JP2003253577A - Base material for dyeing plastic and plastic-dyeing method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a base material for dyeing plastics that can simply and brightly dye plastics having curved or uneven surfaces and gives transferred images of good image density. <P>SOLUTION: The block layer 2 and the subliming ink-receiving layer 3 are laminated on the backing 1 in this order to prepare the base material for dyeing plastics. The block layer 2 and the ink receiver 3 are releasable from the backing 1 and the blocking layer 2 is made more resistant to ink dyeing than the ink-receiving layer 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plastic dyeing base material capable of easily and clearly dyeing a plastic material having a curved surface or irregularities, and a plastic dyeing method using the plastic dyeing base material. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a plastic dyeing method, an immersion dyeing method (hereinafter referred to as "immersion dyeing method") is often used (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-5716 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-3138).
No. 01, etc.). This dyeing method mixes the three primary colors of disperse dyes red, blue, and yellow to prepare a dyeing solution that is dispersed in water,
This dyeing solution is heated to about 90 ° C., and a plastic is immersed in the dyeing solution for dyeing.

However, since the disperse dye is difficult to handle, there is a problem in that the dyeing by the dip dyeing method tends to cause variations in hue and unevenness. Further, although the dip dyeing method is capable of dyeing a single color, it has been impossible to provide a density difference in color or transfer a pattern.

Therefore, a dyeing method for solving the problems of the dip dyeing method has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-215306). In this dyeing method, a sublimation dye is applied to a printing paper, and the plastic is dyed by bringing the sublimation dye into contact with the plastic.

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
In the means proposed in 001-215306, there is a problem in that it is not possible to perform clear dyeing on the entire surface of a curved or uneven plastic, and a part of the plastic is not dyed. It was

Accordingly, the present invention provides a plastic dyeing base material capable of easily and clearly dyeing a curved or uneven plastic, and a plastic dyeing method using the plastic dyeing base material. The purpose is to

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the plastic dyeing base material of the present invention has a block layer and a sublimable ink receiving layer on a support in this order, The layer and the sublimable ink-receptive layer can be peeled from the support, and the block layer is less likely to be dyed with a sublimable dye than the sublimable ink-receptive layer.

Since the plastic dyeing base material of the present invention adopts such a constitution, only the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer can be opposed to the plastic at the time of dyeing, whereby the plastic curved surface and unevenness can be prevented. Shape conformability is improved, and it becomes possible to perform clear dyeing on the entire surface of a curved or uneven plastic. Further, due to the presence of the block layer, the sublimable dye received in the sublimable ink receiving layer can be transferred only to the plastic side, and the image density transferred to the plastic can be improved.

Further, the plastic dyeing method of the present invention is
Recording with a sublimable dye on the plastic dyeing substrate, after peeling the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer from the support, the sublimable ink receiving layer side is opposed to the plastic, the block layer and The plastic is dyed by heating the sublimable ink receiving layer.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First, the plastic dyeing base material of the present invention will be described. The plastic dyeing substrate of the present invention has a block layer and a sublimable ink receiving layer on a support in this order, and the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are peelable from the support, Moreover, the block layer is less likely to be dyed with a sublimable dye than the sublimable ink receiving layer. Hereinafter, an embodiment of each component will be described.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a plastic dyeing base material of the present invention. The plastic dyeing base material 4 comprises a support 1, a block layer 2 and a sublimable ink receiving layer 3.
Consists of.

The support can be used without particular limitation, such as paper, fiber cloth, synthetic paper, and plastic film, but a plastic film is preferably used in consideration of releasability from the block layer. Examples of the plastic film include polyester, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. The thickness of the support is not particularly limited, but a thickness of 5 to 300 μm is preferably used.

The block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer can be peeled from the support. Therefore, at the time of dyeing, only the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer can be made to face the plastic, which improves the shape-following property with respect to the curved surface and the unevenness of the plastic, so that the entire surface of the plastic having the curved surface and the unevenness can be dyed clearly. You will be able to do it. On the other hand, the block layer, etc. cannot be peeled from the support, and if the plastic with curved surface or unevenness is dyed with the support left, it cannot follow the shape of the plastic well, and it becomes a part of the plastic. A part that is not dyed occurs, resulting in poor dyeing.

In order to make the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer releasable from the support, the support is subjected to a release treatment with silicone or the like, and the resin constituting the block layer is
There is a method of selecting a resin having poor adhesion to the support.

The sublimable ink receiving layer has a role of enabling recording in a recording device using a sublimable dye such as a thermal transfer printer using the sublimable dye and an ink jet printer using the sublimable dye. . Therefore, the resin forming the sublimable ink receiving layer is slightly different depending on the type of recording device used.

For example, in the case of recording with a thermal transfer printer using a sublimable dye, the resin constituting the sublimable ink receiving layer is acrylic, vinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, polyester, etc. Thermoplastic resin, melamine resin, phenolic resin,
Examples thereof include thermosetting resins such as urethane resins, and photocurable resins using monomers and oligomers such as acrylic and epoxy compounds.

When recording with an ink jet printer using a sublimable dye, the resin constituting the sublimable ink receiving layer includes albumin, gelatin, casein,
Starch, natural resin such as sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyamide, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, melamine resin, polyurethane, polyvinyl alcohol, polyester, poly (meth) acrylic acid soda, (meth) acrylic acid ester Examples thereof include synthetic resins such as copolymers. Among these,
Polyvinyl alcohol is preferably used because it has excellent recording characteristics in a sublimation ink jet printer, and has a characteristic that it is difficult to be dyed with a sublimation dye and thus it is easy to dye plastic. Also, among polyvinyl alcohol,
Those having a saponification degree of less than 90% are particularly preferably used.

The resin constituting the sublimable ink receiving layer is preferably a thermosetting resin or a photocurable resin having a melting point of 160 ° C. or higher or no melting point. By using such a resin, it is possible to prevent the sublimable ink receiving layer from being fused to the plastic when the plastic is dyed.

The sublimable ink receiving layer has a thickness of 5 to 50 μm.
Is preferred. By making it 5 μm or more,
It is possible to improve the recording characteristics of various recording devices.
By setting the thickness to 0 μm or less, it is possible to prevent a decrease in transfer efficiency.

The block layer is less likely to be dyed with a sublimable dye than the sublimable ink receiving layer. Therefore, when the plastic is dyed (see FIG. 2), the sublimable dye received by the sublimable ink receiving layer does not move to the block layer side but only moves to the plastic side, thereby improving the image density. be able to.

The block layer is mainly composed of resin. As the resin constituting the block layer, acrylic, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester, thermoplastic resin such as polyolefin, melamine resin, phenol resin, urethane resin, thermosetting resin such as silicone resin, further, Examples include photocurable resins that use monomers and oligomers such as acrylic and epoxy compounds, but as described above, select a resin that is less likely to be dyed by a sublimable ink than a resin that constitutes the sublimable ink receiving layer. There is a need. The combination of such resins cannot be generally stated because it depends on conditions such as the molecular weight and the degree of polymerization of the resin, but the melting point of the resin forming the block layer is higher than the melting point of the resin forming the sublimable ink receiving layer. A combination that is not low is preferable. For example, when the melting point of the resin forming the sublimable ink receiving layer is less than 180 ° C., the resin forming the block layer has a melting point of 180 ° C. or higher, a thermosetting resin having no melting point or a photocurable resin. It is preferably a resin. As a specific example of a combination of resins, when the resin forming the sublimable ink receiving layer is polyvinyl alcohol, the resin forming the block layer is preferably a silicone resin.

The resin forming the block layer has a melting point of 16
It is preferably a thermosetting resin or a photocurable resin having a melting point of 0 ° C. or higher or having no melting point. By using such a resin, it is possible to prevent fusion between the heating means such as a heat press and the block layer when dyeing the plastic. Further, as described above, in order to efficiently transfer the sublimable dye to the plastic side, the melting point of the resin forming the block layer is preferably not lower than the melting point of the resin forming the sublimable ink receiving layer.

The thickness of the block layer is preferably 0.1 to 5 μm. When the thickness is 0.1 μm or more, the effect of blocking the sublimable dye can be obtained, and the thickness is 5 μm.
By setting the following, it is possible to prevent a decrease in transfer efficiency.

The block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer preferably contain an additive such as a plasticizer for improving the flexibility of the coating film. By including such an additive, it is possible to improve the shape-following property with respect to plastic having a curved surface or unevenness.

Additives such as a leveling agent, an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, a chelating agent, an antistatic agent and a matting agent may be added to the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer.

As a method for forming the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer, the coating liquid is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the constituent components of each layer in an appropriate solvent, and the coating liquid is subjected to roll coating method, bar coating method, Examples thereof include a method of coating and drying on a support by a known method such as a spray coating method and an air knife coating method.

As described above, in the plastic dyeing base material of the present invention, the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer can be peeled from the support, and the block layer is dyed with the sublimable dye from the sublimable ink receiving layer. It's difficult. Therefore, it is possible to easily and clearly dye a curved or uneven plastic without causing dyeing failure. Further, the presence of the block layer can improve the image density transferred to the plastic.

Next, an embodiment of the plastic dyeing method of the present invention will be described.

First, recording is performed with the sublimation dye on the above-mentioned plastic dyeing base material. Examples of the recording device include a thermal transfer printer using a sublimable dye and an inkjet printer using a sublimable dye. The information to record is
Characters, patterns, solid images, etc. are not particularly limited, but when recording characters or patterns, mirror images are used for recording.

Next, the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are peeled off from the support.

Next, the sublimable ink receiving layer side is opposed to the plastic (FIG. 2), and the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are heated. By this heating, the sublimable dye sublimes and the plastic is dyed. The heating means is not particularly limited, and it is possible to heat the entire plastic in an open system such as an oven or use a heat press machine. The heating condition cannot be generally stated depending on the resin constituting the sublimable ink receiving layer and the plastic to be dyed, but is usually 100 to 180 ° C. and about 1 to 60 minutes. In addition, it is preferable to fix the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer to the plastic at the time of heating. The fixing means is not particularly limited, and a tape, an adhesive or the like can be used.

The plastic is dyed by the above steps. After the completion of dyeing, the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are removed from the plastic.

As described above, in the plastic dyeing method of the present invention, the plastic is dyed after the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are separated from the support. Therefore, it is possible to easily and clearly dye a curved or uneven plastic without causing defective dyeing. Further, the presence of the block layer can improve the image density transferred to the plastic.

[0034]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be further described below with reference to examples.
In addition, "part" and "%" are based on weight unless otherwise specified.

[Example 1] A block layer coating solution having the following composition was coated on a polyolefin film having a thickness of 80 µm (Yupo 80N: Yupo Corporation) by a bar coating method so that the thickness after drying was 3 µm. Then, it was dried to form a block layer.

<Block layer coating liquid> ・ 15 parts of silicone resin (thermosetting resin, solid content 30%) (Si coat 900: GE Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) ・ Methyl ethyl ketone 9 parts

Then, a coating solution for a sublimable ink-receiving layer having the following composition was applied on the block layer by a bar coating method so that the thickness after drying was 15 μm, and dried to form a sublimable ink-receiving layer, followed by plastic dyeing. A substrate for use was obtained.

<Sublimable ink receiving layer coating liquid> ・ Polyvinyl alcohol (solid content 100%) 1 part (PVA-217: Kuraray Co., saponification degree 88%, melting point 180 ° C) ・ Water 9 parts ・ Glycerin 0.2 parts

[Example 2] A plastic dyeing substrate was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the coating solution for the sublimable ink receiving layer in Example 1 was changed to the following formulation.

<Sublimation ink receiving layer coating liquid> ・ Polyvinyl alcohol (solid content 100%) 1 part (PVA-117: Kuraray, saponification degree 98%, melting point 220 ° C) ・ Water 9 parts ・ Glycerin 0.2 parts

[Comparative Example 1] As a plastic dyeing base material of Comparative Example 1, a commercially available printing paper (QP Paper Photo Gloss: Konica Corporation) capable of receiving a sublimable ink was prepared.

[Comparative Example 2] A sublimable ink-receptive layer coating solution having the following composition was dried on a 100 μm-thick polyester film (Lumirror T60: Toray Industries, Inc.) to give a thickness of 1
It was applied by a bar coating method to a thickness of 5 μm and dried to obtain a plastic dyeing base material.

<Sublimation ink receiving layer coating liquid> ・ Polyvinyl alcohol (solid content 100%) 1 part (PVA-117: Kuraray, saponification degree 98%, melting point 220 ° C) ・ Water 9 parts ・ Glycerin 0.2 parts

Solid images were recorded on the plastic dyeing substrates of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 by using an ink jet printer (PM-900C: Seiko Epson Corporation) using a sublimable dye. Then, Examples 1-2
For the plastic dyeing substrate of No. 1, after peeling the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer from the support, for the plastic dyeing substrate of Comparative Example 2, after peeling the sublimable ink receiving layer from the support, The plastic dyeing base material of Comparative Example 1 was used as it was, but the plastic (shape:
Convex spherical surface, material: acrylic resin), 160 ℃
It was heated for 20 minutes and the plastic was dyed. In Examples 1 and 2, the sublimable ink-receiving layer was heated, and in Comparative Example 2, the recording-side surface of the sublimable ink-receiving layer was opposed to the plastic for heating.

After removing the sublimable ink receiving layer and the like from the dyed plastic, the following items were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(1) Poor Dyeing The plastic that had been dyed over the entire surface was rated as "O", and a part of the plastic that was not dyed was rated as "X".

(2) Image density The image density of transmission of dyed plastic is measured by a densitometer (T
D-904: measured by Gretag Macbeth). In addition,
An ortho filter was used for the measurement.

[0048]

[Table 1]

In the plastic dyeing base materials of Examples 1 and 2, the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer can be peeled from the support, and the block layer is less likely to be dyed with the sublimable dye than the sublimable ink receiving layer. Is. Therefore,
As can be seen from the results in Table 1, all of the dyes could be dyed easily and clearly without causing dyeing defects. Further, all of them were excellent in the image density of the transferred image. In particular, since the polyvinyl alcohol of Example 1 had a saponification degree of less than 90%, it was excellent in the image density of the transferred image. Further, according to the plastic dyeing methods of Examples 1 and 2, dyeing with good image density can be easily performed without causing dyeing failure.

In Comparative Example 1, the sublimable ink receiving layer cannot be peeled from the support. Therefore, some parts of the plastic are not dyed, resulting in poor dyeing.

In Comparative Example 2, the sublimable ink receiving layer can be peeled from the support, but does not have a block layer. Therefore, the image density of the dyed plastic was inferior.

[0052]

As described above, in the plastic dyeing base material of the present invention, the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer can be peeled from the support, and the block layer becomes a sublimable dye from the sublimable ink receiving layer. It is difficult to dye. Therefore, it is possible to easily and clearly dye a curved or uneven plastic without causing dyeing failure. Further, the presence of the block layer can improve the image density transferred to the plastic.

Further, in the method for dyeing a plastic of the present invention, the plastic is dyed after the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are separated from the support.
Therefore, it is possible to easily and clearly dye a curved or uneven plastic without causing defective dyeing. Further, the presence of the block layer can improve the image density transferred to the plastic.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a plastic dyeing base material of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of a method of using the plastic dyeing base material of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Support 2 ... Block layer 3 ... Sublimable ink receiving layer 4 ... Base material for plastic dyeing 5: Plastic 6 ... Image

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plastic dyeing base material having a block layer and a sublimable ink receiving layer in this order on a support, wherein the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are peelable from the support, and A substrate for dyeing plastics, wherein the block layer is less likely to be dyed with a sublimable dye than the sublimable ink receiving layer. 2. A sublimable dye is recorded on the plastic dyeing substrate according to claim 1, the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer are peeled from the support, and then the sublimable ink receiving layer side is placed. A method of dyeing a plastic, which comprises dyeing the plastic by facing the plastic and heating the block layer and the sublimable ink receiving layer.