A recording medium according to an embodiment includes a base material; a first color developing layer that is laminated on the base material, and absorbs light having a given wavelength to develop a color; a photothermal conversion layer that is laminated closer to an incident side of the light than the first color developing layer, transmits visible light, and absorbs the light for photothermal conversion; and a second color developing layer that is laminated closer to the incident side of the light than the first color developing layer, transmits visible light and the light, and develops a color by heat converted by the photothermal conversion layer.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a thermosensitive recording medium excellent in color developing property, especially excellent in bar code readability, under severe environment. Provided is a thermosensitive recording medium having a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent on a substrate, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer contains a specific sulfone compound and a specific urea-urethane-based compound in a specific ratio.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a thermosensitive recording medium excellent in color developing property, especially excellent in bar code readability, under severe environment. Provided is a thermosensitive recording medium having a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent on a substrate, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer contains a specific sulfone compound and a specific urea-urethane-based compound in a specific ratio.

A recording material and a recording sheet having better color-developing performance, storage stability, etc. A recording material which contains (A) at least one color former, (B) at least one compound selected from the group including compounds represented by the following formula (I), and (C) at least one compound selected from the group including compounds represented by the following formula (II)

(wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 each represent a halogen atom, a nitro group, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl group, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy group, a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkenyl group or a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 haloalkyl group, n1 and n3 each independently represent any integer of 0 to 5, n2 represents any integer of 0 to 4, and X represents SO.sub.2O or OSO.sub.2).

##STR00001##

Provided is a thermosensitive recording medium having excellent oil resistance among various performances required for the thermosensitive recording medium. The thermosensitive recording medium has a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent on a substrate, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer contains N-[2-(3-phenylureido)phenyl] benzenesulfonamide and an urea-based compound represented by the general formula 1 as the electron accepting color developing agents, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group, and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

Provided is a thermosensitive recording medium having excellent oil resistance among various performances required for the thermosensitive recording medium. The thermosensitive recording medium has a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent on a substrate, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer contains N-[2-(3-phenylureido)phenyl] benzenesulfonamide and an urea-based compound represented by the general formula 1 as the electron accepting color developing agents, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group, and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

Non-phenolic direct thermal recording media have a thermally responsive layer containing a leuco dye and a plurality of diarylurea acidic developers selected to improve the quality and readability of the image produced in such media, particularly after being contacted with oils such as vegetable oil. The diarylurea developers preferably include, or consist essentially of, or consist of, N,N-diphenylurea (DPU) and a derivative of DPU. An exemplary combination is DPU together with a developer known commercially as TGMD.

The present invention provides a thermosensitive recording medium having a high degree of water resistance and excellent surface qualities. The thermosensitive recording medium has a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored basic leuco dye and an electron accepting developing agent on a substrate, but does not have a protective layer on the thermosensitive recording layer, and the thermosensitive recording layer further comprises (i) a carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol as a binder, (ii) an epichlorohydrin resin and a modified polyamine/amide resin (excluding those contained in the category of epichlorohydrin resin) as crosslinking agents, and (iii) an acrylic resin with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of lower than or equal to 50 degree C. and a minimum film forming temperature (MFT) of higher than or equal to 40 degree C.

The present invention provides a thermosensitive recording medium having a high degree of water resistance and excellent surface qualities. The thermosensitive recording medium has a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored basic leuco dye and an electron accepting developing agent on a substrate, but does not have a protective layer on the thermosensitive recording layer, and the thermosensitive recording layer further comprises (i) a carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol as a binder, (ii) an epichlorohydrin resin and a modified polyamine/amide resin (excluding those contained in the category of epichlorohydrin resin) as crosslinking agents, and (iii) an acrylic resin with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of lower than or equal to 50 degree C. and a minimum film forming temperature (MFT) of higher than or equal to 40 degree C.

The present invention relates to an N,N-diurea derivative represented by the following general formula (1) and a method for producing the same. In addition, the present invention relates to a thermosensitive recording material in which a thermosensitive recording layer including a basic dye which is colorless or lightly colored at room temperature and a developer capable of developing color upon contact with the basic dye by heating is provided on a base sheet, wherein the developer is the N,N-diurea derivative represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR00001## (wherein R2 is an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, or an aryl group; and A1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group).