Xerox makes disappearing-ink paper

Xerox makes disappearing-ink paper - Will its profits disappear too?

May 6th, 2008 · No Comments

Xerox has created a new type of paper coated with “special chemicals” that allows a special printer to “print” text onto it, only to have it disappear. The paper works by allowing black text to appear where the special printer tells it to. Afterwards, the text will slowly fade away, completely disappearing within 24 hours. Users also have the option of using another printer to expedite the process. Xerox hopes the paper will help prevent trees from being knocked down to make paper we use once. The idea is pretty cool.

Most paper people and companies use are for one time use. Sadly, all that paper ends up in our garbage cans. Xerox is hoping its new paper will prevent that since it can just be used after the text is gone. Xerox hopes the world’s offices will save 7 trillion pages of paper a year from ending up in the trash.

Here’s how it works:

“The paper is coated with photosensitive chemicals that turn white when hit by ultraviolet light, meaning text will either disappear over time or go blank when run through a special printer which speeds the process up.
Instead of using ink to produce words and diagrams, the printer scans the chemically treated paper with a specific wavelength of light which reacts to produce the text. Over the following 24 hours, the text fades away. For users who need their paper to be blank straight away, there will be the option of running sheets through the printer to clean them for the next use. Because the printer uses no ink, it does not need cartridges or refilling.”

Apparently the paper can be used hundreds of times but there are some drawbacks. Any other markings on the paper, such as pen ink, will not be erased and the paper becomes unusable if it is folded. So much for playing games of tic-tac-toe and making paper airplanes during meetings :’(

We’re doubting the likelihood that consumers will adopt the paper but then again, Xerox did create it with businesses in mind. Consumers would probably be more interested if the text lasted more than 24 hours, well, at least students would. Making them last a few months, long enough to last a semester, would be a good idea since students could print readings for class and reuse the same paper the next semester. That would save a ton of paper, and money. Hopefully the idea catches on. It’s ingenious and cool enough. Here’s hoping the only thing that disappears is the text and not the value of Xerox shares.