Thermochromic inks

Thermochromic inks change colours reversibly or irreversibly under the influence of temperature change. A creator of a printout is able to shape the image depending on the thermal conditions of the surroundings, colour it when it is cold, and discolour it when it is hot.

Surfaces may react to the heat of a human body or other temperature sources, thermochromic labels with handprints remaining on them, posters reacting to the touch, ice or warm air, packaging with thermochromic coating, which changes colours under the warmth of sunrays, prints on ceramic which change colour when exposed to warm or cold water or on heating elements, changing colours after turning the heating on.

They can also serve as indicators of reaching set temperature, permanently or reversibly informing about its exceeding.