FR2653708A1 - SHEET FOR HOT TRANSFER OF PRINTING AND / OR WRITING. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a sheet for heat transfer of print and/or writing to decorate and/or print a surface of an item (A). This sheet comprises: a flexible support (S), a transferable thermoplastic layer (1) receptive to printing and/or writing agents and capable of adhering to the materials making up the surface of the item (A), a release component incorporated in flexible support (S) or in the form of an intermediate layer (2) placed between a support (S) and the transferable layer (1) for the purpose of fully releasing, when hot or cold, layer (1) from a support (S) after transfer. Used for printing fabrics.

Description

The invention relates to a sheet for transferring printing and / or writing to the surface of an article, this transfer being effected by the application of heat and pressure. The article may be an article made of natural or synthetic fibers, or any other porous, semi-porous or non-porous article.

It is well known to print a pattern on paper, with printing inks containing thermoplastic binders, and to transfer printing to a fabric by applying pressure and heat. A paper sold by KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION under the name of TRANS-EZE 3000 allows the transfer of prints obtained by lithography, screen printing, flexography, rotogravure, offset on woven or non-woven articles made of synthetic or natural materials.

This paper has a pseudo-plastic coating which constitutes the printing surface and heat transfer. This pseudoplastic coating melts during the heat transfer process and very quickly returns to a pseudoplastic state during the cooling step. It is necessary to peel the base sheet while it is still hot. A disadvantage of this transfer paper is that it makes it necessary to quickly peel the base sheet after the hot transfer step. Another disadvantage of such a transfer paper is that the designs transferred to the article are not resistant to washing, especially in the case of blouses or polos to be washed often. Another disadvantage of this paper is that special inks containing thermoplastic binders must be used.

U.S. Patent No. 4,235,657 to KIMBERLY-CLARK discloses a paper for heat transfer of designs onto natural or synthetic fabrics or other porous, semi-porous, or non-porous articles.

The transfer sheet comprises a flexible support coated with a first layer of a film-forming polymer composition and a second layer of another film-forming polymer composition. The first layer is a vinyl copolymer composition with a polyethylene wax and serves as a transfer layer. The second layer is receptive to printing inks and has adhesive properties that develop through heat, thereby permitting permanent bonding of the pattern with the article. This second layer consists of an ionomer in aqueous dispersion.

During the transfer, the first layer does not transfer completely to the article, but splits between the support and the article.

Such paper has disadvantages. Indeed, the composition of the inks must be compatible with the layers and more particularly the inks must soften at the same time as the first and second layers during hot pressing. Another disadvantage of such a paper is that the transfer must be carried out at relatively high temperatures and pressures, for example 1780C, at pressures between about 7 and 21 Pa (1 to 3 psi).

A third disadvantage of this paper is that the carrier must be peeled after transfer when the constituents of the layers are in the softened state. Another disadvantage of this paper is that the image transferred to a tissue drools and stains the tissue.

PCT-WO-04393 discloses a transfer sheet for solving the disadvantages of KIMBERLY paper, namely the compatibility of the inks used for printing with the layers and the smearing of the fabric. For this purpose, the PCT application describes a conventional transfer sheet on which an additional layer of a Damar resin has been deposited.

However, such a paper has the disadvantage that it is necessary to buy commercially or to previously manufacture a sheet for hot transfer and then to deposit a layer of Damar resin on this paper; This gives a sheet with multiple layers and therefore the cost of such a sheet is high.

Another disadvantage of a sheet obtained from a transfer sheet is that the peeling of the support must be done hot and can not be done at room temperature (about 250C).

The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages.

An object of the invention is to provide a sheet for the transfer of printing and / or writing to decorate and / or print the surface of an article1 the transfer being carried out hot and the separation after transfer of the sheet and the article can be made cold, for example at room temperature.

A second object of the invention is to provide a transfer sheet that can be printed and / or written using any ink.

A third goal is to provide a transfer sheet easy to manufacture and whose cost is low.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a transfer sheet which makes it possible to decorate and / or print textiles, the transferred printing being stable to washing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transfer sheet for transferring printing and / or writing at low pressures.

The Applicant has surprisingly been able to manufacture such a transfer sheet by placing a single transferable layer on a flexible support, this layer being thermoplastic, receptive to printing agents and / or writing and can cling to the materials. constituent parts of the surface of the article. The transfer sheet according to the invention has a separating component which can be introduced into the flexible support and whose function is to allow the complete uncoupling of the transferred layer relative to the support, whether hot or cold.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the uncoupling component is in the form of an intermediate layer placed between the support and the transferable layer or the liquids in which they are in dispersion, emulsion or suspension. This constituent can therefore be introduced into the support during its manufacture or in the form of an intermediate layer.

The Applicant has surprisingly found that the uncoupling component or the layer placed between the transferable layer and the support must be a solvent barrier of the constituents of the transferable layer. This component of separation intrinsic to the support or in the form of barrier layer prevents that, during the deposition on the support of the constituents of the transfer layer in a solvent, the constituents do not penetrate inside the flexible support. The barrier layer thus favors the deposition on the surface of the transfer layer and prevents its penetration into the core of the support. When the transfer layer is separated from the support with the support, the barrier layer has the following effect: function to promote the total transfer of the transferable layer and therefore to subsequently allow a separation of the transferred layer, and this cold. However, the removal of the support, long after the transfer, and therefore for example at room temperature, is very advantageous. Indeed, on production lines, the transfer can be done, in a first step, on large areas of article and in a second step, can be detached from the article and the layer transferred from the support coated with the barrier layer. .

The uncoupling constituent may for example be a composition of a binder. Binders that can be used are, among others, native starch; native starch, especially corn starch, wheat, potato; phosphoric ester of starch; carboxymethylated starch; oxidized starch; enzymic starch (enzyme: oe-amylase); hydroxyethyl starch; carboxymethylcellulose; polyvinyl acetate; alginates, polyvinyl alcohol; a polyolefin; an ethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, N-methylolacrylamide, acrylic acid copolymer; a butadiene, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid copolymer; styrene, butadiene, methylacrylamide copolymer; and their mixtures. Preferably, a mixture of 50 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 50 parts of starch is used.

The uncoupling component may also be a composition of a release agent. These release agents may be, inter alia, a silicone, an organic chromium complex, such as, for example, chromium stearochloride, and mixtures thereof.
According to the invention, the transferable layer consists of a hot-sensitive adhesive for example, a resin or a rubber, natural or synthetic, thermoplastic at a temperature high enough to be transferred hot, but compatible with the temperature at which resists the article on which the transfer is carried out, while not being too low to be able to resist the washing.

For example, if the article is a cotton fabric washable at 400C, the resin will be thermoplastic and have a melting point below 1800C but above 400C. In addition, the resin should be insoluble in water and resistant to the detergents commonly used to perform laundry.

The transferable layer may, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprise at least one resin or gum, optionally at least one binder, a mineral or synthetic filler, and optionally a plasticizer of the resin or gum. The filler may for example be chosen from the group formed by talc, silicas, kaolin and carbonates.

The binder of the transferable layer may be for example a polyolefin; an ethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, N-methylolacrylamide, acrylic acid copolymer; a butadiene, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid copolymer; a styrene, butadiene, methylacrylamide copolymer, a copolymer of ethylene acrylic acid and mixtures thereof.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the support may comprise an anti-tiling and / or anti-rolling layer.

Thermoplastic synthetic resins may for example be polymers or copolymers of ethylene, vinyl chloride, styrene, methyl methacrylate, acrylic or methacrylic acid, ethylene terephthalate, polyamides such as polyhexamethylene adipamide, polyundecanamide, abieto-formophenolic and abietomalic resins and mixtures thereof.

The thermoplastic natural resins can for example be rosin, hard and semi-hard copals, amber, damars, benzoin balms, styrax, natural lacquers.

The flexible support may be any temperature resistant support to which the resin layer is transferred. The support may for example be a fibrous sheet obtained by wet process, this sheet containing natural and / or synthetic and / or mineral fibers, binders, fillers. The support may be a sheet of synthetic material.

The invention further relates to a printing and / or writing transfer method for decorating and / or printing a surface of an article using a sheet described above, which method is such that
- One prints and / or draws a pattern on the outer face of the tranferable layer.

the outer face of the transferable layer is applied to the article,
the whole is pressed at a temperature greater than or equal to the softening point of the transferable layer,
optionally, the whole sheet / article is allowed to cool to room temperature,
- Is separated the article provided with the printing and the transferable layer, the support provided with the intermediate layer.

The invention further relates to a transferable layer composition containing
at least one resin or gum in aqueous dispersion
- at least one binder
optionally a surfactant
- water, preferably
from 10 to 90 parts by weight of resin
- from 5 to 50 parts of binder
from 0.1 to 10 parts of a surfactant
- 100 parts of water
The pressing temperature can be between 40 and 1800C and the pressure can be between 0.7 and 2 Pascals.

The following description, with reference to the drawings and examples, will make it possible to understand how the invention can be put into practice.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the hot transfer sheet according to the invention, the sheet having impressions.

Figure 2 is a view of a machine for the continuous transfer of impressions on an article.

Figure 3 shows the method of transferring a print on an article from the transfer sheet using heated rollers that apply the pressure and heat necessary to effect the transfer.

FIG. 1 shows a sheet F for the hot transfer of an impression and / or a writing I for decorating and / or printing a surface of an article. The sheet according to the invention comprises a flexible support S, a transferable layer 1 and optionally an intermediate separation layer 2 placed between the support S and the transferable layer 1.

The support S is a thin, flexible, non-elastic sheet, for example a sheet of paper, plastic or metal which is not affected by the thermal and pressure conditions to which it is subjected during the heat transfer process. Preferably, the support is a sheet of paper. This sheet may be a wet sheet obtained from a suspension of cellulose fibers, binders and fillers.

The paper sheet may further include additives known to those skilled in the art to render it indelaminable and tear-resistant. The support S has a front face 3 and a back side 4. It may optionally be applied on the back side a layer that prevents the paper from bending (anti-rolling layer or anti-tiling) when laying layers 1 and 2 on the front side 3 of the paper. This layer preventing the curvature of the paper may for example be composed of a binder, a filler and a latex. One can also counteract the rolling or tiling by rewetting and drying the face on the back.

A separating component can be introduced into the flexible support or in the form of an intermediate layer 2.

The intermediate layer 2 is placed on the front face 3 of the support S. This intermediate layer 2 has the function of allowing the hot or cold separation of the layer 1 transferred relative to the support S. Preferably, this layer consists of 50 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 50 parts of starch, 25% solids.

The transferable layer 1 is thermoplastic, receptive to printing agents and / or writing, and can hang on the materials constituting the surface of the article (A) on which the transfer is carried out. The transferable layer is fusible at a temperature compatible with the temperature to which the article is subjected during the transfer for a given time. It may for example be a heat sensitive adhesive.

Preferably, the layer is fusible between 40 and 1800C.

The thickness of the transferable layer 1 must be sufficient so that there is no ink entering the support S. Indeed, if ink penetrates the paper, the ink having penetrated does not will be further transferred. Preferably, the thickness of the layer is greater than 10 g / m 2, in dry extract.

In Figure 2, there is shown the continuous printing of a strip 5, for example a strip of fabric. One can of course consider printing a support S made of another material, porous, semi-porous or non-porous. The web 5 of fabric is unwound from a roll 6 and comes into contact with a transfer sheet F according to the invention. The transfer sheet F is itself unwound from a roll 7 and passes through a printing station 8. This printing station 8 may for example be a printing machine 8. This printing station 8 may for example be a printing machine in mono or four-color process. The printed sheet 7 and the fabric strip 5 come into contact upstream of two heating pressure rollers 9a, 9b. These rollers 9a, 9b exert a pressure (arrows P1, P2) and the strip 5 of fabric is secured to the sheet F. printed at point 10 of contact tangent to the two rollers. This securing is maintained for the time that separates the point 10 of solidarity of the point 11 of uncoupling located downstream of the point 10. It is not necessary that the points 10 and 11 are brought closer together.

On the contrary, the securing points 10 and 11 may be remote. It is even preferable that the joining of the transfer sheet F with the fabric 5 takes place for a period of time allowing the assembly to cool. The resin thus has time to catch on the fabric 5. This attachment is a physical attachment by penetration of the resin 1 in the fabric fibers or on the surface thereof, but this attachment can also be chemical. At the point of separation 11, the transfer sheet F is separated from the fabric 5 by pulling respectively in the opposite direction of the pressure forces (arrows Tt, T2).

The fabric 5 then comprises the printing covered with the transferred layer I. The sheet F then comprises only the support S and the intermediate sheet 2.

Another embodiment of the transfer according to the invention can be envisaged.

For example, a drawing can be made on the sheet F either manually or by any method of reproduction, for example using a color copying machine. The sheet F can then have a dimension of 21 cm × 29.7 cm, or a smaller dimension. The printed face of the sheet F is placed on a garment, for example a blouse or a polo shirt. The pressure and the heat are applied using an iron. The whole is allowed to cool. The blouse of the sheet F is cold-separated, that is to say at ambient temperature (250 ° C.). The pressure necessary to effect the transfer according to the invention is low, of the order of 0.7 to 2. Pascals (0.1 to 0.3 Psi). The time during which the pressure is applied is from 1 to 50 seconds. The transfer temperature is a function of the resistance of the support to heat. It can be between 40 and 1800C.

EXAMPLES
Parts are given in weight and dry, unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1
A paper sheet made from cellulose fibers is conventionally wet-milled. A layer consisting of an aqueous composition of polyvinyl alcohol / starch (50/50) at 25% solids content is deposited using a dragging blade or a champion bar and then dried. The layer thus deposited is 6 g / m 2, in the dry state.

Damar natural gum is then diluted in trichloroethane (50/50) and the composition thus obtained is deposited using a champion bar and then dried. The resin layer in the dry state is 30 g / m 2.

Then we write on the damar layer using felt pens commonly sold in the trade. The transfer sheet is placed on a cotton cloth, so that the Damar gum is in contact with the tissue. It is heated for 30 seconds at 1200C. The pressure is 0.7 Pa.

The transfer sheet and fabric are allowed to cool to room temperature. Then we dissociate them by pulling on their ends. The sheet separates very easily from the fabric leaving the resin layer and printing on the fabric completely.

Comparative example
The same layer of Damar resin is deposited on a transfer paper
TRANS-EZE sold by the company KIMBERLY-CLARK.

In the same way, the transfer is done after printing on fabric.

The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature. We try to separate the sheet from the fabric. It is impossible to separate them, the transfer sheet tearing and the resin remaining partially on the sheet, as well as printing.

EXAMPLE 2
A release layer is deposited in the same manner as in Example 1.

A composition comprising 100 parts of gum copal-shackle is produced. 5-50 parts of a filler, for example, talc, kaolin, silicas, carbonates and various mineral fillers or organic fillers such as polyolefins,. 0-30 parts of a plasticizer, for example castor oil, 100 qsp of trichloroethane. The solvent regulates the viscosity and weight of the final layer.

The fillers improve the roughness, the porosity and the dullness of the surface and allow a better writing on the resin layer by increasing the specific surface of the layer and its roughness. Plasticizers improve the flexibility of the resin layer and prevent it from being brittle. The composition is deposited in the same manner as in Example 1. The paper thus obtained can be printed or written. The printing is transferred as in Example 1. The paper can be easily detached from the fabric sheet at room temperature. The transferred design is resistant to washing.

EXAMPLE 3
A release layer made of a mixture of silicone and chromium stearochloride is deposited on a paper.

The following composition is made of 100 parts of synthetic resin, which is a polyethylene acrylic acid in an aqueous medium.

 5 parts of silica.

 100 parts qs of water.

The paper is coated with this composition.

A printable paper is obtained, the printing of which can be transferred onto fabric. The paper can separate from the fabric at 250C. The transferred impression is resistant to washing.

EXAMPLE 4
40 parts by weight of Damar resin are ground.

100 parts of water are mixed with 1 part of a surfactant or surfactant, for example an ethoxylated octylphenol.

20 parts of binder, for example an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, are added to the water-dispersant mixture and then the ground Damar resin is added.

The composition obtained is deposited on paper having the same uncoupling layer as in Example 3. A paper is obtained on which it is possible to write with a graphite pencil. The drawing or writing can be easily transferred by heat to a fabric.

EXAMPLE 5
A composition is produced in the same manner as in Example 4. This composition is the following. 100 parts by weight of Damar resin. 35 parts by weight of binder (ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer) 1 part by weight of the surfactant of Example 4
80 parts by weight of water.

The resulting composition is deposited on a paper.

A transfer paper is obtained which allows hot transfer of drawing or writing onto fabric.

Claims (20)

1. Sheet for hot transfer printing and / or writing  for decorating and / or printing a surface of an article (A),  this sheet including  - a flexible support (S)  a transferable layer (1), thermoplastic, receptive to  printing and / or writing agents and can cling  on the materials constituting the surface of the article (A)  a constituent of uncoupling intrinsic to the support  flexible (S) or in the form of an intermediate layer (2)  placed between the support (S) and the transferable layer (1), this  constituent whose function is to enable the  complete uncoupling of the layer (1) while hot or cold  after transfer, relative to the support (S). 2. Sheet according to claim 1, characterized by the fact  the transferable layer (1) comprises a gum or resin  synthetic or natural or their mixtures. 3. Sheet according to claim 2, characterized by the fact  that the transferable layer (1) is thermoplastic between 40  and about 1800C.  - optionally a plasticizer of the resin or gum.  optionally a mineral or synthetic filler,  at least one binder,  at least one resin or gum,  in that the transferable layer (1) comprises:  4. Sheet according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized 5. Sheet according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized  in that the transferable layer (1) comprises  at least one resin or gum,  at least one binder used in stationery  optionally a surfactant. Sheet according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized  in that the resin or gum is chosen from  group formed by polymers or copolymers of ethylene,  of vinyl chloride, styrene, methacrylate  methyl, acrylic or methacrylic acid, ethylene  terephthalate and their mixtures, polyamides such as  polyhexamethylene adipamide, polyundecanamide resins  Abieo-formophenolic abetio-maleic compounds, rosin,  hard and semi-hard copals, amber damars, shackle,  benzoin balms, styrax, natural lacquers and  their mixtures. Sheet according to claim 4, characterized by the fact  that the filler is selected from the group formed by talc,  silicas, kaolin, carbonates. Sheet according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized  in that the support (S) comprises an anti-adhesive layer  curling or anti-rolling. 9. Sheet according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized  in that the support (S) is a fibrous sheet  obtained by wet process. Sheet according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized by  the fact that the constituent of intrinsic dissociation  or in the form of an intermediate layer (2) is a constituent  Solvent barrier of the constituents of the layer  transferable (1). 11. Sheet according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized  in that the uncoupling constituent is chosen  among binders used in stationery, the anti-agents  members. Sheet according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized  by the fact that the constituent of dissociation is  selected from native starch; native starch, especially  corn starch, wheat, potato; the phosphoric ester  starch; carboxymethylated starch; oxidized starch; the  enzymed starch (enzyme α-amylase); hydroxyethyl starch;  carboxymethylcellulose; polyvinyl acetate; of the  alginates, polyvinyl alcohol; a polyolefin, a  ethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, N copolymer  methylolacrylamide, acrylic acid; a copolymer  butadiene, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid; a copolymer  styrene, butadiene, methylacrylamide; and their mixtures. 13. Sheet according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized  in that the constituent or the intermediate layer  contains 50 parts of polyvinyl alcohol and 50 parts  starch. Sheet according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized  in that the constituent or intermediate layer of  uncoupling is chosen from a silicone, a complex  organic chromium, such as for example a stearochloride of  chromium and mixtures thereof. Sheet according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized  in that the binder of the transferable layer is chosen  from a polyolefin; an ethyl acrylate copolymer,  acrylonitrile, N-methylolacrylamide, acrylic acid; a  butadiene copolymer, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid; a  copolymer styrene, butadiene, methylacrylamide, a  copolymer of ethylene acrylic acid and mixtures thereof. 16. Printing and / or writing transfer method for  decorate and / or print a surface of an article (A)  using a sheet according to one of claims 1 to 15,  characterized by the fact that  - we print and / or draw a pattern on the outer face of the  transferable layer (1),  the outer face of the layer (1) is applied to the article (A),  - the whole is pressed at a temperature greater than or equal to  at the point of softening of the transferable layer (1),  - eventually, we let cool all  sheet / article at room temperature,  - the article (A) with the impression and the  transferable layer (1) of the support provided with the layer  intermediate (2). 17. The method of claim 16, characterized by the fact  that the pressing temperature is between 40 and 1800C. 18. The method of claim 16 or 17, characterized by  the pressing pressure is between 0.7 and  2 Pascals. 19. Composition of the transferable layer (1) for a sheet  according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by  does she understand  at least one resin or gum in aqueous dispersion  - at least one binder  optionally a surfactant  - some water 20. Composition according to claim 19, characterized by the  does it include:  from 10 to 90 parts by weight of resin  - from 5 to 50 parts of binder  from 0.1 to 10 parts of a surfactant  - 100 parts of water