An improved resistive ribbon for resistive thermal transfer printing is described in which the resistive layer of the ribbon has enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. The ribbon is a multi-layer ribbon including a resistive layer, an electrical current return layer, and an ink layer. The resistive layer has an additive therein which phase separates and concentrates in a thin surface region near the interface of the resistive layer and the current return layer. This thin region has superior thermal and mechanical properties, and protects the remainder of the resistive layer during the printing operation, without adversely affecting the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the overall resistive layer. These additives are those which will form a polymer having a sufficiently high dissociation temperature to withstand the adverse effects of heat build-up at the interface. Suitable additives include graphite fluorides, fluorocarbon resins such as Teflon.RTM., and CeF.sub.4.