Carbonless copy paper

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Carbonless copy paper, non-carbon copy paper, or NCR paper is an alternative to carbon paper, used to make a copy of an original, handwritten document without the use of any electronics. The process was invented by chemists Lowell Schleicher and Barry Green, working for the NCR Corporation, as a biodegradable, stain-free alternative to carbon paper.[1] Early product literature piggybacked on NCR's corporate name by calling the paper No Carbon Required paper.

Contents

[edit] Operation

Carbonless copy paper works in a fairly simple way. It consists of sheets of paper that are coated on the bottom and/or the top with micro-encapsulated dye or ink and/or a reactive clay.

The back of the first sheet is coated with micro-encapsulated dye. The top of the middle sheet is coated with a clay that quickly reacts with the dye to form a permanent mark. The back of the middle sheet is also coated with the dye. The lowermost sheet is coated on the top surface with the clay with no coating applied to the back side.

When someone writes on the sheets, the pressure from the point of the writing instrument causes the micro-capsules to break and spill their dye. Since the capsules are so small, the print obtained is very accurate.

Carbonless copy paper was also available in a self-contained version that had both the ink and the clay on the same side of the paper.

[edit] Dyes and chemicals

The first dye used commercially in this application was crystal violet lactone, which is still widely used today. Other dyes and supporting chemicals used are PTSMH (p-toluene sulfinate of Michler's hydrol), TMA (trimellitic anhydride), phenol-formaldehyde resins, azo dyes, DIPN (diisopropyl naphtalenes), formaldehyde isocyanates, hydrocarbon-based solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polyoxypropylene diamine, epoxy resins, aliphatic isocyanates, Bisphenol A, diethylene triamine, and others. The dyes in carbonless copy papers may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive persons.

[edit] Health and environmental concerns

Until the 1970s when the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was banned due to health and environmental concerns, PCBs were used as a transfer agent in carbonless copy paper.[2][3] PCBs are readily transferred to human skin during handling of such papers, and it is difficult to achieve decontamination by ordinary washing with soap and water.[3]

In Japan, carbonless copy paper is treated as a PCB-contaminated waste.[4]

Exposure to certain types of carbonless copy paper or its components has resulted, under some conditions, in mild to moderate symptoms of skin irritation and irritation of the mucosal membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. In most cases, good industrial hygiene and work practices should be adequate to reduce or eliminate symptoms. These include adequate ventilation, humidity, and temperature controls; proper housekeeping; minimal hand-to-mouth and hand-to-eye contact; and periodic cleansing of hands.[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.appletonideas.com/pdf/Lowell_Schleicher_Dies.pdf
  2. ^ de Voogt P, Klamer J C, and Brinkman U A Th (Dec 1984). "Identification and quantification of polychlorinated biphenyls in paper and paper board using fused silica capillary gas chromatography". Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 32 (1): 45-52. doi:10.1007/BF01607463. 
  3. ^ a b Kuratsune M and Masuda Y (Apr 1972). "Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Non-carbon Copy Paper". Environmental Health Perspectives 1: 61-62. doi:10.2307/3428153. PMID 17539088. 
  4. ^ Invitation of proposals concerning to PCB contaminated solid wastes treatment technologies. Hyogo Prefectural Environment Create Center Public Corporation (2003-01-27). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  5. ^ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Carbonless Copy Paper. United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Retrieved on 2007-10-13.

[edit] External links

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