HEAT-SENSITIVE RECORDING MATERIAL AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING SAME

Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material useful, for example, in the manufacture of labels used in connection with the sale of meat, produce, and the like. The material comprises a cellulosic or other suitable substrate, a thermally imprintable color producing layer and a water-insoluble protective layer over the color-producing layer. It may also include a second protective layer and/or a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the opposite side of the substrate from the color-producing layer, and a releasable liner covering the adhesive layer. The color-producing layer has a colorless or pale leuco dye, an acidic developer for producing upon imagewise heating of the recording material, a water-soluble, polymeric binder material, and a basic, acid-neutralizing agent for reducing background discoloration. The protective layer comprises a polymeric resin, a covalent cross-linker for the resin, an acidic substance operative as a catalyst which cross-links the resin in situ, and inert filler particles operative as spacer particles. Oxygen-permeable, heat-sensitive recording material labels made in accordance with the invention avoid the reduction of "meat bloom" when applied to a package containing red meat.