples according to the invention and of comparative examples (production as described in Example 3), black and white checkered thermal test printouts were made on the heat-sensitive recording materials to be tested with a device of the GeBE Printerlab type, a thermal head with a resolution of 300 dpi and an energy per unit area of 16 mJ / mm ² was used.

^{After the black and white checkered thermal test print had been created, the print density was determined using a TECHKON ®} SpectroDens Advanced densitometer - spectral densitometer - after a rest period of more than 5 minutes at three points on each of the black areas of the thermal test print. The mean value was formed from the respective measured values for the black-colored areas.

For each of the inventive examples given in Table 7 below and for each comparative example given there, the following procedure was then used: a thermal sample printout was hung in a drying cabinet at 60 ° C. and a relative humidity of 90%. After 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, 18 and 39 days, the thermal paper printout became removed, cooled to room temperature and it was again the black-colored areas of the thermal test print to a determination of the optical print density (in ODU) by a densitometer TECHKON ^® SpectroDens Advanced three digits each - performed spectro-densitometer. The mean value was formed from the respective measured values of areas colored black. After each measurement, the thermal sample printout was again hung in the drying cabinet at 60 ° C. and a relative humidity of 90% until the next measurement.

The measurement results thus obtained are shown in Table 7 below:

Table 7: Long-term climatic stability of heat-sensitive recording materials

It can be seen from the measurement results shown in Table 7 that the printouts (measured in units of optical print density) on all heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention were more resistant to warm, humid climatic influences than the print-outs on heat-sensitive comparison recording materials, which were either only Pergafast 201 or only one compound of the formula II (NKK 1304) contained. It can also be seen from the measurement results given in Table 7 that even the addition of small amounts of a compound of the formula I to a compound of the formula II (NKK 1304) results in the resulting color developer mixture having a significantly better long-term resistance to a heat-sensitive recording material compared to warm and humid material Gives climatic influences.

Particularly preferred heat-sensitive recording materials according to the invention according to Table 7 also have an improved long-term resistance to warm, humid climatic influences compared to heat-sensitive recording materials which contain only one compound of the formula I or only one compound of the formula II as a color developer, whereby the corresponding synergistic effect of a color developer mixture containing a Compound of formula I and a compound of formula II is underlined.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Heat-sensitive recording material comprising i) a carrier substrate and ii) a heat-sensitive recording layer, the heat-sensitive recording layer comprising one or more color formers and at least one organic color developer, the at least one organic color developer being a compound of the formula I includes.

2. Heat-sensitive recording material according to claim 1, wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer is completely or partially covered with a further layer, preferably a protective layer.

3. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer ii) has one or more

A color former and a color developer mixture, and wherein the color developer mixture comprises a) a compound of the formula I as defined in claim 1, and b) at least one further organic color developer which does not contain a phenol group, preferably b) a further organic color developer selected from the group consisting of a compound of the formula II, A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3 - (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) urea and mixtures thereof, or where the color developer mixture consists of the aforementioned components a) and b).

4. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer ii) comprises one or more color formers and a color developer mixture and wherein the color developer mixture a) a compound of the formula I as defined in claim 1, and b) at least one further organic color developer , which is a compound of the formula II includes or is, includes.

5. Heat-sensitive recording material according to claim 3 or 4, wherein

the compound of the formula II comprises a crystalline form or wherein the compound of the formula II is present in a crystalline form, the or at least one crystalline form of the compound of the formula II preferably having an absorption band at 3401 ± 20 cm ^{1 in the IR spectrum} and / or the compound of the formula I comprises a crystalline form or wherein the compound of the formula I is in a crystalline form, the or at least one crystalline form of the compound of the formula I preferably having a melting point in the range from 195 ° C to 217 ° C, preferably from 200 ° C to 215 ° C, determined by differential thermal analysis.

6. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, preferably according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the mass ratio between the compound of the formula II and the compound of the formula I is in the range from 5:95 to 99.9: 0.1 is preferably from 10:90 to 99: 1, more preferably from 30:70 to 99: 1 and particularly preferably from 50:50 to 98

: 2 lies.

7. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

- The carrier substrate comprises or is a paper, synthetic paper or a plastic film and / or the mass fraction of the at least one organic color developer or the color developer mixture in the heat-sensitive recording layer is 12% to 35%, preferably 15% to 31%, particularly preferably 17% to 30%, based on the total solids content of the heat-sensitive recording layer, and / or

the mass per unit area of the heat-sensitive recording layer is in the range from 1.0 to 6 g / m ² , preferably in the range from 1.2 to 5.0 g / m ² .

8. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising an intermediate layer arranged between the carrier substrate and the heat-sensitive recording layer, the intermediate layer preferably containing pigments.

9. The thermosensitive recording material according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate layer contains pigments and wherein the pigments comprise

- organic pigments, preferably organic hollow body pigments; and or

10. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more color formers are selected from those organic compounds which contain a structural element which is selected from the group consisting of fluorane, phthalide, lactam, triphenylmethane, phenothiazine and spiropyran, wherein the or at least one of the plurality of color formers preferably has a fluorane structural element.

11. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer comprises a binder, preferably a crosslinked or uncrosslinked binder, the crosslinked or uncrosslinked binder preferably being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, carboxyl group-modified polyvinyl alcohol, acetoacetyl-modified polyvinyl alcohol , Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, a combination of polyvinyl alcohol and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, silanol group-modified polyvinyl alcohol, diacetone-modified polyvinyl alcohol and acrylate copolymers.

12. Heat-sensitive recording material according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat-sensitive recording layer comprises at least one sensitizer, preferably

- Where the at least one sensitizer is selected from the group consisting of 1, 2-bis (3-methylphenoxy) ethane, 1, 2-diphenoxyethane, 1, 2-di (m-methylphenoxy) ethane, 2- (2H- Benzotriazol-2-yl) -p-cresol, 2,2'-bis (4-methoxyphenoxy) diethyl ether, 4,4'-diallyloxydiphenyl sulfone, 4-acetylacetophenone, 4-benzybiphenyl, acetoacetic anilide, benzyl 2-naphthyl ether, benzyl -naphthyl ether, benzyl 4- (benzyloxy) benzoate, benzyl paraben, bis (4-chlorobenzyl) oxalate ester, bis (4-methoxyphenyl) ether, dibenzyl oxalate, dibenzyl terephthalate, dimethyl terephthalate, dimethyl sulfone, diphenyl adipate, Fatty acid anilides, m-terpenyl, N-hydroxymethylstearic acid amine, N-methylol stearamide, N-stearyl urea, N-stearyl stearic acid amide, p-benzylbiphenyl, phenylbenzenesulfonate ester, salicylic acid anilide, stearamide, a, oxylene, and their mixed oxy-oxylene

13. A thermosensitive recording layer as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7 or 10 to 12.

14. A coating composition for producing a heat-sensitive recording layer, preferably according to claim 13, comprising the components of a heat-sensitive recording layer as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7 or 10 to 12 and preferably a carrier liquid.

15. Use of a heat-sensitive recording material according to one of claims 1 to 12 as admission tickets, flight, train, ship or bus tickets, gambling receipts, parking tickets, labels, receipts, bank statements, self-adhesive labels, medical chart paper, fax paper, security paper or barcode Labels.

16. Use of a compound of formula I as defined in one of claims 1 or 5 for improving the resistance of the printed image of a heat-sensitive recording material which comprises a compound of formula II as defined in one of claims 4 or 5, against Fat and / or oil and / or lanolin, where the compound of the formula I and the compound of the formula II are preferably present in a heat-sensitive recording layer of the heat-sensitive recording material, preferably in a mass ratio of the compound of the formula II to the compound of the formula I in the range of 5:95 to 99.9: 0.1, particularly preferably from 10:90 to 99: 1, more preferably from 30:70 to 98: 2 and more particularly preferably from 50:50 to 98: 2.

17. A method for producing a heat-sensitive recording material, preferably according to one of claims 1 to 12, at least comprising the following steps: i. Providing or manufacturing a carrier substrate; ii. Providing or producing a coating composition comprising a compound of the formula I as defined in one of claims 1 or 5 iii. Providing or producing a coating composition comprising a compound of the formula II as defined in one of claims 4 or 5; and or

Providing or producing a coating composition comprising A / - (4-methylphenylsulfonyl) -N '- (3- (4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy) phenyl) - urea; iv. Applying the in step ii. and that in step iii. provided or produced coating compositions on the carrier substrate or on an intermediate layer arranged on the carrier substrate;

V. Drying the applied coating compositions to form a thermosensitive recording layer.