Thermal head

摘要

There is provided a thermal head having protective layers comprising a lower protective layer, an intermediate layer and a carbon-based protective layer which is composed of a plurality of sub-layers, wherein the carbon-based protective layer has stress values that become sequentially higher from one of the sub-layers located undermost toward another of the sub-layers located uppermost. The protective layers have significantly reduced corrosion and wear and is protected from cracking and peeling, whereupon the thermal head obtained can have sufficient durability and reliability to ensure that thermal recording of high-quality images is consistently performed over an extended period of operation.