JPH08156416A - Reversible thermal recording material and reversible thermal recording medium using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a leuco compd. excellent in color forming properties, color erasing properties and image stability by using a fluorane compd. represented by a specific formula as the leuco compd. CONSTITUTION: In a reversible thermal recording material based on a leuco compd, a coupling and erasing agent reacting with the leuco compd. thermally to form or erase a color and a binder, as the leuco compd., a fluorane compd. represented by formula (wherein A is a pyrrolidino or piperidino group and A1 and A2 are a hydrogen atom, a 8 or less C alkyl group or an alkoxy group) is used. A recording layer containing the reversible thermal recording material is provided on a support and a protective layer is provided on the recording layer to obtain a reversible thermal recording medium having recording characteristics excellent in color forming and erasing properties and excellent image preservability.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming material,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a reversible thermosensitive recording material capable of forming an image and erasing the same by controlling thermal energy, and a reversible thermosensitive recording medium using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, reversible heat-sensitive recording materials have been extensively developed which are capable of recording and erasing visible images repeatedly by appropriately controlling applied heat energy. Regarding materials, for example, JP-A-58-191190 and JP-A-60-19369.
No. 1, US Pat. No. 3,666,525, JP-A-5
4-119377, JP-A-63-39377, JP-A-63-41186, JP-A-2-188.
No. 294, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,118, JP-A-50-81157, and JP-A-50-1.
There are those disclosed in JP-A-05555 and JP-A-60-264285. Among these, for example, JP-A-5
8-191190, JP-A -60-193691
The technology disclosed in the publication and US Pat. No. 3,666,525 is provided with a recording layer composed of a color former, a developer and a binder, and a low vapor pressure solvent or a hot melt substance is added as necessary. are doing. And, the color development is performed using heat energy, and the color is decolorized with water or water vapor,
Alternatively, it is performed by using an organic solvent of some kind. These do not repeat coloring and erasing only by controlling the thermal energy applied, but the process and apparatus for erasing become complicated, and further there is a problem of record storability.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-119377,
JP-A-63-39377, JP-A-63-4118
The technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6 discloses a reversible thermosensitive recording material containing a resin matrix and an organic low molecular weight substance dispersed in the resin matrix as main components and a thermosensitive recording medium having a recording layer. ing. The recording method of this reversible heat-sensitive recording material does not develop or decolor by a chemical reaction,
The reverse thermosensitive recording material constituting the recording layer by controlling the thermal energy has two state transition temperatures T ₁ and T ₂ (provided that T ₁ <T ₂ ) at a temperature higher than a specific temperature T ₀ near room temperature, When heated to T ₂ or more and held and then cooled to T ₀ or less, white turbidity (light scattering due to change in crystal state of organic low molecule) occurs in the thermosensitive recording material, light scattering property increases, and maximum light blocking state is achieved. , The thermosensitive recording layer in the turbid state is T ₁
The transparency (white turbidity / transparency) is reversibly changed so that when it is heated to less than T ₂ and held, and then cooled to T ₀ or less, its light scattering property decreases (transmits light) and becomes transparent. By doing so, image formation and its erasing are performed.

Further, US Pat. No. 4,028,118,
JP-A-50-81157, JP-A-50-1055
The techniques described in JP-A-55-55 and JP-A-60-264285 show thermochromic materials, and these images only change the formed image with temperature,
There is no memory for images. However, JP-A-60-264
A certain type of thermochromic material described in Japanese Patent No. 285 is capable of maintaining an image forming state and an erasing state by keeping a recording medium in a hysteresis temperature range by utilizing a hysteresis characteristic, but it is restricted in a use environment. There is a problem in using it in the temperature environment of daily life.

Next, the present inventors have previously proposed a reversible thermosensitive recording material that chemically develops and decolors only by controlling thermal energy, and is disclosed in JP-A-2-188293 and JP-A-2- No. 188294, International publication number WO
No. 90/11898 and the like. These are a reversible heat-sensitive recording material containing a leuco compound, a color-developing / reducing agent for developing / decoloring the leuco compound by controlling heat energy, and a binder, and a reversible heat-sensitive recording material provided on a support as a heat-sensitive recording layer. It will be. This thermal recording material is
A compound that has both properties of a group having a color-developing effect (acidic component) and a group having a color-reducing effect (component made of a base) is used as a color-developing and color-reducing agent to perform color development and decolorization by controlling applied heat. is there. With this heat-sensitive recording material, it is possible to hold a stable image with time in an environment of daily life. The color developing and decoloring characteristics and the image stability are largely due to the chemical structure of the developer and decolorizer in the material.

However, the properties of the above reversible recording materials, that is, the color-developing property, the decolorizing property and the image stability, are not only strongly dependent on the properties of the color-developing and color-reducing agent, but of course are strongly dependent on the leuco compound used as the dye precursor. It depends. For example, 2- (2-chloroanilino) -6-diethylaminofluorane, which is a leuco compound generally used in heat-sensitive recording materials, has good decoloring properties, but has problems in color forming properties and image stability. Further, 2- (2,4-dimethylanilino) -3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluorane has good color developability and image stability, but has a problem in decolorization. As described above, the leuco compound generally used in the thermal recording material has advantages and disadvantages depending on the substance.
A leuco compound excellent in color developability / decolorability and image stability is desired.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a reversible thermosensitive recording containing a binder as a main component and a leuco compound and a color-developing / decoloring agent for thermally developing or reducing the color by reacting with the leuco compound by controlling thermal energy. It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems presented in the prior art in materials, and particularly to provide a leuco compound which is excellent in all of color developing properties, decoloring properties and image stability.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the invention according to claim 1 is to use a leuco compound, a color-developing / reducing agent for thermally developing or reducing the color by reacting with the leuco compound, and a reversible sensation containing a binder as a main component. The thermal recording material is characterized in that the fluoran compound represented by the following general formula (1) is used alone or in combination of two or more as the leuco compound.

Embedded image (In the formula, A represents a pyrrolidino group or a piperidino group, and A ₁ and A ₂ represent an alkyl group or an alkoxy group having a hydrogen atom and 8 or less carbon atoms .)

Using the leuco compound represented by the above general formula (1), a reversible heat-sensitive recording medium having a reversible heat-sensitive recording material containing a color-developing / reducing agent and a binder as a main component is used for a thermal printer or the like. When the heat printing means (for example, a thermal head) of (1) is applied with heat energy (h1), for example, at a high temperature for a short time (several millimeters to hundreds of milliseconds), a color is formed and an image is formed. Further, if another heat energy (h2) is applied to this image by a heating means such as a heat roller, a heat plate, or a thermal head, for example, a heat treatment is performed at a low temperature for a long time (1 second or more), the image is erased. Erased. Further, it is possible to repeatedly form and erase an image so that an image is formed by applying heat energy (h1) to the erased recording layer in the same manner, and unless heat energy is applied, It holds the image forming state or the image erasing state.

In such image formation or image erasing, the recording layer using the leuco compound represented by the above-mentioned general formula (1) of the present invention has a high coloring density and is excellent in decoloring property and image stability. On the other hand, A ₁ and A _{2 in} the above general formula (1)
It was found that the introduction of an aryl group having a carbon number of 9 or more, substituting with a halogen atom, or introducing an aryl group is not preferable in terms of color developability and image stability of the reversible thermosensitive recording material. These findings were difficult to predict from the conventional thermal paper technology used in the past.

Next, each material constituting the reversible thermosensitive recording material of the present invention will be described. Examples of the leuco compound represented by the above chemical formula (1) according to the present invention are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As a specific example, 3-pyrrolidino 6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane, 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7-anilinofluorane, 3-pyrrolidino 6-methyl-7- (4-methylanilino) fluorane, 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7- (4-methylanilino) fluorane ,
3-pyrrolidino 6-methyl-7- (4-n-butylanilino) fluorane, 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7
-(4-n-Butylanilino) fluorane, 3-pyrrolidino 6-methyl-7- (2-methyl-4-methylanilino) fluorane, 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7- (2-methyl-4-methylanilino) fluorane, 3-pyrrolidino 6-methyl-7- (4-ethoxyanilino) Fluoran, 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7- (4-ethoxyanilino) fluorane, 3-pyrrolidino 6-methyl-7- (4-butoxyanilino) fluorane, 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7- (4-butoxyanilino) fluorane, 3-pyrrolidino 6 -Methyl-7- (2-ethyl-4-ethylanilino) fluorane,
Examples include 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7- (2-ethyl-4-ethylanilino) fluorane, 3-pyrrolidino 6-methyl-7- (4-pentylanilino) fluorane, and 3-piperidino 6-methyl-7- (4-pentylanilino) fluorane. The above leuco compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Further, the developer / color-reducing agent used in the present invention is preferably a compound having both properties of an acidic component and a basic component. By controlling the thermal energy in the presence of the leuco compound shown in the above specific examples. Any image forming and erasing image may be used. Further, from the viewpoint of color developability, decoloring property and image stability, a compound having both an acidic component consisting of a phenolic hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group and a basic group consisting of an amino group, which is acidic due to a difference in thermal energy Alternatively, it becomes basic and causes the leuco compound to develop (develop) and reduce (decolor). The basic group may be present as a functional group or as a part of chloride. Examples of the developer / color-reducing agent having an amino group as a functional group include aminobenzoic acid, hydroxyaminobenzoic acid, aminophenols, aminonaphthoic acids, nicotinic acids and the like. As a specific example,
p-aminobenzoic acid, m-aminobenzoic acid, o-aminobenzoic acid, 4-amino-3-methylbenzoic acid, 3-amino-4-methylbenzoic acid, 2-amino-5-ethylbenzoic acid, 3- Amino-4-butylbenzoic acid, 4-amino-
3-methoxybenzoic acid, 3-amino-4-ethoxybenzoic acid, 2-amino-5-chlorobenzoic acid, 4-amino-
3-bromobenzoic acid, 2-amino-4-nitrobenzoic acid, 4-amino-3-nitrobenzoic acid, 3-amino-4
-Nitrilebenzoic acid, aminosalicylic acid, diaminobenzoic acid, 2-methyl-5-aminonaphthoic acid, 3-ethyl-4-aminonaphthoic acid, nicotinic acid, isonicotinic acid, 2-methylnicotinic acid, 6-chloronicotinic acid Etc.

The compound having a basic group as a part of chloride is a salt or complex salt of a compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group and a compound having an amino group, such as hydroxybenzoic acid and hydroxysalicylic acid. Examples thereof include salts or complex salts of acids such as gallic acids, gallic acids, and bisphenolacetic acid with aliphatic amines, phenylalkylamines, trialkylamines, and the like. As specific examples, p-hydroxybenzoic acid-alkylamine salt, p-hydroxybenzoic acid-phenylalkylamine salt, m-hydroxybenzoic acid-alkylamine salt, 2,
4-dihydroxybenzoic acid-alkylamine salt, 4,5
-Dihydroxybenzoic acid-tolylalkylamine salt, p
-Hydroxybenzoic acid methyl-alkylamine salt, p-
Hydroxybenzoic acid stearyl-alkylamine salt, gallic acid-alkylamine salt, gallic acid dodecyl-alkylamine salt, gallic acid stearyl-alkylamine salt,
Examples thereof include bisphenolacetic acid-alkylamine salt, bisphenolacetic acid stearyl-alkylamine salt, and bisphenolacetic acid octyl-alkylamine salt.

Further, these color-developing / reducing agents are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-188293 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-188293 filed by the present inventors.
No. 188294, International Public Law No. WO90 / 118
Materials described in No. 98 and the like can also be mentioned. Also, two or more kinds may be used at the same time.

As the binder used in the present invention, a generally used polymer resin which is soluble in water or an organic solvent can be used. Specific examples of such polymer resins include polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, methoxy cellulose,
Carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, casein, starches, water-soluble polymers such as sodium polyacrylate, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, linear saturated polyester, polymethacrylic acid Homo or copolymer of methacrylic resin such as methyl or polyethyl methacrylate, polyurethane, polybutyral, nitrocellulose, ethyl cellulose, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, polyester, paraffin wax, polyethylene wax, carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, Solvent-soluble polymers such as stearic acid amide and rubbers can be used.

The content of each component of the recording layer composition of the reversible thermosensitive recording material of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is 0.1 to 2 parts by weight of the leuco compound to 1 part by weight of the color-developing and reducing agent. Further, the binder is preferably 2 parts by weight or less.

Next, a specific method for producing the reversible thermosensitive recording material of the present invention will be described, but the invention is not limited thereto. As a specific example of the method for producing the reversible thermosensitive recording material of the present invention, as long as it contains the leuco compound, the color-developing color-reducing agent and the binder resin described above, any aspect may be used, but with water or an organic solvent. The binder is dissolved in a coating liquid composed of a leuco compound uniformly dispersed or dissolved and a color-developing / reducing agent. The invention according to claim 2 relates to the invention of a reversible thermosensitive recording medium using a coating liquid comprising the reversible thermosensitive recording material in a recording layer.

That is, the invention according to claim 2 is a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a support and a recording layer containing the reversible thermosensitive recording material according to claim 1.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2
Of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention.

That is, the invention according to claim 3 is based on the reversible thermosensitive recording medium according to claim 2, and is characterized in that a protective layer is provided on the recording layer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reversible thermosensitive recording medium 1 according to the present invention comprises a recording layer coating liquid comprising the above coating liquid, paper, synthetic paper, plastic film or sheet such as polyester, PS or PP. , Bar coating, blade coating on support 2 such as paper laminated with synthetic resin,
The recording layer 3 is provided by coating and drying by a coating method such as air knife coating, gravure coating or roll coating. At this time, the coating amount of the recording layer 3 after drying is 3
-10 g / m ² is suitable.

The leuco compound and the color-developing / reducing agent may be present in the recording layer 3 in the form of microcapsules. As the microencapsulation method at this time, various known methods are used, for example, an interfacial polymerization method,
The in situ polymerization method, the coacervation method, the spray drying method, the in-liquid drying method and the like can be mentioned.

Further, on the recording layer comprising a leuco compound, a color-reducing agent and a binder on the support 2, the thermal head matching property (adhesion of dust to the thermal head, sticking) is improved, or the durability of the recording layer 3 is imparted. Providing the protective layer 4 for the purpose does not impair the characteristics of the recording material of the present invention. For example, as a protective layer component, an inorganic filler such as talc, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, and silicon oxide, an organic filler such as Teflon resin, a silicone resin, and a urea-formalin resin, a lubricant such as waxes, and a high-level filler used for the recording layer binder are used. A combination of a molecular resin, a thermosetting resin, an electron beam curable resin, a silicone resin, or the like is used.

Further, in the recording layer made of the reversible thermosensitive recording material according to the present invention, in addition to the above leuco compound, the color-developing / reducing agent and the binder, additives which are applied to ordinary thermosensitive recording paper may be added. Good. Specific examples thereof include dispersants such as surfactants, color image stabilizers, antioxidants, light stabilizers, and inorganic or organic pigments. In addition, a melting point depressant for controlling the color developing sensitivity and decoloring temperature of the recording layer may be contained. Specific examples thereof include higher fatty acid amides such as stearic acid amide and palmitic acid amide, benzenesulfonic acid amides, benzyloxynaphthalene, and benzylbiphenyl. Although not shown, an undercoat layer may be provided between the recording layer 3 and the support 2, if necessary.
Further, a back coat layer may be provided on the surface opposite to the surface on which the recording layer 3 is formed.

The principle of image formation and deletion by the reversible thermosensitive recording material of the present invention is as follows. That is, when an acidic substance comes into contact with the leuco compound, which is a basic dye, the lactone ring in the leuco compound is opened to form a coloring system. On the contrary, when a basic substance comes into contact with a dye that is a coloring system, the lactone ring is closed and the original colorless leuco body is restored. This coloring and decoloring phenomenon can be controlled by, for example, using a compound having both a group having a color developing effect (acid component) and a group having a color reducing effect (basic component) as a color developing and reducing agent. Achieved by

The color-developing and decoloring agent in the color-developing / decoloring mechanism of the system here is itself alkaline. However, the reaction rate at which the acidic component opens the lactone ring of the leuco compound is
Faster than the reaction rate of the basic component closing the ring. Therefore, the chromophore is melted by heating and the lactone ring is preferentially cleaved by the acidic component (for example, a hydrogen ion is released from the phenolic hydroxyl group or the carboxyl group of the chromophore and reacts with the leuco compound to give a leuco compound. Is open). Next, ring closure occurs due to the basic component, but the heat is rapidly spread and rapidly cooled due to high-speed point heating of the thermal head or the like, so that it is fixed in a colored state. In the case of gradual cooling, it is considered that after the ring is once opened, the basic component closes the ring and tilts to decolorize the leuco body (for example, hydrogen ions are deprived by the action of the amino group of the color-developing / reducing agent and leuco compound is removed). The compound is closed). That is, the color develops when heated and rapidly cooled with a thermal head, and the color disappears when heated and gradually cooled with a thermal stamp. Coloring and decoloring occur reversibly and can be repeated. The thermal head at the time of color development can be regarded as heating and rapid cooling, and the thermal stamp at the time of color erasing can be regarded as heating and gradual cooling. Those states are maintained in the environment of daily life. As described above, the coloring and decoloring properties are not only largely due to the chemical structure of the developer and decolorizer used, but also due to the reversibility of the leuco compound. By using the leuco compound represented by the general formula (1) of the present invention, it is possible to improve the properties of the recording material, especially the color developability, the color erasability and the storability of the recorded image.

Further, a method of recording on the recording layer of the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention will be described. To form an image, it is only necessary to control the heat energy of heating / quenching, and for example, it is possible to use a heating printing means such as a thermal head or a semiconductor laser. On the other hand, in the case of image erasing, it suffices if the heat energy of heating / slow cooling can be controlled.
It becomes possible by using radiant heat from a heat roll, a thermal head, or the like.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the leuco compound has the general formula (1)
The reversible heat-sensitive recording material containing at least a fluoran compound, a color-developing / reducing agent having both an acidic component having a color-developing effect and a basic component having a color-reducing effect, and a binder has a basic property by controlling thermal energy. When the acidic component of the color-developing agent contacts the leuco compound, which is a dye, the lactone ring in the leuco compound opens and develops the color, and when the basic component of the color-reducing agent contacts the colored leuco compound, the lactone ring closes.・ Returns to the decolorized leuco body.

Further, since the reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention is composed of the above reversible thermosensitive recording material, it exhibits excellent recording properties in the recording layer, such as color developability and decoloring property, and the recorded image has excellent storability. improves.

[0030]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below. In addition, "part" in an Example has shown the weight part.

<Example 1> (A) Preparation of reversible thermosensitive recording material

Embedded image Leuco compound represented by the chemical formula (2) 20 parts Salt of gallic acid and stearylamine (developing / reducing agent) 60 parts Polyvinyl alcohol 30 parts Stearic acid amide 30 parts Water / isopropyl alcohol (7/3) 1000 parts The above composition After mixing well, it was pulverized and dispersed with a paint conditioner to obtain a recording layer coating liquid. (B) Preparation of reversible thermosensitive recording medium The coating liquid prepared in (A) was applied to a 100 μm white polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet using a Meyer bar to form a recording layer so that the coating thickness after drying would be 6 μm. did. A reversible thermosensitive recording medium is prepared by applying a protective coating liquid containing an ultraviolet curable resin as a main component on this recording layer using a Meyer bar and further curing it by irradiating with ultraviolet rays to form a protective layer having a film thickness of 1.5 μm. did.

<Example 2> The same as Example 1 except that a leuco compound represented by the following chemical formula (3) was used instead of 20 parts of the leuco compound represented by the chemical formula (2) used in Example 1. The reversible thermosensitive recording material was adjusted to prepare a reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

[Chemical 4]

<Example 3> The same as Example 1 except that a leuco compound represented by the following chemical formula (4) was used in place of 20 parts of the leuco compound represented by the chemical formula (2) used in Example 1. The reversible thermosensitive recording material was adjusted to prepare a reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

Embedded image

<Example 4> The same as Example 1 except that a leuco compound represented by the following chemical formula (5) was used instead of 20 parts of the leuco compound represented by the chemical formula (2) used in Example 1. The reversible thermosensitive recording material was adjusted to prepare a reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

[Chemical 6]

<Example 5> The same as Example 1 except that a leuco compound represented by the following chemical formula (6) was used in place of 20 parts of the leuco compound represented by the chemical formula (2) used in Example 1. The reversible heat-sensitive recording material was adjusted to prepare a reversible heat-sensitive recording material.

[Chemical 7]

Comparative Example 1 Instead of 20 parts of the leuco compound represented by the chemical formula (2) used in Example 1, 20 parts of 2- (2-chlorophenylamino) -6-diethylaminofluorane was used. A reversible thermosensitive recording material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 to prepare a reversible thermosensitive recording material.

<Comparative Example 2> Instead of 20 parts of the leuco compound used in Example 1, 2- (2,4-dimethylanilino) -3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluorane 20 was used.
A reversible thermosensitive recording material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that parts were used.

[Confirmation Test] Next, the reversible thermosensitive recording media of Examples 1 to 5 and the reversible thermosensitive recording media of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were measured using a thermal printer (thermal head: 8 dot / mm). O. 35mJ / dot
In addition to printing under the printing energy conditions of No. 1, each printed recording material was pressed by a hot stamp plate heated to 110 ° C. for 1 second to erase, and these printing / erasing operations were repeated. Table 1 below shows each data of the background density, the erasing rate, the color density and the print storability obtained in the printing / erasing operation for each recording medium.

[0039]

[Table 1]

Each density in the table is a value obtained by measuring the optical reflection density with a Macbeth reflection densitometer. The erasure rate is a value obtained by dividing the value obtained by subtracting the background density from the erase density by the value obtained by subtracting the background density from the color development density. Further, the print storability is a density residual ratio after leaving for 72 hours at 30 ° C. after printing.

Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 in Table 1
In comparison with Comparative Examples 1-2, Examples 1-5 have
It was confirmed that it exhibited the characteristics of having all of color developability, erasability and print storability.

[0042]

As shown in Table 1, the above general formula (1)
By the reversible thermosensitive recording material consisting of a leuco compound represented by and a leuco compound that reversibly changes the color development by controlling the thermal energy, and a reversible thermosensitive recording material composed of a binder, excellent recording properties of color development and decolorization can be obtained. It is possible to obtain a reversible thermosensitive recording material which has the excellent image storage stability and which does not deteriorate the recorded image under the environment of daily life.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a reversible thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Reversible Thermosensitive Recording Medium 2 Support 3 Recording Layer 4 Protective Layer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reversible thermosensitive recording material comprising, as a main component, a leuco compound, a color-developing / reducing agent that thermally reacts with the leuco compound to develop or reduce color, and the leuco compound has the following general formula: A reversible thermosensitive recording material comprising a fluoran compound represented by 1) alone or in combination of two or more kinds. Embedded image (In the formula, A represents a pyrrolidino group or a piperidino group, and A ₁ and A ₂ represent a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group or an alkoxy group having 8 or less carbon atoms.) 2. A reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a support and a recording layer containing the reversible thermosensitive recording material according to claim 1. 3. The reversible thermosensitive recording medium according to claim 2, wherein a protective layer is provided on the recording layer.