Thermal transfer ribbon

A thermal transfer ribbon for use in nonimpact printing comprising a substrate, a thermal sensitive coating which is a mixture containing as essential ingredients about 30 to 60% paraffin wax, about 10 to 40% oxidized, isocyanated hydrocarbon wax, about 5 to 35% carnauba wax, about 5 to 25% acetate copolymer, about 0 to 10% hydracinnamate, and about 35 to 60% iron oxide, and a protective layer between the substrate and the thermal sensitive coating and containing as essential ingredients about 1 to 10% polyvinyl alcohol, about 4 to 30% acrylic primer, about 30 to 60% sucrose benzoate, about 18 to 30% saturated fatty alcohol, about 1 to 10% hydracinnamate, and about 8 to 16% carbon black pigment, the thermal sensitive coating being coated on the protective layer and then dried at a temperature wherein the protective layer remains nonintegral with the thermal sensitive coating.