Re: [ARSCLIST] Opinions: Casio CW-50 family of thermal transfer CD label printers???

[Eric Jacobs <ericj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been using a Primera thermal printer, and am very
happy with the results on MAM-A (Mitsui) Gold thermal
discs.  The MAM-A Gold Archival discs take thermal
printing as well.

As to the archival nature, the thermal print process
appears to have the following features:

   - not susceptible to moisture
   - no glue adhesive is used
   - chemically stable (as far as I can tell)
   - very scratch resistant

Will the label react with the CD surface over time
and penetrate to the phalocyanine dye layer?  I
don't know, but compared to any other labeling
technology, it seems less likely just from the
point of view that the surface area covered is
limited to just the text, unlike an adhesive label
which covers far more surface area.

Laser printed documents (I'm talking about paper
now) sometimes "stick" to certain plastics because
the laser printing reacts with some plastics.  I am
going to take a thermally printed disc and put it
in exactly just such an environment and see what
happens over an extended period of time.

If you are really concerned about archival labeling
of CDs, consider hub labels which use an aluminum
layer between the print surface and the adhesive
(the ink cannot bleed through to the plastic),
and use an archival adhesive.  Will the hub label
peel off in a few decades?  I have no idea.

Any chemists out there who can comment on the
chemical stability or inertness of thermal printing?

Eric


---- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 22:47:12 -0500
>From: "Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: [ARSCLIST] Opinions: Casio CW-50 family of thermal transfer CD label
printers???
>To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>I'm looking for something to avoid writing a few lines on Mitsui Gold
>discs--preferably not having to buy special discs. Preferably something that
>doesn't smudge if your hands are sweaty. Artwork isn't an issue. Price is.
>
>Anyone use the Casio CW-50 (or it's two bigger brothers that are essentially
the
>same)?
>
>Anyone have any thoughts on the archival nature of the thermal transfer
process?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Richard
>--
>
>Richard L. Hess
>http://www.richardhess.com/tape/