JPH08267943A - Thermal transfer recording material for laser recording and production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a thermal transfer recording material of high sensitivity for laser recording capable of obtaining a highly detailed image of high image quality reduced in color turbidity. CONSTITUTION: An intermediate layer 2, a photothermal conversion layer 3, a vapor deposition layer 4, a release layer 5 and an ink layer 6 are provided on a temporary base material 1b in this order. The surface of the photothermal conversion layer of a sheet wherein the release layer 5, the vapor deposition layer 4 and the photothermal conversion layer 3 are provided on a base material A in this order and the surface of the intermediate layer of a sheet wherein the intermediate layer 2 is provided on a base material B are bonded and the base material A is peeled before the ink layer 6 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a material effective for melt-type thermal transfer recording, and more particularly to a thermal transfer recording material for laser recording capable of high-definition recording and high-speed recording and excellent in color reproducibility and density reproducibility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are two methods for thermal transfer recording using a laser as a light source. One is a photothermal conversion agent that absorbs laser light and converts it into heat, and a sublimation-type thermal transfer recording method using a dye that can be sublimated by the heat. It is a fusion-type thermal transfer recording method in which an image is formed by transferring a binder and a pigment using a material containing a binder and a pigment.

Compared with the sublimation type thermal transfer recording method, the fusion type thermal transfer recording method generally requires less energy for transfer and thus has a higher recording speed, and since the image recording is performed by turning the transfer on and off, the maximum density is constant. Further, it has advantages such as being stable as compared with the sublimation type and being capable of transferring a pigment which is difficult to sublime.

Thermal transfer recording using a laser as a heat source is required when the power density (unit area, energy per unit time) of the laser is high and the photothermal conversion layer that absorbs laser light and converts it into heat is thin. The energy per unit area required is small and the recording speed can be shortened. Yui,
As the power density of the laser increases, the photothermal conversion material and binder in the photothermal conversion layer reach a high temperature that can be achieved, so not only the coloring material is melted, diffused, and sublimated, but also the photothermal conversion material and binder are blown off at the same time. I may end up doing it.
This phenomenon becomes more prominent as the photothermal conversion layer becomes thinner. As the photothermal conversion material, carbon black or a dye that absorbs the wavelength of the laser light is usually used, and since these also absorb in the visible part, they are mixed in the color of the color material to be transferred and cause color turbidity, resulting in a poor image quality. It has the drawback of significantly reducing it.

In the laser thermal transfer recording material using the sublimation thermal transfer recording method, it is necessary to provide a vapor deposition layer between the photothermal conversion layer and the ink layer to prevent scattering.
No. 2580 and No. 2-253988. However, when this technique is applied to the melting type thermal transfer recording method, although there is an effect of preventing scattering, the peeling force between the vapor deposition layer and the ink layer becomes large, and there is a problem that the transferability is significantly impaired and the sensitivity is lowered.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, that is, a high-sensitivity thermal transfer recording material for laser recording which produces a high-definition and high-quality image with little color turbidity. It is to provide a method for producing the recording material.

[0007]

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitutions.

1. A thermal transfer recording material for laser recording in which an intermediate layer, a photothermal conversion layer, a vapor deposition layer, a release layer and an ink layer are provided in this order on a substrate.

2. The thermal transfer recording material for laser recording according to (1), wherein the release layer is made of a resin that is soluble in water at 25 ° C. in an amount of 1% by weight or more.

3. The thermal transfer recording material for laser recording according to (1), wherein the release layer comprises at least one selected from a cellulose resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal and gelatin.

4. The thermal transfer recording material for laser recording according to (1), which is a cushion layer having an elastic modulus of 100 kg / cm ² or less at 20 ° C. and a penetration of 10 or more in the intermediate layer.

5. A photothermal conversion layer surface of a sheet in which a release layer, a vapor deposition layer and a photothermal conversion layer are provided in this order on the base material A, and a base material B
A method for producing a thermal transfer recording material for laser recording, which comprises laminating a sheet on which an intermediate layer is provided so that the intermediate layer surfaces are in contact with each other, and after peeling the base material A, an ink layer is provided.

The present invention will be described in more detail below.

The thermal transfer recording material for laser recording of the present invention (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "recording material") has an intermediate layer, a photothermal conversion layer, a vapor deposition layer, a peeling layer, and an ink layer on a substrate in this order. It has a basic configuration (see FIG. 1).

As the substrate, a resin having excellent dimensional stability and high strength such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) is used.
Further, when irradiation is performed from the recording material side, it is preferable that the transparency is good and the transmittance of the laser light source wavelength is high.

The thickness of the substrate is preferably 25 to 200 μ,
More preferably, it is 75 to 100 μ.

The intermediate layer preferably has a low elastic modulus, and a material having an elastic modulus at 20 ° C. of 100 kg / cm ² or less is usually used.

Specific materials include natural rubber, acrylate rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, acrylic rubber, fluorinated rubber, neoprene rubber, Chlorosulfonated polyethylene, epichlorohydrin, EPDM
Elastomer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, polybutene, polyurethane, ABS resin, acetate, cellulose acetate, amide resin,
Fluorinated plastics such as tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, ionomers, nitrocellulose, polystyrene,
Epoxy, phenol-formaldehyde, polyester, impact-resistant acrylic resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, poly Resins having a low elastic modulus, such as vinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, are preferable.

The thickness of the intermediate layer is about 2 to 30 μ, more preferably 4 to 8 μ.

The photothermal conversion layer comprises at least a photothermal conversion material and a binder.

As the photothermal conversion material, one having absorption at the wavelength of the laser light source, specifically carbon black, colloidal silver, metal deposition layer (especially metal black, magnetic powder, infrared absorbing dye, etc.) can be used. It is preferable that these have a large absorption per unit volume.

When the laser light source is a semiconductor laser and the wavelength is 830 nm, the infrared absorbing dye is a cyanine-based, polymethine-based, azurenium-based, squarylium-based, thiopyrylium-based, naphthoquinone-based, anthraquinone-based organic dye, phthalocyanine-based dye, Azo type and thioamide type organic metal complexes are preferably used. Specifically, JP-A-63-139191, JP-A-64-33547, JP-A-1-160683, JP-A-1-280750 and JP-A-1-280750.
-293342, 2-2074, and 3-2659.
No. 3, No. 3-30991, No. 3-34891, No. 3
-36093, 3-36094, 3-3609
No. 5, No. 3-42281, No. 3-97589, No. 3
The compounds described in No. 103476 and the like can be mentioned. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Wavelength of 1064 nm with YAG laser light source
When it is, aminium, diimonium, cyanine dyes or carbon black, graphite, metal black and the like are preferably used.

As the binder of the photothermal conversion layer, a resin having a high glass transition point (Tg) and a high thermal conductivity, a resin having a high heat resistance, and a resin having a high thermal decomposition temperature are preferable, and specifically, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetal are used. , Polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, glue, zein, casein, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl starch, arabia gum, sucrose octaacetate, ammonium alginate, sodium alginate, polyvinylamine, polyethylene oxide, polystyrene sulfone Acid, polyacrylic acid, etc. can be used. Among them, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetal are preferable because of their high thermal decomposition temperature.

Polyvinyl alcohol preferably has a high degree of polymerization and a high degree of saponification. It is preferable that the degree of polymerization is 1500 to 4000 and the degree of saponification is 85% or more. It is preferable that the purity is high and impurities such as sodium are small.
Further, it is preferable that the polyvinyl acetal has a large molecular weight, a high purity, and a small amount of impurities such as sodium.

Further, polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl chloride, ethyl cellulose, polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyarylate, polyparabanic acid, polyamideimide, polyetherimide, polyesterimide, polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfone, Polyether sulfone, polyether ether ketone, polyether ketone, polyether nitrile,
Engineering plastics such as aromatic polyamide and polybenzimidazole can also be used.

The thickness of the photothermal conversion layer is preferably 0.2 to 1.0 μm.

Since the metal vapor deposition layer has a higher melting point than ordinary resins, it is considered that it is difficult to thermally decompose even when the temperature is raised by a laser, and color turbidity due to scattering of the photothermal conversion layer is suppressed. The material of the metal vapor deposition layer is aluminum,
Examples thereof include chromium, gold, silver, nickel, antimony, tellurium and the like.

The thicker the film thickness of the metal vapor deposition layer is, the greater the effect of preventing the scattering is, but the heat loss in the heat conduction process becomes large and the problem of sensitivity deterioration occurs. It is desirable to collect. Although it varies depending on the kind of metal, a metal of about 50 to 1000 Å is usually used.

As the resin forming the peeling layer, a resin having a high Tg and a high thermal conductivity, a resin having a high heat resistance, a resin having a high thermal decomposition temperature, and a resin having a small peeling force from the ink layer are preferable.

The Tg (value measured by the DSC method) is preferably 50 ° C. or higher, and the thermal decomposition initiation temperature is preferably 300 ° C. or higher (TGA measurement; weight loss under conditions of temperature rising rate of 10 ° C./min in air). Start temperature). The peeling force is 150 gf / cm or less, more preferably 50 gf / cm or less (peeling angle 180 °, peeling speed 30 cm / min).

Specifically, a water-soluble resin (having a solubility of 1% by weight or more in water at 25 ° C.), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl starch, Arabica gum, sucrose octaacetate, ammonium alginate, sodium alginate, polyvinylamine, polyethylene oxide, polystyrene sulfonic acid, polyacrylic acid and the like can be used.

If the thickness of the peeling layer is large, heat loss in the heat conduction process becomes large and sensitivity is lowered, so that it is preferably 1 μm or less, more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 μm.

The ink layer is mainly composed of a coloring material and a binder.

Examples of the coloring material include pigments such as inorganic pigments and organic pigments, and dyes. Inorganic pigments include titanium dioxide, carbon black, zinc oxide,
Examples include Prussian blue, cadmium sulfide, iron oxide and chromates of lead, zinc, barium and calcium. As the organic pigment, azo-based, thioindigo-based, anthraquinone-based, anthanthrone-based, triphendioxazine-based pigments, vat dye pigments, phthalocyanine pigments (for example, copper phthalocyanine) and derivatives thereof,
Examples include quinacridone pigment. Examples of organic dyes include acid dyes, direct dyes, disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes, and metal-containing oil-soluble dyes.

As the binder of the ink layer, a heat melting substance, a heat softening substance, or a thermoplastic resin can be used. The heat fusible substance usually refers to a solid or semi-solid substance having a melting point in the range of 40 to 150 ° C. measured using Yanagimoto MJP-2 type.

Although various modes are conceivable for producing the recording material of the present invention, one preferable mode is shown below (see FIG. 2).

Step of applying release layer 5 on substrate 1a Step of depositing vapor deposition layer 4 on release layer 5 Step of applying photothermal conversion layer 3 on vapor deposition layer 4 Apply intermediate layer 2 on substrate 1b , A step of laminating the light-heat conversion layer and the intermediate layer of the sheet prepared by the steps without winding the step of applying the ink layer 6 on the exposed release layer 5 while peeling off the base material 1a. The image receiving material used together with the recording material will be described.

The following may be considered as the layer structure of the image receiving material.

A) support / image receiving layer b) backing layer / support / image receiving layer c) support / cushion layer / image receiving layer d) backing layer / support / cushion layer / image receiving layer e) backing layer / support / Cushion layer 1 / cushion layer 2 / image receiving layer f) support / release layer / image receiving layer g) backing layer / support / release layer / image receiving layer h) backing layer / support / cushion layer / release layer / image receiving layer When retransferring the image formed on the image receiving material to the transfer target, the layer structure d is suitable when only the image is retransferred, and the layer structure h is suitable when retransferring the image receiving layer together.

Each layer will be briefly described below.

Any support can be used as long as it has good dimensional stability and can withstand heat during image formation. For example, the film described in JP-A-63-193886 (2), page 12, lower left column, lines 12 to 18 can be used. Sheets can be used. Although the thickness of the support is not particularly limited, it is usually 2 to 300 µ, and preferably 75 to 150 µ. A backing layer may be provided on the back surface of the support (the surface opposite to the surface provided with the image receiving layer) for the purpose of imparting functions such as blocking resistance, running stability, heat resistance, and antistatic property. it can.

The cushion layer is flexible at room temperature in order to improve the adhesion between the recording material and the image receiving material and to eliminate the influence of foreign matter between the recording material and the image receiving material or between the recording material or the image receiving material and the material installation surface. Those having high properties are preferable. It is preferable that the elastic modulus is 100 kg / cm ² or less (20 ° C.) and the penetration is 10 or more, further 30 or more.

Further, when the image on the image receiving material is further retransferred to the transferred material, especially when the transferred material is paper such as art paper or high-quality paper, the cushion layer should have high flexibility when heated. preferable. Tg is 0 ° C. or lower, more preferably −30.
C. or lower, softening point Vicat softening point) is 100.degree. C. or lower, and melt viscosity (150.degree. C.) is 100 cps or lower, more preferably 50 cps or lower.

Since the surface properties of the cushion layer influence the transferability, it is preferable that the surface is smoother. Particularly, it is preferable that the surface roughness "waviness" is small, and the standard length is 2.5 m.
When m and the cutoff value are 0.08 mm, the surface roughness Ra is 0.5 μ or less, and when the reference length is 2.5 mm and the cutoff value is 8 mm, the Rmax is “waviness” of 3 μ or less. preferable.

The cushion layer material used is natural rubber, acrylate rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, acrylic rubber, fluorinated rubber, neoprene. Rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, epichlorohydrin, EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber),
Elastomers such as urethane elastomer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, polybutene, impact-resistant ABS resin, polyurethane, ABS resin, acetate, cellulose acetate, amide resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, nitrocellulose, polystyrene,
Epoxy resin, phenol-formaldehyde resin, polyester, impact-resistant acrylic resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride resin with plasticizer, vinylidene chloride resin, polyvinyl chloride , Polyvinylidene chloride, etc.,
A resin having a low elastic modulus is preferable. More preferably, EV
A, SBR, SIS, SEBS. EVA preferably has a VA content of 30 to 50% and a penetration of 30 or more, and thermoplastic elastomers such as SBR, SIS and SEBS have a styrene / rubber ratio of 10/90 to 2
It is preferably 0/80.

The thickness of the cushion layer is usually 5 to 50 μm.
Is preferable, and more preferably 20 to 50 μm.

The cushion layer includes a reverse coater, an extrusion coater, a slide hopper coater,
It is applied by a known method such as a gravure coater, comma doctor, curtain coater, and wire bar.

When the image transferred to the image receiving material is retransferred to the transfer receiving body, a peeling layer is required when transferring the entire image receiving layer to the transfer receiving body.

When the recording material and the image receiving material are brought into close contact with each other to form an image, and the recording material is peeled off, the formed image is brought into close contact with the transferred material, and the image receiving material is peeled off to form a final image. In the peeling process, the peeling force between the peeling layer and the image receiving layer is so high that the image is not reversely transferred to the recording material side, and the peeling layer-the image receiving layer must be peeled off when the image is finally transferred to the transferred body. .

Adhesion between recording material and image receiving material, cushion layer after laser exposure-Peeling force between peeling layers is P1, peeling layer-
When the peeling force between the image receiving layer is P2, the peeling force between the ink layer and the photothermal conversion layer is P3, and the peeling force between the ink layer and the image receiving layer is P4, the following relationships are preferable. P1, P4> P2
> P3 equation (1) Further, when the image on the image receiving material is further transferred to the transferred material, when the peeling force between the ink layer and the transferred material is P5,
1, P5, P4>P2> P3 ... (2) Formula is preferably satisfied.

The release layer material of the image receiving material is polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, gelatin, water-soluble polyvinyl formal, water-soluble polyvinyl acetal, water-soluble polyvinyl butyral, polyvinylpyrrolidone, water-soluble polyester, water-soluble nylon, polyacrylic. Acid, polyacrylic acid ester, water-soluble polyurethane, hydroxypropyl cellulose or a copolymer of monomer components constituting these resins,
Alternatively, a mixture of these resins is used. Of these, cellulosic resins such as methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose are preferable.

In order to satisfy the above formulas (1) and (2), an adhesive for the image-receiving layer is added to the release layer, or a solvent that dissolves the release-layer material is added to the image-receiving layer. Then, the adhesive force between the peeling layer and the image receiving layer can be improved by dissolving the interface between the image receiving layer and the peeling layer.

Examples of the adhesive added to the release layer include water-soluble polyester and polyacrylic acid.

The material of the image-receiving layer includes ester type, polyamide type, polyester type, polyurethane type, polyolefin type, acrylic type, vinyl chloride type, cellulose type,
Resins such as rosin-based, polyvinyl alcohol-based, polyvinyl acetal-based, ionomer-based, petroleum-based resins, polycarbonate, polysulfonic acid, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, diene copolymers and other elastomers Used.

The image receiving material can be prepared by laminating a cushion layer, a release layer and an image receiving layer on a support in order, or a release layer surface coated on a temporary support and a cushion layer surface coated on the support. And the like, the temporary support is peeled off, and then the image receiving layer is applied onto the peeling layer.

[0057]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. All "parts" in each composition are "parts by weight" in terms of solid content.

Example 1 (Preparation of Recording Material) A thermal transfer recording material was prepared as follows.

25 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate (P
A release layer coating solution having the following composition was applied on a temporary support of (ET) with a wire bar to form a release layer having a dry film thickness of 0.4 μm.

Release Layer Coating Solution Polyvinyl alcohol (GL-05, manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry) 9 parts Fluorine-based resin (FT-248, manufactured by Bayer Japan) 1 part Water 90 parts Aluminum on the above-mentioned release layer in an amount of about 10 torr It vapor-deposited by the vacuum vapor deposition method under pressure, and provided the vapor deposition layer with a film thickness of 100Å.

On the vapor-deposited layer, a light-heat conversion layer coating liquid having the following composition was applied with a wire bar to provide a light-heat conversion layer having a dry film thickness of 0.3 μm. The absorbance at 830 nm of this photothermal conversion layer was 0.8 or more.

Photothermal conversion layer coating liquid Infrared absorbing dye (manufactured by Nippon Senshoku Co., Ltd .: CY-10) 3 parts Polyester resin (manufactured by Toyobo: Byron 200) 3 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 95 parts 100 μm thick PET support having the following composition. An intermediate layer coating solution is applied, an intermediate layer having a dry film thickness of 6 μm is provided, and the temporary support / release layer / vapor deposition layer prepared above are superposed so that the vapor deposition layer surface and the intermediate layer surface are in contact with each other, and a pressure of 3 kg / cm is applied. I stuck it at.

Intermediate layer coating solution SEBS resin (Shell Japan: Kraton G1657) 20 parts Toluene 72 parts Methyl-i-butylketone 8 parts The temporary support was peeled from the above-mentioned adhesive, and the following composition was formed on the exposed release layer. A recording material was prepared by coating the ink layer coating liquid with a wire bar. The dry film thickness of the ink layer was 0.7 μm.

Ink layer coating liquid Styrene-acrylic ester resin 3.24 parts (Sanyo Kasei: SBM-73F) Magenta pigment 2.4 parts Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer 0.3 parts Fluorine-based surfactant (Asahi Glass Product: S-382) 0.06 parts (vinyl acetate 40%, manufactured by Mitsui DuPont: EV40Y) Methyl ethyl ketone 84.6 parts Cyclohexanone 9.4 parts (Toyo Ink: Lionol Red 6BFG-4219X) (Preparation of image receiving material) A thermal transfer image receiving material was prepared as follows.

A 25 μm thick PET temporary support was coated with a release layer coating solution having the following composition by a wire bar to form a release layer having a dry film thickness of about 1.5 μm.

Release Layer Coating Solution Polyacrylic Acid Ester 3.5 parts (Nippon Pure Chemical Co., Ltd .: Jurimer AT613) Methylcellulose (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd .: SM-15) 1.5 parts Water 95 parts Doctor Cushion layer coating solution having the following composition The coating was applied by a blade to a dry film thickness of about 30 μm, and the release sheet was attached to the release layer surface.

Cushion layer coating solution Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EV40Y: described above) 30 parts Toluene 14 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 56 parts An image receiving layer coating solution having the following composition was laminated with a wire bar as a temporary support for the sheet. Was peeled off and applied on the release layer to obtain an image receiving material having an image receiving layer having a dry film thickness of about 1.5 μm.

Image- receiving layer coating liquid Polyacrylic ester (Mitsubishi Rayon: BR113) 19.8 parts Silicone fine particles 0.2 parts (Toshiba Silicone: Tospearl T130) Isopropanol 24 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 28 parts Methyl isobutyl ketone 28 parts (thermal transfer Printing by the method) The image receiving layer side of the image receiving material obtained as described above and the ink layer side of the recording material are superposed and brought into close contact with each other by depressurizing them on the drum. At this time, the size of the image receiving material is made smaller than the size of the recording material so that the recording material presses the image receiving material (FIG. 3).

The transfer material was set so as to come to the focal position, and exposed with a 100 W semiconductor laser (commercially available product) while rotating the drum. Further, the position of the laser was moved perpendicularly to the rotating direction of the drum so that solid printing could be performed.

After the completion of printing, peeling was performed with a sufficient peeling angle. The obtained printed surface was overlaid with art paper (Mitsubishi Toku Ryokan art paper) and secondarily transferred using a laminator having a heat roll temperature of about 150 ° C.

Example 2 A recording material having the same structure as in Example 1 was prepared except that chromium having a film thickness of 100 Å was used as the vapor deposition layer.

Comparative Example 1 The photothermal conversion layer of Example 1 was coated on PET as a temporary support and laminated with the intermediate layer of Example 1. Peel off the temporary support,
The same aluminum vapor deposition layer as in Example 1 was provided on the opposite side of the photothermal conversion layer from the intermediate layer, and the same ink layer as in Example 1 was applied onto this vapor deposition layer with the same film thickness.

Comparative Example 2 A recording material was prepared with the same structure, film thickness and preparation method as in Comparative Example 1 except that the ink layer was directly applied onto the photothermal conversion layer without providing the vapor deposition layer.

Printing was also carried out by thermal transfer in Example 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. The results of observing the sensitivity in printing, scratches on the surface of the vapor deposition layer, and the presence or absence of scattering of the photothermal conversion material are as follows.

Sensitivity (mJ / cm ² ) Defects on the surface of the vapor-deposited layer Scattering of photothermal conversion material Example 1 370 None at all Example 2 370 None at all None Comparative Example 1 1110 3 places None Comparative Example 2 740-Yes

[0076]

By using the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention, a highly sensitive image can be obtained without scattering of the photothermal conversion material.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the basic constitution of a thermal transfer recording material for laser recording of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic process drawing showing a method for producing a thermal transfer recording material for laser recording of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the recording material and the image receiving material of the present invention are superposed on a pressure reducing drum for thermal transfer printing.

[Explanation of Codes] 1a Substrate 2 Intermediate layer 3 Photothermal conversion layer 4 Vapor deposition layer 5 Release layer 6 Ink layer 1b Temporary substrate 11 Roll 12 Pressure reducing hole (1 indicates open state, 2 indicates closed state) 13 Thermal transfer Recording material 14 Image receiving material

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Sota Kawakami No. 1 Sakuramachi, Hino City, Tokyo Konica Stock Company In-house

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate layer, a photothermal conversion layer, a vapor deposition layer, and
A thermal transfer recording material for laser recording, comprising a release layer and an ink layer in this order. 2. The thermal transfer recording material for laser recording according to claim 1, wherein the release layer is made of a resin which is dissolved in water at 25 ° C. in an amount of 1% by weight or more. 3. The thermal transfer recording material for laser recording according to claim 1, wherein the release layer is made of at least one of cellulose resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal and gelatin. 4. The elastic modulus of the intermediate layer is 1 at 20 ° C.
The thermal transfer recording material for laser recording according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer recording material for laser recording is 100 kg / cm ² or less, or the penetration of the intermediate layer is 10 or more. 5. A light-heat conversion layer surface of a sheet having a release layer, a vapor deposition layer and a light-heat conversion layer provided in this order on the base material A, and an intermediate layer surface of a sheet having an intermediate layer provided on the base material B are in contact with each other. A method for preparing a thermal transfer recording material for laser recording, which comprises laminating the base material A and then providing an ink layer.