Reversible thermosensitive recording medium, label and member, and, image processing apparatus and method

A reversible thermosensitive recording label comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording medium and one of an adhesive layer and a tacky layer, wherein

• the recording medium comprises a support, a thermosensitive layer and a protective layer in order,
• the thermosensitive layer comprises an electron-donating coloring compound and an electron-accepting compound and reversibly changes the color depending on temperatures,
• the protective layer comprises inorganic fine particles of which number-average particle size is 100 nm or less and of which surface is at least partially treated into hydrophobic,
• the protective layer further comprises a multi-functional acrylate monomer and an urethaneacrylate oligomer, and
• one of the adhesive layer and the tacky layer is disposed on the surface of the recording medium opposite to the image forming side.

A reversible thermosensitive recording member comprising an information-memorizing part and a reversible displaying part, wherein

• the reversible displaying part comprises a reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising a support, a thermosensitive layer and a protective layer in order,
• the thermosensitive layer comprises an electron-donating coloring compound and an electron-accepting compound and reversibly changes the color depending on temperatures,
• the protective layer comprises inorganic fine particles of which number-average particle size is 100 nm or less and of which surface is at least partially treated into hydrophobic, and
• the protective layer further comprises a multi-functional acrylate monomer and an urethaneacrylate oligomer.

An image processing apparatus comprising at least one of an image forming unit and an image erasing unit, wherein

• images are formed on a reversible thermosensitive recording medium by heating the reversible thermosensitive recording medium in the image forming unit, images are erased from a reversible thermosensitive recording medium by heating the reversible thermosensitive recording medium in the image erasing unit, and
• the reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprises a support, a thermosensitive layer and a protective layer in order,
• the thermosensitive layer comprises an electron-donating coloring compound and an electron-accepting compound and reversibly changes the color depending on temperatures,
• the protective layer comprises inorganic fine particles of which number-average particle size is 100 nm or less and of which surface is at least partially treated into hydrophobic, and
• the protective layer further comprises a multi-functional acrylate monomer and an urethaneacrylate oligomer.