A leuco dye(s) solution in a nonvolatile solvent is encapsulated in microcapsules 5-10 pm in diameter, and after addition of latex and wheat starch, coated (at about 5 g/m2 as dry solid) on a substrate such as paper, synthetic paper, or plastic film, and dried to give the CB sheet.
The solvent should have high solvability with no or very low odor. Two examples are SAS-296 (diarylalkane, Nippon Petroleum Chemicals) and KMC-113 (dialkylnaphthalene, Kureha Chemicals). Latex is used as binder. Wheat starch functions as a stilt preventing the rupture of microcapsules
from careless or undesirable pressure. It should, therefore, be a little larger than the microcapsule. A brief explanation of the microcapsules is given in the next section.
The CF sheet is prepared by coating an acidic coreactant such as naturally occurring reactive clay, zinc salt of salicylic acid derivatives and zinc modified phenolic resin.
Reactive clay is used today principally in European countries, though it was once used worldwide. Zinc salt of salicylic acid derivatives and zinc-modified phenolic resin are used in Japan and the United States, respectively. The synthetic coreactants have a special feature giving stable recorded images.