Thermochromic inks
or dyes are temperature
sensitive compounds, developed
in the 1970s, that temporarily
change color with exposure
to heat. They come in two
forms, liquid crystals and
leuco dyes. Leuco dyes are
easier to work with and
allow for a greater range
of applications. These applications
include: flat thermometers,
battery testers, clothing,
and the indicator on bottles
of maple syrup that change
color when the syrup is
warm. The most well-known
line of clothing utilizing
thermochromics was Hypercolor.
The thermometers are often
used on the exterior of
aquariums, or to obtain
a body temperature via the
forehead. Coors light uses
thermochromic ink on its
cans now, changing from
white to blue to indicate
the can is cold.
Thermochromism
is the ability
of substance
to change
color due
to a change
in temperature.
A mood ring
is an excellent
example
of this,
but it has
many other
uses such
as baby
bottles
(changes
to a different
color when
cool enough
to drink)
and kettles.
Thermochromism
is one of
several
types of
chromism.
The two
basic approaches
are based
on liquid
crystals
and leuco
dyes. Liquid
crystals
are used
in precision
applications,
as their
responses
can be engineered
to accurate
temperatures,
but their
color range
is limited
by their
principle
of operation.
Leuco dyes
allow wider
range of
colors to
be used,
but their
response
temperatures
are more
difficult
to set with
accuracy.
fabric Definition
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Printing &
Dyeing Industry
Dyeing Machinery Operators - job description
