Ricoh Develops Reusable Paper

Ricoh recently developed paper that can be reused more than 200 times. This kind of paper is coated with dye. After being heated with a special printing device, the dyes in the part of the text that needs to be displayed will show color, and then be heated; the paper will become colorless again.

According to reports, this reusable multiple-sheet paper works by applying a special dye and developer on the surface of ordinary paper to form a chromogenic layer and heating it to 180 degrees Celsius with a printing device. The toner will melt and combine with the dye molecules to make the part of the text that needs to be printed appear color. When it is necessary to remove the text on the paper, it is heated again to about 100 degrees, and the developer will be separated from the dye to form crystals and the paper will return to its original color. This paper prints and eliminates color at a rate of about 5 cm per second.

Ricoh plans to bring this product to market next year.