EP0775592B1 - Procédé thermique pour former des images - Google Patents

Procédé thermique pour former des images Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0775592B1
EP0775592B1 EP96203125A EP96203125A EP0775592B1 EP 0775592 B1 EP0775592 B1 EP 0775592B1 EP 96203125 A EP96203125 A EP 96203125A EP 96203125 A EP96203125 A EP 96203125A EP 0775592 B1 EP0775592 B1 EP 0775592B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
forming process
image forming
outermost layer
thermal image
process according
Prior art date
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP96203125A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0775592A1 (fr
Inventor
Geert Defieuw
Paul Janssen
Johan Loccufier
Bart Horsten
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Agfa Gevaert NV
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Agfa Gevaert NV
Agfa Gevaert AG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/494—Silver salt compositions other than silver halide emulsions; Photothermographic systems ; Thermographic systems using noble metal compounds
    • G03C1/498—Photothermographic systems, e.g. dry silver
    • G03C1/4989—Photothermographic systems, e.g. dry silver characterised by a thermal imaging step, with or without exposure to light, e.g. with a thermal head, using a laser
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/494—Silver salt compositions other than silver halide emulsions; Photothermographic systems ; Thermographic systems using noble metal compounds
    • G03C1/498—Photothermographic systems, e.g. dry silver
    • G03C1/49872—Aspects relating to non-photosensitive layers, e.g. intermediate protective layers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
    • B41M5/42—Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers
    • B41M5/44—Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers characterised by the macromolecular compounds
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/005—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein
    • G03C1/06—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein with non-macromolecular additives
    • G03C1/32—Matting agents
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/76—Photosensitive materials characterised by the base or auxiliary layers
    • G03C1/7614—Cover layers; Backing layers; Base or auxiliary layers characterised by means for lubricating, for rendering anti-abrasive or for preventing adhesion
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/76—Photosensitive materials characterised by the base or auxiliary layers
    • G03C1/825—Photosensitive materials characterised by the base or auxiliary layers characterised by antireflection means or visible-light filtering means, e.g. antihalation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/76—Photosensitive materials characterised by the base or auxiliary layers
    • G03C1/85—Photosensitive materials characterised by the base or auxiliary layers characterised by antistatic additives or coatings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/74—Applying photosensitive compositions to the base; Drying processes therefor
    • G03C2001/7488—Sliding layers or means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/76—Photosensitive materials characterised by the base or auxiliary layers
    • G03C1/7614—Cover layers; Backing layers; Base or auxiliary layers characterised by means for lubricating, for rendering anti-abrasive or for preventing adhesion
    • G03C2001/7628—Back layer

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a thermographic material suitable for thermal development in dynamic contact with a heat source.
  • it concerns improvements in imaging properties due to its surface in contact with the heat source having particular slip properties.
  • Thermal imaging or thermography is a recording process wherein images are generated by the use of imagewise modulated thermal energy.
  • Direct thermal thermography is concerned with materials which are substantially not photosensitive, but are sensitive to heat or thermosensitive. Imagewise applied heat is sufficient to bring about a visible change in a thermosensitive imaging material.
  • thermographic recording materials are of the chemical type. On heating to a certain conversion temperature, an irreversible chemical reaction takes place and a coloured image is produced.
  • a typical heat-sensitive (thermographic) copy paper includes in the heat-sensitive layer a thermoplastic binder, e.g ethyl cellulose, a water-insoluble silver salt, e.g. silver stearate and an appropriate organic reducing agent, of which 4-methoxy-1-hydroxy-dihydronaphthalene is a representative.
  • a thermoplastic binder e.g ethyl cellulose
  • a water-insoluble silver salt e.g. silver stearate
  • an appropriate organic reducing agent of which 4-methoxy-1-hydroxy-dihydronaphthalene is a representative.
  • a heterocyclic organic toning agent such as phthalazinone is added to the composition of the heat-sensitive layer.
  • Thermo-sensitive copying paper is used in "front-printing” or “back-printing” using infra-red radiation absorbed and transformed into heat in contacting infra-red light absorbing image areas of an original as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of US-P 3,074,809.
  • WO 94/11199 attempts to solve the white line problem and teaches that a recording material comprising on a support (i) a heat sensitive layer comprising a substantially light insensitive organic silver salt, (ii) a protective layer containing a thermomeltable particle dispersed in a binder and (iii) a reducing agent being present in the heat sensitive layer and/or another layer on the same side of the support carrying the heat sensitive layer. It also teaches that the protective layer may further comprise a lubricant or a lubricant may be present on top of the protective layer.
  • thermo image forming process comprising the steps of: (i) bringing an outermost layer of a recording material comprising at least one thermosensitive element on a support into contact with a heat source, the thermosensitive element comprising a substantially light-insensitive silver salt and a reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith; (ii) applying heat from the heat source imagewise to the recording material while maintaining mutual contact to but with relative movement between the recording material and the heat source; and (iii) separating the recording material from the heat source, characterized in that the dynamic frictional coefficient during the contact between the outermost layer of the recording material and the heat source has a maximum value of less than 0.3 and the ratio of the maximum value of the dynamic frictional coefficient to the minimum value of the dynamic frictional coefficient is less than 1.9.
  • the heat source is a thin film thermal head.
  • the outermost layer in contact with the heat source may in different embodiments of the present invention be the outermost layer of the thermosensitive element, a protective layer applied to the thermosensitive element or a layer on the opposite side of the support to the thermosensitive element.
  • a maximum dynamic frictional coefficient between the heat source and the outermost layer in contact with the heat source of less than 0.3 can be attained by one skilled in the art by a combination of one or more matting agents, as described in WO 94/11198 with one or more thermomeltable particles optionally with one or more lubricants, as described in WO 94/11199, or with at least one solid lubricant having a melting point below 150°C and at least one liquid lubricant in a binder, wherein at least one of the lubricants is a phosphoric acid derivative, as described in a copending European patent application.
  • the outermost layer of the recording material according to the present invention may be a protective layer applied to the thermosensitive element to avoid local deformation of the thermosensitive element and to improve resistance against abrasion.
  • the protective layer preferably comprises a binder, which may be hydrophobic (solvent soluble) of hydrophilic (water soluble).
  • a binder which may be hydrophobic (solvent soluble) of hydrophilic (water soluble).
  • hydrophobic binders polycarbonates as described in EP-A 614 769 are particularly preferred.
  • hydrophilic binders are preferred for the protective layer, as coating can be performed from an aqueous composition and mixing of the hydrophilic protective layer with the immediate underlayer can be avoided by using a hydrophobic binder in the immediate underlayer.
  • Such protective layers may also comprise particulate material, e.g. talc particles, optionally protruding from the protective outermost layer as described in WO 94/11198.
  • Other additives can also be incorporated in the protective layer e.g. colloidal particles such as colloidal silica.
  • the outermost layer of the recording material in contact with the heat source may comprise a hydrophilic binder.
  • Suitable hydrophilic binders for the outermost layer in contact with the heat source are, for example, gelatin, polyvinylalcohol, cellulose derivatives or other polysaccharides, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose etc., with hardenable binders being preferred and polyvinylalcohol being particularly preferred.
  • the outermost layer of the recording material in contact with the heat source may be crosslinked.
  • Crosslinking can be achieved by using crosslinking agents such as described in WO 95/12495 for protective layers, e.g. tetra-alkoxysilanes, polyisocyanates, zirconates, titanates, melamine resins etc., with tetraalkoxysilanes such as tetramethylorthosilicate and tetraethylorthosilicate being preferred.
  • the outermost layer of the recording material in contact with the heat source according to the present invention may comprise a matting agent.
  • Suitable matting agents are described in WO 94/11198 and include e.g. talc particles and optionally protrude from the outermost layer.
  • the outermost layer of the recording material according to the present invention may comprise at least one lubricant.
  • suitable lubricating materials are surface active agents, liquid lubricants, solid lubricants which do not melt during thermal development of the recording material, solid lubricants which melt (thermomeltable) during thermal development of the recording material or mixtures thereof.
  • the lubricant may be applied with or without a polymeric binder.
  • the surface active agents may be any agents known in the art such as carboxylates, sulfonates, aliphatic amine salts, aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, fluoroalkyl C 2 -C 20 aliphatic acids.
  • liquid lubricants include silicone oils, synthetic oils, saturated hydrocarbons, glycols and phosphoric acid derivatives.
  • solid lubricants include various higher alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and fatty acids, phosphoric acid derivatives, fatty acid esters, fatty acid amides, polyolefin-polyether block copolymers, polysiloxane-polyether copolymers and polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • the lubricant is preferably selected from a group consisting of silicon derivatives, polyolefins, fatty acid derivatives, fatty alcohol derivatives and phosphoric acid derivatives.
  • a preferred embodiment is the use of at least one solid lubricant having a melting point below 150°C and at least one liquid lubricant in a binder, wherein at least one of the lubricants is a phosphoric acid derivative as disclosed in a copending patent application.
  • thermomeltable solid non-phosphoric acid derivative lubricants with their melting points are: Melting point [°C] SL01: ethylenebisstearamide (CeridustTM 3910 from Hoechst AG) 141 SL02: myristamide 106 SL03: stearamide 104 SL04: glycerine monostearate 81 SL05: erucamide 80 SL06: oleamide 73 SL07: glycerine tristearate 55-73 SL08: MobilcerTM Q (a paraffin wax) 67 SL09: glycerine monotallow acid ester (RilanitTM GMS from Henkel AG) 55-60 SL10: sorbitan monostearate (SPANTM 60 from ICI PLC) 55 SL11: sorbitan tristearate (SPANTM 65 from ICI PLC) 48-53 SL12: sorbitan monopalmitate (SPANTM 40 from ICI PLC) 44-47 SL13:
  • thermomeltable solid lubricants with their melting points are: Melting point [°C] PSL01: ServoxylTM VPAZ 100 from Servo Delden BV (mixture of monolauryl and dilauryl phosphates) 33 PSL02: ServoxylTM VPRZ 100 from Servo Delden BV (mixture of monocetyl and monostearyl phosphates) 50 PSL03: potassium alkyl phosphate (CrafolTM AP37 from Henkel AG) 62
  • Suitable non-phosphoric acid derivative liquid lubricants are:
  • PLL phosphoric acid derivative liquid lubricants
  • thermosensitive element comprises a substantially light-insensitive silver salt and a reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith.
  • the element may comprise a layer system in which the ingredients may be dispersed in different layers, with the proviso that the substantially light-insensitive silver salt and the reducing agent are in thermal working relationship with one another i.e. during the thermal development process the reducing agent must be present in such a way that it is able to diffuse to the substantially light-insensitive silver salt particles so that reduction of the silver salt can take place.
  • Preferred substantially light-insensitive silver salts are substantially light insensitive organic silver salts.
  • Preferred substantially light-insensitive organic silver salts are silver salts of aliphatic carboxylic acids known as fatty acids, wherein the aliphatic carbon chain has preferably at least 12 C-atoms, e.g. silver laurate, silver palmitate, silver stearate, silver hydroxystearate, silver oleate and silver behenate, with silver behenate being particularly preferred.
  • Such organic silver salts are also called "silver soaps”.
  • the silver image density depends on the coverage of the above defined reducing agent(s) and organic silver salt(s) and has to be preferably such that, on heating above 100 °C, an optical density of at least 2.5 can be obtained.
  • Preferred reducing agents are organic reducing agents.
  • Suitable organic reducing agents for the reduction of the substantially light-insensitive silver salts are organic compounds containing at least one active hydrogen atom linked to O, N or C, such as is the case with, aromatic di- and tri-hydroxy compounds; aminophenols; METOL (tradename); p-phenylenediamines; alkoxynaphthols, e.g. 4-methoxy-1-naphthol described in US-P 3,094,41; pyrazolidin-3-one type reducing agents, e.g.
  • PHENIDONE (tradename); pyrazolin-5-ones; indan-1,3-dione derivatives; hydroxytetrone acids; hydroxytetronimides; hydroxylamine derivatives such as for example described in US-P 4,082,901; hydrazine derivatives; and reductones e.g. ascorbic acid; see also US-P 3,074,809, 3,080,254, 3,094,417 and 3,887,378.
  • aromatic di- and tri-hydroxy compounds having at least two hydroxy groups in ortho- or para-position on the same aromatic nucleus
  • aromatic nucleus e.g. benzene nucleus, hydroquinone and substituted hydroquinones, catechol, pyrogallol, gallic acid and gallic acid esters
  • polyhydroxy spiro-bis-indane compounds especially these corresponding to the following general formula (I): wherein :
  • polyhydroxy-spiro-bis-indane compounds described in US-P 3,440,049 as photographic tanning agent, more especially 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-5,6,5',6'-tetrahydroxy-1,1'-spiro-bis-indane (called indane I) and 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-4,6,7,4',6',7'-hexahydroxy-1,1'-spiro-bis-indane (called indane II).
  • Indane is also known under the name hydrindene.
  • catechol-type reducing agents i.e. reducing agents containing at least one benzene nucleus with two hydroxy groups (-OH) in ortho-position
  • catechol 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, 1,2-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid and its esters e.g. methyl gallate, ethyl gallate, propyl gallate, tannic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid esters.
  • catechol-type reducing agents are benzene compounds in which the benzene nucleus is substituted by no more than two hydroxy groups which are present in 3,4-position on the nucleus and have in the 1-position of the nucleus a substituent linked to the nucleus by means of a carbonyl group.
  • the silver image density depends upon the coverage of reducing agent and silver salt and has preferably to be such that upon heating an optical density of at least 2.5 can be obtained. Preferably at least 0.10 moles of reducing agent per mole of silver salt is used.
  • auxiliary reducing agents are e.g. sterically hindered phenols, that on heating become reactive partners in the reduction of the substantially light-insensitive silver salt such as silver behenate, such as described in US-P 4,001,026; or are bisphenols, e.g. of the type described in US-P 3,547,648.
  • the auxiliary reducing agents may be present in the imaging layer or in a polymeric binder layer in thermal working relationship thereto.
  • auxiliary reducing agents are sulfonamidophenols corresponding to the following general formula : Aryl-SO 2 -NH-Arylene-OH in which :
  • auxiliary reducing agents that may be used in conjunction with the above mentioned primary reducing agents are organic reducing metal salts, e.g. stannous stearate described in US-P 3,460,946 and 3,547,648.
  • thermosensitive element Film-forming binders of the thermosensitive element
  • the film-forming binder of the thermosensitive element containing the substantially light-insensitive silver salt may be all kinds of natural, modified natural or synthetic resins or mixtures of such resins, wherein the silver salt can be dispersed homogeneously: e.g. cellulose derivatives such as ethylcellulose, cellulose esters, e.g.
  • cellulose nitrate carboxymethylcellulose, starch ethers, galactomannan
  • polymers derived from ⁇ , ⁇ -ethylenically unsaturated compounds such as polyvinyl chloride, after-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetals that are made from polyvinyl alcohol as starting material in which only a part of the repeating vinyl alcohol units may have reacted with an aldehyde, preferably polyvinyl butyral, copolymers of acrylonitrile and acrylamide, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters, polystyrene and polyethylene or mixtures thereof.
  • a particularly suitable polyvinyl butyral containing a minor amount of vinyl alcohol units is marketed under the trade name BUTVAR B79 of Monsanto USA and provides a good adhesion to paper and properly subbed polyester supports.
  • the binder to silver salt weight ratio is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 6, and the thickness of the recording layer is preferably in the range of 5 to 50 ⁇ m.
  • the layer containing the silver salt is commonly coated onto a support in sheet- or web-form from an organic solvent containing the binder dissolved therein, but may be applied from an aqueous medium as a latex, i.e. as an aqueous polymer dispersion.
  • a latex the dispersible polymer has preferably some hydrophilic functionality.
  • Polymers with hydrophilic functionality for forming an aqueous polymer dispersion (latex) are described e.g. in US-P 5,006,451, but serve therein for forming a barrier layer preventing unwanted diffusion of vanadium pentoxide present as an antistatic agent.
  • binders or mixtures thereof may be used in conjunction with waxes or "heat solvents” also called “thermal solvents” or “thermosolvents” improving the reaction speed of the redox-reaction at elevated temperature.
  • heat solvent in this invention is meant a non-hydrolyzable organic material which is in solid state in the recording layer at temperatures below 50°C but becomes a plasticizer for the recording layer in the heated region and/or liquid solvent for at least one of the redox-reactants, e.g. the reducing agent for the silver salt, at a temperature above 60°C.
  • redox-reactants e.g. the reducing agent for the silver salt
  • the recording layer contains preferably in admixture with the silver salts and reducing agents a so-called toning agent known from thermography or photothermography.
  • Suitable toning agents are the phthalimides and phthalazinones within the scope of the general formulae described in US-P 4,082,901. Further reference is made to the toning agents described in US-P 3,074,809, 3,446,648 and 3,844,797.
  • Other particularly useful toning agents are the heterocyclic toner compounds of the benzoxazine dione or naphthoxazine dione type within the scope of following general formula : in which:
  • a toner compound particularly suited for use in combination with polyhydroxy benzene reducing agents is 3,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-1,3,2H-benzoxazine described in US-P 3,951,660.
  • the recording layer may contain in addition to the ingredients mentioned above other additives such as free fatty acids, surface-active agents, antistatic agents, e.g. non-ionic antistatic agents including a fluorocarbon group as e.g. in F 3 C(CF 2 ) 6 CONH(CH 2 CH 2 O)-H, silicone oil, e.g. BAYSILONE ⁇ l A (tradename of BAYER AG - GERMANY), ultraviolet light absorbing compounds, white light reflecting and/or ultraviolet radiation reflecting pigments, silica, and/or optical brightening agents.
  • antistatic agents e.g. non-ionic antistatic agents including a fluorocarbon group as e.g. in F 3 C(CF 2 ) 6 CONH(CH 2 CH 2 O)-H
  • silicone oil e.g. BAYSILONE ⁇ l A (tradename of BAYER AG - GERMANY)
  • ultraviolet light absorbing compounds e.g. BAYSILONE ⁇ l A (tradename of BAYER AG
  • the support for the thermal imaging material according to the present invention may be transparent, translucent or opaque, e.g. having a white light reflecting aspect and is preferably a thin flexible carrier made e.g. from paper, polyethylene coated paper or transparent resin film, e.g. made of a cellulose ester, e.g. cellulose triacetate, polypropylene, polycarbonate or polyester, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate.
  • a paper base substrate is present which may contain white reflecting pigments, optionally also applied in an interlayer between the recording material and the paper base substrate.
  • the support may be in sheet, ribbon or web form and subbed if need be to improve the adherence to the thereon coated thermosensitive recording layer.
  • the support may be made of an opacified resin composition, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate opacified by means of pigments and/or micro-voids and/or coated with an opaque pigment-binder layer, and may be called synthetic paper, or paperlike film; information about such supports can be found in EP's 194 106 and 234 563 and US-P's 3,944,699, 4,187,113, 4,780,402 and 5,059,579. Should a transparent base be used, the base may be colourless or coloured, e.g. having a blue colour.
  • an antistatic layer is applied to the outermost layer thereof which is not in contact with the heat source during the thermal image forming process. Suitable antistatic layers therefor are described in EP-A 440 957.
  • any layer of the recording material of the present invention may proceed by any coating technique e.g. such as described in Modern Coating and Drying Technology, edited by Edward D. Cohen and Edgar B. Gutoff, (1992) VCH Publishers Inc. 220 East 23rd Street, Suite 909 New York, NY 10010, U.S.A.
  • thermal printing image signals are converted into electric pulses and then through a driver circuit selectively transferred to a thermal printhead.
  • the thermal printhead consists of microscopic heat resistor elements, which convert the electrical energy into heat via Joule effect.
  • the electric pulses thus converted into thermal signals manifest themselves as heat transferred to the surface of the thermal paper wherein the chemical reaction resulting in colour development takes place.
  • the operating temperature of common thermal printheads is in the range of 300 to 400°C and the heating time per picture element (pixel) may be 50ms or less, the pressure contact of the thermal printhead with the recording material being e.g. 100-500g/cm 2 to ensure a good transfer of heat.
  • the direct thermal image-wise heating of the recording material proceeds by Joule effect heating in that selectively energized electrical resistors of a thermal head array are used in contact or close proximity with the recording layer.
  • Suitable thermal printing heads are e.g. a Fujitsu Thermal Head (FTP-040 MCS001), a TDK Thermal Head F415 HH7-1089 and a Rohm Thermal Head KE 2008-F3.
  • the image signals for modulating the current in the micro-resistors of a thermal printhead are obtained directly e.g. from opto-electronic scanning devices or from an intermediary storage means, e.g. magnetic disc or tape or optical disc storage medium, optionally linked to a digital image work station wherein the image information can be processed to satisfy particular needs.
  • an intermediary storage means e.g. magnetic disc or tape or optical disc storage medium
  • Direct thermal imaging can be used for both the production of transparencies and reflection type prints.
  • hard copy field recording materials on a white opaque base are used, whereas in the medical diagnostic field black-imaged transparencies are widely used in inspection techniques operating with a light box.
  • a subbed polyethylene terephthalate support having a thickness of 175 ⁇ m was doctor blade-coated with a coating composition containing butanone as a solvent and the following ingredients so as to obtain thereon, after drying for 1 hour at 50°C, a layer containing: silver behenate 4.74g/m 2 polyvinylbutyral (ButvarTM B79 from Monsanto) 18.92g/m 2 silicone oil (BaysiloneTM from Bayer AG) 0.043g/m 2 benzo[e][1,3]oxazine-2,4-dione, a toning agent 0.260g/m 2 7-(ethylcarbonato)-benzo[e][1,3]oxazine-2,4-dione, a toning agent (see formula II below) 0.133g/m 2 butyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, a reducing agent 1.118g/m 2 tetrachlorophthalic anhydride 0.151g/m 2 pi
  • thermosensitive element with a surface protective layer
  • thermosensitive element was then coated with different aqueous compositions with the following basic composition expressed as weight percentages of ingredients present: 2.5% polyvinylalcohol (MowiviolTM WX 48 20 from Wacker Chemie) 0.09% UltravonTM W (dispersion agent from Ciba Geigy) converted into acid form by passing through an ion exchange column 0.11% talc (type P3 from Nippon Talc) 1.2% of colloidal silica (LevasilTM VP AC 4055 from Bayer AG, a 15% aqueous dispersion of colloidal silica) 2.1% tetramethylorthosilicate hydrolyzed in the presence of methanesulfonic acid and lubricants in the concentrations given as weight percentages in the tables below
  • the pH of the coating composition was adjusted to a pH of 4 by adding 1N nitric acid.
  • compositions which were insoluble in water, were dispersed in a ball mill with, if necessary, the aid of a dispersion agent.
  • the compositions were coated to a wet layer thickness of 85 ⁇ m and were then dried at 40°C for 15 minutes and hardened at 45°C and a relative humidity of 70% for 7 days.
  • thermo head printer After hardening, a commercially available AGFA DRYSTARTM 2000 (thermal head) printer with a maximum electrical input energy per dot of 63mW was used to produce an image over the whole width of the thermal head consisting of 11 blocks each printed at different electrical energies per dot and each with a non-printed strip in the middle thereof 2mm wide in the printing direction and 18cm long lateral to the printing direction, while printing the 2mm wide and 2cm long strips either side thereof. The degree to which the print obtained distinguished between these 2mm wide laterally adjoining non-printed and printed strips was used as a measure of the image quality attained i.e.
  • the dynamic frictional coefficients were measured by modifying an AGFA DRYSTARTM 2000 (thermal head) printer by incorporating a strain gauge so that the sideways strain generated by the recording materials in contact with the thermal head during the printing process could be determined.
  • the electrical signal generated by the strain gauge coupled to the thermal head at load, L, of 330g/cm of the thermal head and a transport speed of 4.5mm/s was then converted into absolute dynamic frictional coefficients using a calibration curve generated by applying weights to the strain gauge.
  • the dynamic frictional coefficients were measured by printing an image over the whole width of the thermal head consisting of 11 blocks each printed at different energies per dot and each with a non-printed strip in the middle thereof 2mm wide in the printing direction and 18cm long lateral to the printing direction, while printing the 2mm wide and 2cm long strips either side thereof.
  • the dynamic frictional coefficient varied with print density.
  • Comparative example 7 teaches that a combination of a solid lubricant and a liquid lubricant, as disclosed in WO 94/11199, also exhibited a dynamic frictional coefficient greater than 0.3 and a very poor image quality.
  • Invention example Solid lubricant Liquid lubricant Dynamic frictional coefficient Image quality code concentration code concentration max min max/min 1 SL11 0.18 PLL01 0.09 0.269 0.168 1.60 2 2 PSL01 0.18 PLL01 0.09 0.249 0.175 1.42 1
  • Invention examples 1 and 2 teach that a reduction in dynamic frictional coefficient to below 0.3 and a reduction in the ratio of maximum to minimum dynamic frictional coefficient to below 1.9, in this case by using a combination of a solid and a liquid lubricant both with melting points below 150°C and at least one of which being a phosphoric acid derivative in the surface layer of a recording material, produced a considerable improvement in the image quality.
  • the recording materials of invention examples 3 to 22 were produced as described for invention examples 1 to 2 except that an additional solid lubricant was incorporated into the protective layer.
  • the recording materials of invention examples 23 to 26 were produced as described for invention examples 1 to 2 except that an additional liquid lubricant was incorporated into the protective layer.
  • invention examples 23 to 26 teach that a reduction in dynamic frictional coefficient to below 0.3 and a reduction in the ratio of maximum to minimum dynamic frictional coefficient to below 1.9, in this case by using a combination of one solid and two liquid lubricants all with melting points below 150°C and at least one of which being a phosphoric acid derivative in the surface layer of a recording material

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Heat Sensitive Colour Forming Recording (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Procédé de formation d'image thermique comprenant les étapes consistant à : (i) amener une couche, située le plus à l'extérieur, d'un matériau d'enregistrement comprenant au moins un élément thermosensible sur un support en contact avec une source de chaleur, ledit élément thermosensible comprenant un sel d'argent essentiellement non photosensible et un agent de réduction pour ledit sel d'argent en relation de travail thermique avec ledit sel ; (ii) appliquer de la chaleur à partir de ladite source de chaleur en forme d'image sur ledit matériau d'enregistrement tout en maintenant un contact mutuel, mais avec un mouvement relatif, entre ledit matériau d'enregistrement et ladite source de chaleur ; et (iii) séparer ledit matériau d'enregistrement de ladite source de chaleur, caractérisé en ce que le coefficient de friction dynamique au cours de ladite mise en contact entre ladite couche, située le plus à l'extérieur, dudit matériau d'enregistrement et ladite source de chaleur possède une valeur maximale inférieure à 0,3 et le rapport de la valeur maximale dudit coefficient de friction dynamique à la valeur maximale dudit coefficient de friction dynamique est inférieur à 1,9.
  2. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite source de chaleur est une tête thermique du type à film mince.
  3. Procédé de formation d'image selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite couche située le plus à l'extérieur représente la couche située le plus à l'extérieur dudit élément thermosensible.
  4. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2, dans lequel ladite couche située le plus à l'extérieur est une couche de protection appliquée sur ledit élément thermosensible.
  5. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite couche située le plus à l'extérieur comprend un liant hydrophile.
  6. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite couche située le plus à l'extérieur est réticulée.
  7. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite couche située le plus à l'extérieur comprend un agent de matage.
  8. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite couche située le plus à l'extérieur comprend au moins un lubrifiant.
  9. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon la revendication 8, dans lequel ledit lubrifiant est choisi parmi le groupe constitué par des dérivés du silicone, des polyoléfines, des dérivés d'acides gras, des dérivés d'alcools gras et des dérivés d'acide phosphorique.
  10. Procédé de formation d'image thermique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit sel d'argent essentiellement non photosensible est un sel d'argent organique essentiellement non photosensible.
EP96203125A 1995-11-27 1996-11-08 Procédé thermique pour former des images Expired - Lifetime EP0775592B1 (fr)

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EP95203244 1995-11-27
EP96203125A EP0775592B1 (fr) 1995-11-27 1996-11-08 Procédé thermique pour former des images

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CN115612396B (zh) * 2022-12-19 2023-03-10 潍坊恒彩数码影像材料有限公司 一种基于γ-环糊精修饰纤维素的可降解热敏胶片涂层及其制备方法

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