Reactive ink printing process

A method of digital printing from a wax thermal ribbon, comprising the steps of:

• a. preparing a wax thermal ribbon for use in a wax thermal digital printer, said wax thermal ribbon comprising a ribbon substrate and a heat meltable reactive ink layer, wherein said heat meltable reactive ink layer comprises at least one colorant, at least one compound having at least one functional group which reacts with active hydrogen, at least one heat meltable compound having at least one functional group containing active hydrogen which assists in binding the heat meltable reactive ink layer to the ribbon substrate, and at least one thermally removable blocking agent for blocking a reaction between said at least one compound having at least one functional group which reacts with active hydrogen, and at least one heat meltable compound having at least one functional group containing active hydrogen;
• b. supplying said wax thermal digital printer with said wax thermal ribbon;
• c. printing an image on a substrate from said heat meltable reactive ink layer of said wax thermal ribbon by means of said wax thermal digital printer at a temperature which is below the activation temperature of said thermally removable blocking agent, and at a temperature which is above the melting temperature of at least one heat meltable compound having at least one functional group containing active hydrogen, and forming an image on said substrate by means of said heat meltable reactive ink layer without reacting said at least one compound having at least one functional group which reacts with active hydrogen and at least one heat meltable compound having at least one functional group containing active hydrogen;
• d. subsequently applying heat to said image at a temperature which is above the activation temperature of said thermally removable blocking agent, wherein said thermally removable blocking agent activates and permits reaction of said at least one compound having at least one functional group which reacts with active hydrogen with said at least one heat meltable compound having at least one functional group containing active hydrogen to bond said image to said substrate.