PURPOSE: To obtain a heat-sensitive recording material having a favorable long term keeping quality of a color development image, by a method wherein a heat-sensitive recording layer containing a dicarboxylic acid derivative having leuco dye, a developer and two aliphatic carboxylic groups are provided on a substrate.

CONSTITUTION: After fixed quantities each of leuco dye, a developer which develops a color by contacting with the dye and a dicarboxylic acid derivative having two dicarboxylic groups to be represented by a formula I (A shows a 1 to 8C alkylene group and vinylene group, R1 and R2 show a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group or hydroxl group or a halogen atom are pulverized and agitated along with a binder such as water-soluble fat, they are mixed up with each other and a coating liquid for a heat sensitive recording layer is prepared. This heat-sensitive recording coating is applied onto a substrate such as a plastic film or paper, dried, the heat sensitive recording layer is laminated and heat sensitive recording material is obtained. The heat-sensitive recording layer may be either a single layer or multiple layer and an over layer or an under layer or a back layer can be laminated when necessity arises.