JP2008155612A - Thermal transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal transfer sheet which keeps a transfer sensitivity high in a thermal transfer photoprint, provides a high-density photoprint in high speed photoprinting, alleviates a phenomenon of darking (solid slight touching) in a black high-density part made up of three superimposed color dyes yellow, magenta and cyan with high vividness of a thermal transfer image, prevents abnormal photographic transfer after reserving under high temperature and high humidity, and can obtain the sufficiently satisfied photographic materials. <P>SOLUTION: The thermal transfer sheet which includes a heat-resisting lubricating layer overlying one side of a base material and an undercoating layer and a dye layer successively overlying the other side of the base material is charactirized in that the undercoating layer is formed by a copolymer resin of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and a colloidal state inorganic pigment ultrafine particle as a principal component. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet in which a heat-resistant slipping layer is provided on one surface of a substrate, and an undercoat layer and a dye layer are sequentially formed on the other surface of the substrate. On top of that, the three colors of dyes from yellow, magenta and cyan dye layers are stacked one on top of the other to form a black thermal transfer image, resulting in poor image quality, that is, acceptance of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. As the layer is fused to the thermal transfer sheet side, hue fluctuations in the black part occur, and as a result, the surface of the printed material is matted and the glossiness is lost. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet that prevents abnormal transfer in printing after storage.

  Conventionally, various thermal transfer recording methods are known. Among them, a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer in which a dye for sublimation transfer is used as a recording material and this is supported on a base material such as a polyester film with a suitable binder. From the above, there are proposed methods for forming various full-color images by thermally transferring a sublimation dye onto a transfer material that can be dyed with a sublimation dye, for example, a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a dye-receiving layer formed on paper or a plastic film. Yes. In this case, as the heating means, the color dots having a large number of three or four colors adjusted by heating with the thermal head of the printer are transferred to the receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, and the multicolored color dots are transferred. To reproduce the full color of the document. The image formed in this way is very clear and excellent in transparency because the coloring material used is a dye, so the resulting image is excellent in the reproducibility and gradation of intermediate colors, It is possible to form a high-quality image similar to an image obtained by offset printing or gravure printing and comparable to a full-color photographic image.

  In such a thermal transfer recording system using sublimation transfer, as the printing speed of the thermal transfer printer is increased, there has been a problem that a sufficient print density cannot be obtained with the conventional thermal transfer sheet. In addition, there has been a demand for clearer images with higher density than printed images by thermal transfer. Therefore, when the black heat transfer image is formed by sequentially superposing the three colors of the dyes from the yellow, magenta, and cyan dye layers and the protective layer finally transferred from the protective layer transfer sheet, the high density portion of black With respect to the image quality, it has started to occur. That is, when the receiving layer of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is fused to the dye layer side of the thermal transfer sheet, the hue variation of the black portion occurs, and as a result, the surface of the printed material becomes matte and loses glossiness. A phenomenon called “smear” has come to be seen. For this reason, many attempts have been made to improve the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. For example, attempts have been made to improve transfer sensitivity in printing by reducing the thickness of the thermal transfer sheet, but wrinkles may occur due to heat, pressure, etc. during manufacture of the thermal transfer sheet or during thermal transfer recording. Causes the problem of cutting.

  In addition, the dye / resin (Dye / Binder) ratio in the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet was increased to try to improve the printing density and the transfer sensitivity in the printing. When the dye is transferred to the heat-resistant slipping layer of the material and the transferred dye is rolled back, it is re-transferred to the dye layer of another color (kickback), and the contaminated layer is thermally transferred to the image receiving sheet. The hue may be different from that of the original color, or the so-called background stain may occur. In the thermal transfer printer, not the thermal transfer sheet side, high energy was applied during thermal transfer during image formation. However, in this case, the dye layer and the receiving layer are fused, and so-called abnormal transfer is likely to occur. On the other hand, when a large amount of release agent is added to the receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet in order to prevent abnormal transfer, blurring of the image, background smearing, etc. occur.

  In order to improve the transfer sensitivity in printing, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a thermal transfer sheet having an adhesive layer containing a polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin and a modified polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin between a base material and a dye layer. However, although this thermal transfer sheet can prevent abnormal transfer, the print density is low and it does not reach a sufficient level.

Patent Document 2 discloses a thermal transfer sheet having an adhesive layer composed of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin or a polyvinyl alcohol resin thermoplastic resin and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles between a substrate and a dye layer. However, with this thermal transfer sheet, there is a problem of abnormal transfer when printing after storage at high temperature and high humidity, resulting in high transfer sensitivity in printing, high density printing, and high temperature and high humidity. After storage, a thermal transfer sheet that can prevent abnormal transfer in printing has not been found.
JP-A-2005-231354 JP 2006-150956 A

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, high transfer sensitivity in thermal transfer printing, high density printing is obtained in high speed printing, and a black high density portion in which three dyes of yellow, magenta, and cyan are sequentially stacked. A thermal transfer sheet that reduces the phenomenon of burnt (black solids), has high thermal transfer image clarity, prevents abnormal transfer in printing after storage under high temperature and high humidity, and provides a sufficiently satisfactory print. The purpose is to provide.

The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention is a thermal transfer sheet in which a heat-resistant slipping layer is provided on one surface of a substrate, and an undercoat layer and a dye layer are sequentially formed on the other surface of the substrate. It is characterized in that it is mainly composed of a copolymer resin of pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles.
According to the present invention, the undercoat layer is formed mainly of a copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and ultrafine colloidal inorganic pigment particles, so that the transfer sensitivity in thermal transfer printing is high and high concentration. The image of the thermal transfer image is high, the thermal transfer image has high clarity, and after storage under high temperature and high humidity, abnormal transfer in the print is prevented, and further, a black color obtained by sequentially superimposing three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan. It is possible to provide a thermal transfer sheet that can reduce the phenomenon of “burning” in the high density portion and obtain a sufficiently satisfactory printed matter.

In the thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention, the polymerization ratio in the vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer is preferably a molar ratio of vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate = 70/30 to 30/70.
In the thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention, the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles are preferably colloidal silica and / or alumina sol.
In the thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention, the coating amount of the undercoat layer is preferably in the range of 0.15 to 0.25 g / m ² at the time of drying from the viewpoint that kogation hardly occurs.
In the thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention, the content of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles, the copolymer resin of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is a solid weight ratio, colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles / vinylpyrrolidone and acetic acid. It is preferable that the copolymer resin of vinyl = 8/2 to 6/4 is more difficult to cause kogation.

In the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, the undercoat layer is formed mainly of a copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles, so that the transfer sensitivity in thermal transfer printing is high and high. A print having a low density on the density can be obtained, and the thermal transfer image has high sharpness. After storage under high temperature and high humidity, abnormal transfer in the print can be prevented, and a sufficiently satisfactory print can be obtained. The copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate in the undercoat layer is thought to be supplemented by the polyvinyl acetate component to compensate for the low moisture resistance of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin and the tendency to cause kogation. Below, there is a high adhesiveness between the base material and the dye layer after storage, and functions to prevent abnormal transfer in printing and to reduce kogation during high-speed printing. Further, the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles in the undercoat layer increase the transfer sensitivity in thermal transfer printing, and mainly contribute to the improvement in printing density. Further, the coating amount of the undercoat layer is set to 0.15 to 0.25 g / m ² when dried, and the weight ratio of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles to the copolymer resin is set to 8/2 to 6/4. By doing so, it is easy to obtain a printed material with less kogation, and it is possible to prevent abnormal transfer in printing after storage at high temperature and high humidity.

The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention is a thermal transfer sheet in which a heat-resistant slipping layer is provided on one surface of a substrate, and an undercoat layer and a dye layer are sequentially formed on the other surface of the substrate. It is characterized in that it is mainly composed of a copolymer resin of pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles.
Here, the main component means that other components may be added in addition to the copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and ultrafine particles as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. The total amount of the vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymer resin and the ultrafine particles is included in excess of 50% by weight of the solid content. The total amount of the vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymer resin and the ultrafine particles is more preferably 90% by weight or more, and still more preferably 95% by weight or more.
FIG. 1 shows the best mode of one embodiment of the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention. A heat-resistant slip layer 4 is provided on one surface of a substrate 1 to improve the slip of the thermal head and prevent sticking. The undercoat layer 2 and the dye layer 3 containing vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymer resin and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles as main components are sequentially formed on the other surface of the substrate 1.

Hereinafter, each layer constituting the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention will be described in detail.
(Base material)
The base material 1 of the thermal transfer sheet used in the present invention may be any material as long as it has a conventionally known degree of heat resistance and strength. For example, it has a thickness of about 0.5 to 50 μm, preferably about 1 to 10 μm. Polyethylene terephthalate film, 1,4-polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polysulfone film, aramid film, polycarbonate film, polyvinyl alcohol film, cellophane, acetic acid Examples thereof include cellulose derivatives such as cellulose, polyethylene film, polyvinyl chloride film, nylon film, polyimide film, ionomer film, and the like.

  Adhesion treatment is often performed on the surface on which the base layer and the dye layer are formed, which are mainly composed of a copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles. It is. When forming the undercoat layer on the plastic film of the base material, the adhesion between the base material and the undercoat layer tends to be insufficient, and therefore, it is preferable to perform an adhesion treatment. As the adhesion treatment, known resin surface modification such as corona discharge treatment, flame treatment, ozone treatment, ultraviolet treatment, radiation treatment, surface roughening treatment, chemical treatment, plasma treatment, low temperature plasma treatment, primer treatment, grafting treatment, etc. Quality technology can be applied as it is. Two or more of these treatments can be used in combination. The primer treatment can be performed, for example, by applying a primer solution to an unstretched film at the time of film formation by melt extrusion of a plastic film and then stretching the film. In the present invention, in order to improve the adhesion between the base material and the undercoat layer made of the thermoplastic resin and the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles, among the above-mentioned adhesion treatments, the cost is not increased and is easily obtained. Corona discharge treatment or plasma treatment that can be performed is preferred.

(Undercoat layer)
In the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, the subbing layer 2 mainly composed of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymer resin and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles provided between the base material and the dye layer is composed of colloidal inorganic. Conventionally known compounds can be used as the pigment ultrafine particles. For example, silica (colloidal silica), alumina or alumina hydrate (alumina sol, colloidal alumina, cationic aluminum oxide or its hydrate, suspect boehmite, etc.), aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, oxidation Examples include titanium. In particular, alumina sol is preferably used. In the undercoat layer, these colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles may be used not only under the same kind of conditions but also with different kinds such as alumina sol and colloidal silica. These colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles have a primary average particle size of 100 nm or less, preferably 50 nm or less, particularly preferably 3 to 30 nm, and thereby sufficiently exhibit the function of the undercoat layer. it can. The shape of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles in the present invention may be any shape such as a spherical shape, a needle shape, a plate shape, a feather shape, or an amorphous shape. In addition, those treated in an acidic type so as to be easily dispersed in a sol form in an aqueous solvent, those obtained by converting fine particle charges into cations, and those obtained by surface treatment of fine particles can be used.

  The copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate used in the undercoat layer is a copolymer of an N-vinyl pyrrolidone monomer and vinyl acetate which is a vinyl polymerizable monomer. The form of copolymerization is not particularly limited, such as random copolymerization, block copolymerization, and graft copolymerization. The N-vinyl pyrrolidone monomer mentioned above refers to N-vinyl pyrrolidone (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-4-pyrrolidone, etc.) and derivatives thereof. Examples thereof include those having a substituent on the pyrrolidone ring such as vinyl-3-methylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl-5-methylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl-3,3,5-trimethylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl-3-benzylpyrrolidone. .

  The vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymer resin is thought to be complemented by the high moisture absorption and low moisture resistance of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin, and the base material after storage at high temperature and high humidity. The adhesion between the dye layer and the dye layer is high, and the function of preventing abnormal transfer mainly in printing and reducing the kogation in the high density portion of the printed matter at the time of high speed printing can be exhibited. In the above copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate, the polymerization ratio of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is preferably a molar ratio of vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate = 70/30 to 30/70, and has the above functions. Can fully demonstrate. If the polymerization ratio of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate exceeds 70%, the performance of vinyl acetate will not be demonstrated, and the adhesion to the substrate, especially at high temperatures and high humidity, will tend to decrease. is there. On the other hand, if vinyl acetate exceeds 70%, the dyeing property from the dye layer becomes high, the transferability of the dye to the receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is lowered, and the maximum density in printing is increased. There is a tendency to decrease.

  The content of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles and the vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin in the undercoat layer is a solid weight ratio, and the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles / copolymerization of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate. The combined resin is preferably 8/2 to 6/4. If the blending ratio of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles in the undercoat layer is too high, the cohesive force of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles in the print tends to decrease after storage and storage after leaving the thermal transfer sheet at high temperature and high humidity. Heat fusion, koge and abnormal transfer are likely to occur. Also, if the blending ratio of the vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymer resin in the undercoat layer is too high, the dye from the dye layer at the time of printing tends to migrate to the undercoat layer, and the transfer sensitivity is lowered. After the thermal transfer sheet is stored under high humidity, thermal fusing or abnormal transfer in printing tends to occur.

In the case of forming the undercoat layer by coating, it is preferable to give the fluidity by lowering the viscosity as a coating solution for the undercoat layer in consideration of the coating suitability. The undercoat layer in the present invention is formed by applying and drying a coating liquid mainly composed of a vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer resin and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles. Uses gravure coating method, roll coating method, screen printing method, gravure plate for coating liquid in which ultrafine inorganic pigment particles are dispersed in sol form in aqueous solvent and copolymer resin of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is dissolved in aqueous solvent The film is applied and dried by a conventionally known forming means such as a reverse roll coating method. The undercoat layer thus formed has a coating amount at the time of drying of 0.02 to 1.0 g / m ² , preferably 0.15 to 0.25 g / m ² . If the coating amount of the undercoat layer is too small, after the thermal transfer sheet is stored under high temperature and high humidity, the adhesiveness of the dye layer is reduced, and thermal fusion or abnormal transfer in printing tends to occur. Further, when the coating amount of the undercoat layer is too large, it becomes easy to cause burns in printing.

  The undercoat layer is coated on the substrate using the above coating solution, dried with hot air, etc., so that the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles are changed from sol to gel, moisture is blown off, A copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is fixed as a binder to form a film. Thus, the undercoat layer formed mainly of a copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and ultrafine colloidal inorganic pigment particles is formed as a film between the base material and the dye layer. The cohesive force of the dye layer can be increased, and when the heat transfer is performed in combination with the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the dye layer is abnormally transferred to the image receiving sheet and kogation is prevented. Further, the undercoat layer is composed mainly of inorganic pigment ultrafine particles, a copolymer resin of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate, and is composed of a material that is difficult to dye from the dye layer. By preventing the migration of the dye from the dye layer to the undercoat layer at the time and effectively diffusing the dye to the receiving layer side of the image receiving sheet, the transfer sensitivity in printing can be increased and the printing density can be increased. It is considered that the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles in the undercoat layer mainly increase the transfer sensitivity in thermal transfer printing and contribute to the improvement in printing density.

(Dye layer)
In the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, the dye layer 3 is provided on the other surface of the base material provided with the heat resistant slipping layer on one surface through the undercoat layer. The dye layer may be composed of a single layer of one color, or a plurality of dye layers containing dyes having different hues may be repeatedly formed on the same surface of the same substrate in the surface order. The dye layer is a layer formed by supporting a heat transfer dye with an arbitrary binder. As the dye to be used, a dye that melts, diffuses or sublimates by heat, and is used in a conventionally known sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet can be used in the present invention. The selection is made in consideration of printing sensitivity, light resistance, storage stability, solubility in a binder, and the like.

  Examples of the dye include azomethines such as diarylmethane, triarylmethane, thiazole, merocyanine, pyrazolone methine and the like, indoaniline, acetophenone azomethine, pyrazoloazomethine, imidazolazomethine, imidazoazomethine, and pyridone azomethine. , Xanthene, oxazine, dicyanostyrene, cyanomethylene represented by tricyanostyrene, thiazine, azine, acridine, benzeneazo, pyridoneazo, thiophenazo, isothiazoleazo, pyrroleazo, pyralazo, imidazoleazo, Azos such as thiadiazole azo, triazole azo, dizazo, spiropyran, indolinospiropyran, fluoran, rhodamine lactam, naphthoquinone, anne Rakinon system include the quinophthalone like.

  As the binder for the dye layer, any conventionally known resin binder can be used. Examples of preferred binders include cellulose resins such as ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxy cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, and butyric acid cellulose. , Polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylamide and other vinyl resins, polyester resins and phenoxy resins.

  Further, a silane coupling agent can be added to the dye layer. Examples of silane coupling agents include those containing isocyanate groups such as γ-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane and γ-isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-β -(Aminoethyl) -γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, those containing amino groups such as γ-phenylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and β- (3,4-epoxy And those containing an epoxy group such as (cyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane. These can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

  In the silane coupling agent, for example, a silanol group generated by hydrolysis is condensed with a hydroxyl group of an inorganic oxide on the surface of the thin film layer to be chemically bonded to improve the adhesion. In addition, the epoxy group, amino group, etc. of the silane coupling agent react with the hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, etc. of the resin binder to chemically bond, improve the strength of the dye layer itself, cohesive failure of the dye layer during thermal transfer, etc. Can be prevented.

  In the present invention, the following releasable graft copolymer can be used as a release agent or binder in place of the resin binder. This releasable graft copolymer is obtained by graft polymerizing at least one releasable segment selected from a polysiloxane segment, a fluorocarbon segment, a fluorinated hydrocarbon segment, or a long-chain alkyl segment on a polymer main chain. Is. Among these, a graft copolymer obtained by grafting a polysiloxane segment to a main chain made of a polyvinyl acetal resin is particularly preferable.

  In the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, the adhesion between the undercoat layer and the dye layer may be easily lowered after being left under high temperature and high humidity. Therefore, as the binder resin constituting the dye layer, among the above-mentioned examples, hydroxyl groups and carboxyl groups such as polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl acetate, cellulose resins such as polyester resins, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate, etc. A resin having a high adhesive property and a mixture thereof are preferably used.

The dye layer may contain the above-mentioned dyes, binders, and other various conventional additives as required. Examples of the additive include organic fine particles such as polyethylene wax and inorganic fine particles in order to improve releasability from the image receiving sheet and ink coating suitability. Such a dye layer is usually prepared by adding the above-mentioned dye, binder, and additives as necessary in an appropriate solvent, and dissolving or dispersing each component to prepare a coating solution. It can be formed by applying and drying the liquid on a substrate. As this coating method, known means such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, a reverse roll coating method using a gravure plate, or the like can be used. The dye layer thus formed has a coating amount at the time of drying of about 0.2 to 6.0 g / m ² , preferably about 0.3 to 3.0 g / m ² .

(Heat resistant slipping layer)
In the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, a heat-resistant slipping layer 4 is provided on one surface of the substrate in order to prevent adverse effects such as sticking and printing wrinkles due to the heat of the thermal head. The resin for forming the heat-resistant slipping layer may be any conventionally known resin such as polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl acetoacetal resin, polyester resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyether resin, polybutadiene. Resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylic polyol, polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, epoxy acrylate, urethane or epoxy prepolymer, nitrocellulose resin, cellulose nitrate resin, cellulose acetate propionate resin, cellulose acetate Butyrate resin, cellulose acetate hydrodiene phthalate resin, cellulose acetate resin, aromatic polyamide resin, polyimide resin, polyamideimide resin, poly Boneto resins, and chlorinated polyolefin resins.

  The slipperiness imparting agent added to or overcoating the heat resistant slipping layer made of these resins includes phosphate ester, metal soap, silicone oil, graphite powder, silicone graft polymer, fluorine graft polymer, acrylic silicone graft polymer, acrylic. Examples thereof include silicone polymers such as siloxane and arylsiloxane. Preferably, it is a layer made of a polyol, for example, a polyalcohol polymer compound, a polyisocyanate compound, and a phosphate ester compound, and a filler may be added. More preferred.

The heat-resistant slipping layer is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the above-described resin, slipperiness-imparting agent, and filler in an appropriate solvent on the base sheet to prepare a heat-resistant slipping layer coating solution. This can be formed by coating with a forming means such as gravure printing, screen printing, reverse roll coating using a gravure plate, and drying. The coating amount of the heat-resistant slip layer is a ^{solid, 0.1g / m 2 ~3.0g / m} 2 is preferred.

Next, an Example and a comparative example are given and this invention is explained in full detail. In the text, “part” or “%” is based on weight unless otherwise specified.
(Example 1)
As a base material, on a polyethylene terephthalate film (PET) having a thickness of 4.5 μm, an undercoat layer coating solution having the following composition is applied by gravure coating so that the dry coating amount becomes the value described in Table 1, and dried. Thus, an undercoat layer was formed. On the undercoat layer, a dye layer coating solution having the following composition was applied by gravure coating to a dry coating amount of 0.7 g / m ² and dried to form a dye layer. A thermal transfer sheet is prepared. In addition, a heat-resistant slipping layer coating solution having the following composition was applied to the other surface of the substrate in advance by gravure coating and dried so that the dry coating amount was 1.0 g / m ² . A layer was formed.

<Undercoat layer coating solution 1>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 28 parts Vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-735, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
1.4 parts pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 22.7 parts isopropyl alcohol 47.9 parts

<Dye layer coating solution>
C. I. Solvent Blue 63 6.0 parts Polyvinyl butyral resin 3.0 parts (SREC BX-1 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Methyl ethyl ketone 45.5 parts Toluene 45.5 parts

<Heat resistant slipping layer coating solution>
13.6 parts of polyvinyl butyral resin (manufactured by SREC BX-1 by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.)
0.6 parts of polyisocyanate curing agent (Takenate D218, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
Phosphate 0.8 parts (Plysurf A208S, Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.)
Methyl ethyl ketone 42.5 parts Toluene 42.5 parts

(Example 2)
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 2 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 2>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 28 parts Vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-635, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
1.4 parts pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 22.7 parts isopropyl alcohol 47.9 parts

(Example 3)
In the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1, the thermal transfer sheet of Example 3 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 3>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 28 parts Vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-535, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
1.4 parts pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 22.7 parts isopropyl alcohol 47.9 parts

Example 4
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 4 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 4>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 28 parts Vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-335, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
1.4 parts pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 22.7 parts isopropyl alcohol 47.9 parts

(Example 5)
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 5 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 5>
Alumina sol (alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 24.5 parts vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-335, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
2.1 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 26.2 parts Isopropyl alcohol 47.2 parts

(Example 6)
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 6 was produced in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the dry coating amount of the undercoat layer was changed to the values shown in Table 1 in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 5.

(Example 7)
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 7 was produced in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the dry coating amount of the undercoat layer was changed to the values shown in Table 1 in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 5.

(Example 8)
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 8 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 6>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather-shaped, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 21 parts Vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-335, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
2.8 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 29.4 parts Isopropyl alcohol 46.8 parts

Example 9
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 9 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 7>
Alumina sol (alumina sol 200, feather-shaped, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 24.5 parts vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-535, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
2.1 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 26.2 parts Isopropyl alcohol 47.2 parts

(Example 10)
A thermal transfer sheet of Example 10 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 8>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 24.5 parts Vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-735, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
2.1 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 26.2 parts Isopropyl alcohol 47.2 parts

(Example 11)
In the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1, the thermal transfer sheet of Example 11 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 9>
Alumina sol (alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 31.5 parts vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-335, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
0.7 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 19.9 parts Isopropyl alcohol 39.9 parts

(Example 12)
In the thermal transfer sheet produced in Example 1, the thermal transfer sheet of Example 12 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the undercoat layer had the following composition.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 10>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 17.5 parts Vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-335, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
3.5 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 32.5 parts Isopropyl alcohol 46.5 parts

(Comparative Example 1)
A PET film substrate having the same conditions as in Example 1 was used, and a heat-resistant slipping layer similar to that in Example 1 was previously formed on the other surface of the substrate. On the surface opposite to the surface on which the heat resistant slipping layer of the base material is provided, the undercoat layer coating liquid 11 having the following composition is applied by gravure coating so that the dry coating amount becomes the numerical value described in Table 1, Dried to form an undercoat layer. Further, a dye layer is formed on the undercoat layer in the same manner as in Example 1 to produce a thermal transfer sheet of Comparative Example 1.

<Undercoat layer coating solution 11>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 35 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 16.75 parts Isopropyl alcohol 48.25 parts

(Comparative Example 2)
A thermal transfer sheet of Comparative Example 2 was prepared in the same manner as Comparative Example 1 except that the dry coating amount of the undercoat layer was changed to the values shown in Table 1 in the thermal transfer sheet prepared in Comparative Example 1.

(Comparative Example 3)
A thermal transfer sheet of Comparative Example 3 was prepared in the same manner as Comparative Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet prepared in Comparative Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 12>
Alumina sol (Alumina sol 200, feather shape, manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) 24.5 parts Polyvinylpyrrolidone resin (K-90, manufactured by ISP) 1.05 parts 26.2 parts Isopropyl alcohol 48.25 parts

(Comparative Example 4)
A thermal transfer sheet of Comparative Example 4 was prepared in the same manner as Comparative Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet prepared in Comparative Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 13>
Vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (E-335, manufactured by ISP, solid content 50%)
7.0 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 46.5 parts Isopropyl alcohol 43.0 parts

(Comparative Example 5)
A thermal transfer sheet of Comparative Example 5 was prepared in the same manner as Comparative Example 1 except that the undercoat layer had the following composition in the thermal transfer sheet prepared in Comparative Example 1.
<Undercoat layer coating solution 14>
Vinyl acetate resin (HR-3010, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) 3.5 parts Pure water (manufactured by Seiki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 48.25 parts Isopropyl alcohol 48.25 parts

<Adhesiveness of dye layer (room temperature)>
Using the thermal transfer sheet prepared above, the cellophane (registered trademark) of 200 mm long x 12 mm wide is rubbed twice with the thumb on the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet stored at room temperature. Evaluation was made by examining the presence or absence of adhesion of the dye layer on the tape side when peeled.

Evaluation was performed according to the following criteria.
○: Adhesion of the dye layer is not recognized.
Δ: Slight adhesion of the dye layer is observed.
X: Adhesion of the dye layer is observed on the entire surface.

<Adhesiveness of dye layer (high temperature and high humidity)>
The thermal transfer sheet produced above was stored in an environment of 40 ° C. and 90% RH for 100 hours, and then allowed to stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
Evaluation was performed according to the following criteria.
○: Adhesion of the dye layer is not recognized.
Δ: Slight adhesion of the dye layer is observed.
X: Adhesion of the dye layer is observed on the entire surface.

<Evaluation of transferability after storage>
The thermal transfer sheets prepared in each of the above examples and comparative examples were stored for 100 hours in an environment of 40 ° C. and 90% RH, and then in a 45 ° C. and 60% RH environment for an OLYMPUS P-400 printer. In combination with a dedicated thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, a print pattern in which the entire surface of the printed material is solid (gradation value 255/255) is printed, and after printing, the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet are fused or dyed It was visually checked whether so-called abnormal transfer, in which the layers were transferred to the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, occurred.
(Printing conditions)
Thermal head; F3598 (manufactured by Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corporation)
Heating element average resistance value: 5176 (Ω)
Main scanning direction printing density; 300 dpi
Sub-scanning direction print density; 300 dpi
Applied power: 0.11 (w / dot)
1 line cycle; 2.0 (msec.)
Pulse duty; 85%
Printing start temperature: 35.5 (° C)

Evaluation was performed according to the following criteria.
○: The dye layer and the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet are not thermally fused and abnormal transfer does not occur.
X: The dye layer and the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet are thermally fused or abnormal transfer occurs.

<Evaluation of koge (solid black)>
Using the thermal transfer sheets of each of the examples and comparative examples prepared above, in combination with a dedicated thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for an OLYMPUS P-400 printer, three dyes in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan under the following conditions The black solid prints were sequentially stacked and the occurrence of burnt in the black solid prints was visually confirmed. The thermal transfer sheet for yellow, magenta and protective layer used at that time was a thermal transfer sheet for MEGA PIXEL III manufactured by Altec AD. The three-color black reflection density measurement was performed using a Macbeth reflection densitometer RD-918 to measure the black reflection density at a location where no kogation occurred.
(Printing conditions)
Thermal head; F3598 (manufactured by Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corporation)
Heating element average resistance; 5323 (Ω)
Main scanning direction printing density; 300 dpi
Sub-scanning direction print density; 300 dpi
Applied power: 0.11 (w / dot)
1 line period; 0.7 (msec.)
Pulse duty; 96%
Printing start temperature; 28 (° C)

Kogure evaluation was performed according to the following criteria.
5: Burning is confirmed in 50% or more of the total area of the printed matter.
4: Burning is confirmed at a rate of about 40% of the total area of the printed material.
3: Kogation is confirmed at a ratio of about 30% of the total area of the printed matter.
2: Koge is confirmed at a ratio of about 10% of the total area of the printed matter.
1: Koge cannot be confirmed visually.
However, koge means that the three colors of the dyes from the yellow, magenta, and cyan dye layers and the protective layer to be transferred from the protective layer transfer sheet are sequentially stacked to form a black thermal transfer image when forming a black thermal transfer image. Image quality failure that occurs in the high density part, that is, the hue of the black part is changed by fusing the receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet to the thermal transfer sheet side at the time of transfer (black solid blurring), and as a result the surface of the printed material is matted, This is a phenomenon in which the glossiness is lost.

  Table 1 below shows the measurement results of the black reflection density, the adhesion of the dye layer (room temperature, high temperature and high humidity), the evaluation of transferability after storage, and the evaluation of kogation.

From the above results, the undercoat layer formed mainly of a copolymer resin of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles as the main components between the base material and the dye layer has a black reflection density of 2. 0 or more was obtained. Further, the content ratio of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles and the vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer resin is a solid weight ratio, and the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles / copolymer resin of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate = 8. / 2 to 6/4, and the coating amount of the undercoat layer is within the range of 0.15 to 0.25 g / m ² at the time of drying. In addition, the adhesion of the dye layer to the substrate after storage at room temperature and storage at high temperature and high humidity was good, and good results were obtained for transferability evaluation after storage at high temperature and high humidity. In the thermal transfer sheet of Example 7, the dry coating amount of the undercoat layer is out of the range of 0.15 to 0.25 g / m ² , and the coating amount is large, but some kogation is observed. The thermal transfer sheets of Examples 11 and 12 are mainly composed of a resin copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate and ultrafine colloidal inorganic pigment particles, but the content ratio is a solid content weight ratio. Copolymer resin of ultrafine particles, vinyl pyrrolidone, and vinyl acetate = 9/1, 5/5, so that a lot of koge is seen or the adhesiveness is lowered.

  The thermal transfer sheets of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are those in which an undercoat layer consisting only of colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles is provided between the substrate and the dye layer, and the black reflection density of the printed matter is good. Adhesiveness between the material and the dye layer is lowered, and there is a problem of transferability after high temperature and high humidity storage and deterioration of kogation. Further, in Comparative Example 3, since the undercoat layer uses a polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin that is not modified with vinyl acetate, there are problems of transferability after high-humidity storage and kogation deterioration.

  In Comparative Example 4, since the undercoat layer does not contain colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles and is composed of only a copolymer resin of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate, the transfer sensitivity particularly in high-speed printing is higher than in each example. Low desired sensitivity cannot be obtained. There is also a problem with transferability after storage at high temperature and high humidity. Further, in Comparative Example 5, since the undercoat layer is composed only of vinyl acetate resin, similarly to Comparative Example 4, the transfer sensitivity in high-speed printing is low, the printing density is lowered, and after storage at high temperature and high humidity. There is a problem with transferability.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows one best form of embodiment which is the thermal transfer sheet of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base material 2 Undercoat layer 3 Dye layer 4 Heat resistant slipping layer

Claims (5)

  In a thermal transfer sheet in which a heat-resistant slipping layer is provided on one surface of a substrate and an undercoat layer and a dye layer are sequentially formed on the other surface of the substrate, the undercoat layer is a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate. A thermal transfer sheet comprising a resin and ultrafine particles of a colloidal inorganic pigment as main components.   2. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles are colloidal silica and / or alumina sol.   3. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein a polymerization ratio in the copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate = 70/30 to 30/70 in terms of molar ratio. The thermal transfer sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating amount of the undercoat layer is in the range of 0.15 to 0.25 g / m ² when dried.   The content ratio of the colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles and the copolymer resin of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate is a solid weight ratio, and the copolymer resin of colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles / vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate = 8 / It is 2-6 / 4, The thermal transfer sheet in any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned.

Images