JP2009069389A - Image transfer medium and image-recording body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transfer medium capable of suppressing the adherence of dust and prevention of failure in transport compatible. <P>SOLUTION: This image transfer medium has at least a substrate, and an image-receiving layer, provided at least on one side of the substrate while composing the extreme surface; the image-receiving layer contains a thermoplastic resin; the image-receiving layer can be peeled off from the substrate; the surface resistivity (23°C55%RH) of the surface of the image receiving layer or the substrate on the interface between the image-receiving layer and the substrate lies in a range of not smaller than 1.0×10<SP>8</SP>Ω/square and not larger than 1.0×10<SP>13</SP>Ω/square. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transfer medium and an image recording body.

  In recent years, with the development of image forming technology, means for forming large quantities and low cost images of the same quality by various printing methods such as intaglio printing, letterpress printing, planographic printing, gravure printing, and screen printing are known. Yes. This printing method is also often used to manufacture information recording media that store predetermined information such as IC cards, magnetic cards, optical cards, or a combination of these, and can communicate with or without contact with external devices. It is used.

  However, in addition to these, in image formation including individually different images such as personal identification information (face photo, name, address, date of birth, various licenses), etc., from the viewpoint of being able to easily cope with the different images Currently, the most mainstream is an image forming method employing a sublimation type or melt type thermal transfer method using an ink ribbon or the like.

  In addition, there is a method in which an image transfer medium (intermediate transfer medium) is used in this thermal transfer system, an image (colored layer) is once formed from an ink ribbon or the like on the surface of the image transfer medium, and then the image is transferred again to an image recording medium. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 6).

In addition, a method has also been proposed in which an image is once formed on an image transfer medium by an electrophotographic method, and then the image is transferred again to an image recording medium (see Patent Documents 7 to 11). In this method, an image recording medium is produced through a process in which an image transfer medium on which an image is formed by an electrophotographic method is heated and pressure-bonded to an image support such as a vinyl chloride sheet.
JP-A-5-096871 JP-A-7-068812 JP-A-8-142365 JP-A-8-156302 JP-A-9-314875 JP 11-291646 A Japanese Patent No. 3359962 Japanese Patent No. 3359963 JP 2001-92255 A JP-A-11-334265 JP-A-10-86562

The method employing the above-described electrophotographic method is a method in which an image transfer medium on which an image is formed by the electrophotographic method is heat-pressed to an image support, and then a base material or a member including the base material (for example, the base material and the release material). This is a method for producing an image recording body by peeling and removing a member made of a mold layer. In this method, there is a problem that the surface of the image recording body is charged by the charge generated at the peeling interface at the time of peeling and removing, and dust is attached.
Further, when there is a step of transporting the cards in a stacked manner as in the encoding step in the manufacture of the IC card, there is a problem that the cards are brought into close contact with each other due to electrification and a transport failure occurs.

  Needless to say, the above problem is a problem that may occur even when an image is formed by a method other than the electrophotographic method.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art.
That is, the present invention provides an image transfer medium capable of achieving both suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure, and an image recording medium having a well-formed image without occurrence of dust adhesion and conveyance failure. The purpose is to provide.

The above-mentioned subject is achieved by the following present invention.
The invention according to claim 1 includes at least a substrate and an image receiving layer provided on at least one side of the substrate and constituting the outermost surface, the image receiving layer including a thermoplastic resin, and the image receiving layer Alternatively, the surface resistance of the surface on the member side including the image receiving layer or the image receiving layer at the peelable interface where the member including the image receiving layer and the substrate or the member including the substrate are removable. The image transfer medium has a rate (23 ° C. 55% RH) in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the image receiving layer is formed so as to be in direct contact with at least one surface of the substrate, the image receiving layer and the substrate can be peeled, and the peeling Image transfer in which the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface of the image receiving layer at a possible interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. It is a medium.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first aspect, the release layer and the image receiving layer are formed so as to be in direct contact with each other on at least one surface of the substrate, and the image receiving layer The release layer can be peeled off, and the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the image receiving layer surface at the peelable interface is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 ×. The image transfer medium is in the range of 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first aspect, the release layer, the protective layer, and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and directly in contact with at least one surface of the substrate. The protective layer and the release layer are peelable, and the surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the protective layer surface at the peelable interface is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more. The image transfer medium is in the range of 0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image-receiving layer or a member-side surface including the image-receiving layer at the peelable interface is formed. The image transfer medium includes a thermoplastic resin, and the content of the charge control agent in the layer constituting the surface with respect to the thermoplastic resin is 7% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less.

The invention according to claim 6 includes at least a substrate and an image receiving layer provided on at least one side of the substrate and constituting the outermost surface, the image receiving layer including a thermoplastic resin, and the image receiving layer Alternatively, the member containing the image receiving layer and the substrate or the member containing the substrate can be peeled, and the surface resistivity (23 ° C.) of the substrate or the member-side surface at the peelable interface at the peelable interface. 55% RH) is an image transfer medium having a range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the sixth aspect, the image receiving layer is formed so as to be in direct contact with at least one surface of the substrate, the image receiving layer and the substrate can be peeled, and the peeling An image transfer medium in which the surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the substrate surface at a possible interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. is there.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the sixth aspect, the release layer and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and directly in contact with at least one surface of the substrate. The release layer is peelable, and the surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the release layer surface at the peelable interface is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 ×. The image transfer medium is in the range of 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the sixth aspect, the release layer, the protective layer, and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and directly in contact with at least one surface of the substrate. The protective layer and the release layer are peelable, and the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the release layer surface at the peelable interface is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more 1 It is an image transfer medium in a range of 0.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the structure according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, the layer constituting the base or the member-side surface including the base at the peelable interface is a heat. The image transfer medium contains a plastic resin and the content of the charge control agent in the layer constituting the surface with respect to the thermoplastic resin is 0.5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less.

  The invention according to claim 11 has an image support and an image covering layer provided on at least one side of the image support, and an image is disposed at an interface between the image support and the image covering layer. The image recording layer is a member including an image receiving layer or an image receiving layer constituting the image transfer medium according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the structure of the eleventh aspect, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the surface of the image covering layer opposite to the surface on which the image is formed is 1.0. It is an image recording material in a range of × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to achieve both suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure compared to the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of refuse adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure can be made compatible more favorably.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to achieve both better suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure than in the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure can be made compatible more favorably.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of refuse adhesion and prevention of conveyance defect can be made compatible both more simply and favorably.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure can be made compatible.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure can be made compatible more favorably.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 8, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of refuse adhesion and prevention of a conveyance defect can be made compatible more favorably.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 9, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure can be made compatible more favorably.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 10, compared with the case where a surface resistivity is not considered, suppression of refuse adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure can be made compatible both more easily and satisfactorily.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording body having a well-formed image with no dust adhering and poor conveyance as compared with the case without the configuration.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording body having a well-formed image without causing adhesion of dust and poor conveyance as compared with the case without the configuration.

<Image transfer medium>
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the image transfer medium will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

-Layer structure-
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a layer configuration of an image transfer medium according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The image transfer medium shown in FIG. 1 includes a base 110 and an image receiving layer 150 (in this specification, the layer configuration may be referred to as “two-layer configuration”). When the image transfer medium has the above two-layer structure, it can be peeled off at the interface between the substrate 110 and the image receiving layer 150. An image recording material produced using this image transfer medium comprises an image support and an image covering layer (corresponding to the image receiving layer 150).

First Embodiment In the image transfer medium according to the first embodiment, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface on the image receiving layer 150 side at the peelable interface is 1 in the above two-layer configuration. It is necessary to be within the range of not less than 0.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ and not more than 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The surface resistivity is preferably 1.0 × 10 ⁹ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹² Ω / □ or less, and more preferably 1.0 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ^12. More preferably, it is Ω / □ or less, and particularly preferably 1.0 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹¹ Ω / □ or less.

  In controlling the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer 150 within the above range, it is preferable to adjust a charge control agent added to the image receiving layer 150. As the charge control agent, a polymer conductive agent, a surfactant, conductive metal oxide particles and the like can be used (detailed later). The content of the charge control agent in the image receiving layer 150 is preferably 7% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the thermoplastic resin.

Second Embodiment In the image transfer medium according to the second embodiment, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface on the substrate 110 side at the peelable interface is 1.0 in the above two-layer configuration. It is required to be within the range of from 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. A preferable range of the surface resistivity is as shown in the first embodiment.

  In controlling the surface resistivity of the substrate 110 within the above range, it is preferable to adjust the charge control agent added to the substrate 110. As an example of the charge control agent, the one shown in the first embodiment can be employed as it is. The content of the charge control agent in the substrate 110 is preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the thermoplastic resin.

-3 layer structure
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the layer structure of the image transfer medium according to the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment. The image transfer medium shown in FIG. 2 includes a substrate 110, a release layer 120, and an image receiving layer 160 (this layer configuration may be referred to as “three-layer configuration” in this specification). When the image transfer medium has the above three-layer structure, it can be peeled off at the interface between the release layer 120 and the image receiving layer 160. An image recording material produced using this image transfer medium is composed of an image support and an image covering layer (corresponding to the image receiving layer 160).

Third Embodiment In the image transfer medium according to the third embodiment, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface on the image receiving layer 160 side at the peelable interface is 1 in the above three-layer configuration. It is necessary to be within the range of not less than 0.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ and not more than 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. A preferable range of the surface resistivity is as shown in the first embodiment.

  In controlling the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer 160 within the above range, it is preferable to adjust the charge control agent added to the image receiving layer 160. As an example of the charge control agent, the one shown in the first embodiment can be employed as it is. The content of the charge control agent in the image receiving layer 160 is preferably 7% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the thermoplastic resin.

Fourth Embodiment In the image transfer medium according to the fourth embodiment, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface on the release layer 120 side at the peelable interface is 1 in the above three-layer configuration. It is necessary to be within the range of not less than 0.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ and not more than 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. A preferable range of the surface resistivity is as shown in the first embodiment.

  In controlling the surface resistivity of the release layer 120 within the above range, it is preferable to adjust the charge control agent added to the release layer 120. As an example of the charge control agent, the one shown in the first embodiment can be employed as it is. The content of the charge control agent in the release layer 120 is preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the thermoplastic resin.

-4 layer configuration
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the layer structure of the image transfer medium according to the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment. The image transfer medium shown in FIG. 3 includes a substrate 110, a release layer 120, a protective layer 130, and an image receiving layer 140 (in this specification, the layer configuration is referred to as “four-layer configuration”). Sometimes). When the image transfer medium has the above four-layer structure, it can be peeled off at the interface between the release layer 120 and the protective layer 130. An image recording material produced using this image transfer medium is composed of an image support and an image covering layer (corresponding to the image receiving layer 140 and the protective layer 130).

Fifth Embodiment In the image transfer medium according to the fifth embodiment, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface on the protective layer 130 side at the peelable interface is 1. It needs to be in the range of 0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. A preferable range of the surface resistivity is as shown in the first embodiment.

  In controlling the surface resistivity of the protective layer 130 within the above range, it is preferable to adjust the charge control agent added to the protective layer 130. As an example of the charge control agent, the one shown in the first embodiment can be employed as it is. The content of the charge control agent in the protective layer 130 is preferably 7% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the thermoplastic resin.

Sixth Embodiment In the image transfer medium according to the sixth embodiment, in the above four-layer configuration, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface on the release layer 120 side at the peelable interface is 1. It is necessary to be within the range of not less than 0.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ and not more than 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. A preferable range of the surface resistivity is as shown in the first embodiment.

  In controlling the surface resistivity of the release layer 120 within the above range, it is preferable to adjust the charge control agent added to the release layer 120. As an example of the charge control agent, the one shown in the first embodiment can be employed as it is. The content of the charge control agent in the release layer 120 is preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the thermoplastic resin.

Here, at the peelable interface, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface on the member side including the image receiving layer or the image receiving layer, or the surface on the member side including the substrate or the substrate. A measurement method will be described.
The measurement is performed by a method based on the double ring electrode method in JIS-K6271 (2001) after peeling at the actually peelable interface and exposing the measurement surface, and in accordance with the calculation formula presented. Can be obtained. More specifically, the voltage applied to an ultra high resistance measurement sample box (probe) connected to a digital ultra high resistance / microammeter R8340 manufactured by Advantest Co., Ltd. in an environment of 23 ° C. and 55% RH. It can be determined from the formula defined in JIS-K6271 based on the current value after 60 seconds at 1000V.
In addition, all the values described in this specification are measured by the above method.

(Charge control agent)
(1) Conductive metal oxide particles As described above, conductive metal oxide particles are first mentioned as the charge control agent for adjusting the surface resistivity.
Examples of the conductive metal oxide particles include conductive metal oxides such as ZnO, TiO, TiO ₂ , SnO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , In ₂ O ₃ , SiO, SiO ₂ , MgO, BaO, and MoO _3. Particles obtained by conducting a conductive treatment on the oxide surface can be used.
As the metal oxide constituting the conductive metal oxide particles, preferably those which further contain a different element, e.g., Al relative to ZnO, an In like, Nb relative to TiO, Ta or the like, the SnO ₂ On the other hand, those containing (doping) Sb, Nb, halogen elements and the like are preferable. Of these, SnO ₂ doped with Sb is particularly preferable.

(2) Surfactant A surfactant may be used as the charge control agent.
Examples of the surfactant include cationic surfactants such as polyamines, ammonium salts, sulfonium salts, phosphonium salts, and betaine amphoteric salts, anionic surfactants such as alkyl phosphates, and nonionic surfactants such as fatty acid esters. Agents. Among these surfactants, it is more preferable to use a cationic surfactant having a large interaction with a negatively charged image forming material such as a negatively charged toner in an electrophotographic system.

  Among the cationic surfactants, quaternary ammonium salts are preferable, and the quaternary ammonium salts are more preferably compounds represented by the following general formula (I).

In the formula, R ¹ represents an alkyl group, alkenyl group, or alkynyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and R ² represents a group obtained by removing one hydrogen atom from an alkyl group, alkenyl group, or alkynyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. To express. R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ may be the same or different and each represents an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. An aliphatic group means a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, alkenyl group, or alkynyl group. The aromatic group represents a benzene monocyclic or condensed polycyclic aryl group. These groups may have a substituent such as a hydroxyl group. A represents an amide bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, a group obtained by removing one hydrogen atom from a phenyl group, or a single bond. X ⁻ represents a halogen element, sulfate ion, or nitrate ion, and these ions may have a substituent.

(3) Polymer Conductive Agent A polymer conductive agent can also be used as the charge control agent.
Examples of the polymer conductive agent include polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene, poly p-phenylene, polyphenylene vinylene, and the like.

  As described above, in the image transfer medium according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments, the charge control agent is the image-receiving layer or the surface on the member side including the image-receiving layer at the peelable interface, or the For the purpose of controlling the surface resistivity of the substrate or the surface of the member including the substrate, it is added to each layer constituting the surface. The contents in each layer at that time are as described above.

(Peeling power)
In the image transfer media according to the first to sixth embodiments, the peel force at the peelable interface (that is, the peel force between the image receiving layer 150 and the substrate 110 in the case of a two-layer structure, the case of a three-layer structure). In the case of a four-layer structure, the peel strength between the image receiving layer 160 and the release layer 120 is 0.098 N / cm or more and 4.90 N / cm or less. (10 gf / cm or more and 500 gf / cm or less) is preferable, 0.196 N / cm or more and 3.92 N / cm or less (20 gf / cm or more and 400 gf / cm or less) is more preferable, and 0.490 N / cm. More preferably, it is 2.41 N / cm or less (50 gf / cm or more and 250 gf / cm or less).

Here, the said peeling force represents the value by the measurement according to 180 degree | times peeling adhesive force in the measurement of the adhesive force of JIS-Z0237 (2000). That is, an acrylic adhesive tape having a width of 25 mm (Knit Polyester Tape 31B, manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation) was applied to the surface of the image receiving layer of the image transfer medium so as to have a length of 200 mm at a linear pressure of 500 g / cm, and 23 ° C. and 50%. The stress at the time of peeling at a peeling angle of 180 degrees at a speed of 10 mm / sec in an RH environment can be measured.
The values described in this specification are all measured by the above method.

(Surface resistivity of other surfaces)
Further, in the image transfer media according to the first to sixth embodiments, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) on both the front and back surfaces is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10. A range of ¹³ Ω / □ or less is preferable. The surface resistivity is more preferably in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁹ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹¹ Ω / □.

  Further, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) difference between the front and back surfaces of the image transfer media according to the first to sixth embodiments is preferably within 4 digits, more preferably within 3 digits. preferable. The difference in surface resistivity within 4 digits means that the difference in common logarithm is within 4 when each surface resistivity is expressed in common logarithm.

In addition, the said surface resistivity can be calculated | required by measuring by the method based on the double ring electrode method in JIS-K6271 (2001), and complying with the calculation formula shown. More specifically, the voltage applied to an ultra high resistance measurement sample box (probe) connected to a digital ultra high resistance / microammeter R8340 manufactured by Advantest Co., Ltd. in an environment of 23 ° C. and 55% RH. It can be determined from the formula defined in JIS-K6271 based on the current value after 60 seconds at 1000V.
In addition, all the values described in this specification are measured by the above method.

For example, when controlling the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer constituting the outermost surface in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □, charge control is performed in the image receiving layer. It is preferable to contain an agent.

  In the case where the image receiving layer is provided only on one side of the substrate, when the substrate is a layer constituting the outermost surface on the side where the image receiving layer is not provided, the surface resistivity is controlled. At the time of manufacture, a charge control agent is added to the resin, a surfactant is applied to the surface of the substrate, a metal thin film is deposited, or an appropriate amount of a surfactant is added to the adhesive. Can be done. Details of these charge control agents will be described later.

  Although examples of the two-layer configuration, the three-layer configuration, and the four-layer configuration are described above, the surface of the substrate 110 on which the image receiving layer 140, 150, or 160 is formed can be used in any of the image transfer media having the layer configuration. A coating layer (for example, a charge control layer) (not shown) may be formed on the opposite surface. In addition, an image receiving layer can be formed on the opposite surface.

  Next, the image transfer medium will be described in more detail below by paying attention to the difference in layer structure.

<< 4-layer image transfer medium (fifth and sixth embodiments) >>
The four-layer image transfer medium according to the fifth and sixth embodiments has a release layer 120, a protective layer 130, and an image on the surface of the substrate 110 on which the image receiving layer 140 is provided. The image receiving layer 140 is sequentially provided.

  In the image transfer media according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, the protective layer 130 is a layer that can be peeled off from the release layer 120 that is a layer adjacent to the substrate 110 side. That is, when an image formed of an image forming material by an electrophotographic method or the like is transferred onto an image support, the protective layer 130 is peeled off from the release layer 120, and the protective layer 130 and the image receiving layer 140 are removed. The image transferred on the image support is covered and this image is protected.

(Image receiving layer)
The image-receiving layers in the fifth and sixth embodiments contain at least a thermoplastic resin and may contain other particles and other additives. For example, the image receiving layer may contain a release agent such as natural wax or synthetic wax, or a release resin, a reactive silicone compound, or a modified silicone oil.

  In the image transfer media according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, the thickness of the image receiving layer is preferably 4.0 μm or more and 15.0 μm or less, and more preferably 5.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less. And more preferably 6.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less.

-Thermoplastic resin-
As the thermoplastic resin, for example, at least one polyester resin or styrene acrylic resin is used. In general, polyester resins and styrene acrylic resins are used for image forming materials. Therefore, the image receiving material can be fixed on the surface of the image transfer medium by including the same type of resin in the image receiving layer. Sex can be controlled appropriately. As the polyester resin, in addition to a general polyester resin, for example, a silicone-modified polyester resin, a urethane-modified polyester resin, an acrylic-modified polyester, or the like may be used.

Among the above, it is preferable to use at least a polyester resin.
The method for synthesizing the polyester resin is not particularly limited. For example, a saturated polyester obtained by subjecting a polybasic acid component having two or more carboxyl groups and a glycol component to a condensation reaction with an organic diisocyanate compound and a chain extender. It can be obtained by reacting.

  Examples of the polybasic acid include divalent basic acid aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, orthophthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, biphenyldicarboxylic acid, and 1,5-naphthalic acid. Is used. Also, aromatic oxycarboxylic acids such as p-oxybenzoic acid and p- (hydroxyethoxy) benzoic acid, and tri- and tetra-aromatic carboxylic acids such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid can be used in combination.

  Examples of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid include succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, dodecanedioic acid, and dimer acid. Examples of the alicyclic dicarboxylic acid include 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and its anhydride.

Dicarboxylic acids having a polymerizable unsaturated double bond can also be used. For example, α, β-unsaturated dicarboxylic acids include fumaric acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, citraconic acid; As the alicyclic dicarboxylic acid containing a heavy bond, 2,5-nobornene dicarboxylic acid anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, and the like can be used. Most preferred among these are fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, and 2,5-nobornene dicarboxylic acid anhydride.
Furthermore, hydroxycarboxylic acids such as hydroxypivalic acid, γ-butyrolactone, and ε-caprolactone can be used as necessary. These components can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  On the other hand, as the glycol component, for example, at least one selected from aliphatic glycols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, alicyclic glycols having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and ether bond-containing glycols is used. be able to.

  Examples of the aliphatic glycol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms include ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 2-ethyl-2-butylpropanediol, hydroxypivalic acid neopentyl glycol ester, dimethylol heptane, etc. Can do.

Examples of the alicyclic glycols having 6 to 12 carbon atoms include 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and tricyclodecane dimethylol.
Examples of the ether bond-containing glycols include diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and glycols obtained by adding 1 to several moles of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide to two hydroxyl groups bonded to the aromatic ring of bisphenols. Examples thereof include 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyethoxyphenyl) propane. Polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and polytetramethylene glycol can also be used as necessary.

  Examples of the organic diisocyanate compound include hexamethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate, 3,3-dimethoxy-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, p-xylylene diisocyanate, m-xylylene diisocyanate, 1,3-diisocyanate-methylcyclohexane, 1,4-diisocyanate-methylcyclohexane, 4,4′-diisocyanate dicyclohexylmethane, isophorone diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, 2,4-naphthalene diisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, 4 4'-diisocyanate diphenyl ether, 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, and the like. Of these, hexamethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and diphenylmethane diisocyanate are preferred.

  Examples of the chain extender include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol, polyethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, tricyclodecane dimethylol, Examples thereof include bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and the like. Of these, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, diethylene glycol and bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct are more preferable.

The polyester resin can be synthesized by a known method, for example, in a solvent at a reaction temperature of 20 ° C. or higher and 150 ° C. or lower in the presence of a catalyst such as amines and organotin compounds, or in the absence of a catalyst. Examples of the solvent that can be used at this time include ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and cyclohexanone, aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene, and esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate.
These polyester resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

-Particles-
The “particle” added to the image receiving layer refers to a particle having a particle size (particle size determined from the particle volume) of 80% or more and 250% or less based on the thickness (100%) of the image receiving layer. And those outside this range are not included. Here, a plurality of particle size distribution peaks may exist within a particle size range of 80% or more and 250% or less with reference to the thickness (100%) of the image receiving layer, but it is preferably one.

The material constituting the particles used for the image-receiving layer must be melted and deformed during image formation with the image-forming material or by heating when the image transfer medium is pressure-bonded to the image support by heating and pressing. For example, known organic materials and inorganic materials can be used.
Specific examples of the organic material include styrenes such as styrene, vinyl styrene, and chlorostyrene; monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, and isobutylene; vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, and butyric acid. Vinyl esters such as vinyl; α- such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate Unsaturated fatty acid monocarboxylic acid esters; vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether and vinyl butyl ether; vinyl ketones such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone and vinyl isopropenyl ketone; isoprene Examples thereof include homopolymers and copolymers obtained by polymerizing one or more diene monomers such as 2-chlorobutadiene. Among these, styrenes and esters of α-unsaturated fatty acid monocarboxylic acids Etc. are preferred.

  Moreover, when forming an image receiving layer with the coating liquid melt | dissolved in the solvent, it is preferable to select a thing with low solubility with respect to the said solvent among the organic materials enumerated above. In addition, when particles are produced using these organic materials, a crosslinking agent is added to the organic material in advance to give a crosslinked structure when the particles are made fine, or as the organic material, a thermosetting resin, a photocurable resin, an electron beam It is also preferable to use a cured resin.

  On the other hand, examples of the inorganic material include mica, talc, silica, calcium carbonate, zinc white, halocyto clay, kaolin, hydrochloric magnesium carbonate, quartz powder, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and alumina.

  In addition, the said particle | grain may serve other functions, such as a filler mentioned later and the above-mentioned electroconductive oxide particle.

  Further, the shape of the particles is not particularly limited as long as the volume average particle diameter is equal to or less than the thickness of the image receiving layer, but in general, a spherical shape is preferable. However, it may be a plate shape, a needle shape, an indefinite shape, or the like.

  The mass ratio (particle: binder) between the particles and the binder (resin component) in the image receiving layer is preferably in the range of 5: 100 to 35: 100, and 7.5: 100 to 30: A range of 100 is more preferable.

The number n of particles present per unit area of the image receiving layer is preferably 175 / mm ² or more 2500 / mm ² within the range of more than 500 pieces / mm ² or more 1500 / mm ² within the range of preferable.

  The thickness of the image receiving layer is preferably 0.4 to 0.73 times the volume average particle diameter (2r) of the particles, more preferably 0.5 to 0.7 times. preferable.

Note that the volume average particle radius r of the particles contained in the image receiving layer and the number n of particles present per unit area are measured by observing the surface of the image receiving layer with an optical microscope in the case of an image transfer medium. can do. In the case of an image recording medium, the measurement can be performed by observing the surface of the image support on which the image covering layer (corresponding to an image receiving layer and a protective layer in the case of a four-layer structure) is provided. it can.
Here, the volume average particle radius r and the number n of particles present per unit area are 80% or more and 250% based on the thickness (100%) of the image receiving layer among all the particles contained in the image receiving layer. The particle having a particle size of not more than% was determined as a measurement target.

Further, the particle size distribution of the particles is not particularly limited, but the particle size distribution is preferably as narrow as possible.
In the case where the particle size distribution profile of the particles in the particle size range of 80% or more and 250% or less with the thickness of the image receiving layer as a reference (100%) is expressed as shown in the following formula (2), Pp (± 30) / Pp (T) is preferably 0.3 or less. Further, it is more preferably 0.15 or less, and the closer to 0 (that is, monodispersion), the more preferable.
Formula (2) Pp (± 30) / Pp (T)
However, in formula (2), Pp (T) means the maximum peak height in the particle size distribution of the particles, and Pp (± 30) is the particle size of the particles at the maximum peak height of ± 30%. It means peak height.

  Here, the volume average particle size and the particle size distribution described above can be measured with a Coulter Counter TAII (manufactured by Beckman-Coulter). The volume average particle diameter can be measured as the volume average particle diameter by subtracting the cumulative distribution from the small particle diameter side with respect to the volume based on the measured particle size distribution, and the cumulative particle diameter of 50%.

Further, the coverage C is preferably 6% or more, and more preferably 10% or more. On the other hand, the coverage C is preferably 23% or less, and more preferably 20% or less.
The coverage C indicates the ratio of particles covering the surface of the image receiving layer, and can be measured by the following measurement method. The surface of the image receiving layer is observed with an optical microscope, the image is taken into a personal computer, and the image on the surface of the image receiving layer is processed using image processing software. The area and particle size of the particles in the image are measured, and the coverage can be determined from the ratio of the particle area to the image area.
The numerical values described in the present specification are values measured by the above method.

-Filler-
A filler can be added to the image receiving layer. Examples of the filler include particles (for example, SiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , talc or kaolin) made of inorganic materials other than those listed above and bead-shaped plastic powder (for example, cross-linked PMMA, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene). Can be used.

-Other additives-
In addition, the image receiving layer includes a heat stabilizer, an oxidation stabilizer, a light stabilizer, a lubricant, a pigment, a plasticizer, a crosslinking agent, an impact resistance improver, a flame retardant, a flame retardant aid, an ultraviolet absorber, and an antibacterial agent. Various additives such as an agent can be used in combination.
As the antioxidant, a commercially available antioxidant or the like can be used. The material to be added is preferably selected from those having good dispersion stability and not denatured by light irradiation. For example, a phosphoric acid type, a sulfur type, a phenol type, a hindered amine type antioxidant, etc. are mentioned. These antioxidants may be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

The UV absorber is preferably selected from those having good dispersion stability in the composition and not denatured by light irradiation. For example, in the case of organic materials, salicylic acid systems such as phenyl salicylate, p-tert-butylphenyl salicylate, p-octylphenyl salicylate; 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4- Benzophenone series such as octyloxybenzophenone and 2-hydroxy-4-dodecyloxybenzophenone; 2- (2′-hydroxy-5′-methylphenyl) 2H-benzotriazole, 2- (2′-hydroxy-5′-tert-) Benzotriazoles such as butylphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (2′-hydroxy-3′-tert-butyl-5′-methylphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole; 2-ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3,3 '-Diphenyl acrylate Cyanoacrylate and ethyl 2-cyano-3,3'-diphenyl acrylate; and the like materials and the like of.
Examples of inorganic materials include oxide particles of zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and metal oxide particles such as iron oxide and cerium oxide.

  Especially as said ultraviolet absorber, the said organic type material is preferable, and it is preferable to add in 0.01 to 40 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of said thermoplastic resins. Furthermore, it is more preferable to add in the range of 0.1 to 25 parts by mass. Moreover, it is preferable to use together 2 or more types of ultraviolet absorbers, in order to make foundation | substrate protection favorable, not only 1 type. In some cases, it is also preferable to add a hindered amine light stabilizer or an antioxidant.

In order to impart antibacterial properties to the image transfer medium, an antibacterial substance (antibacterial agent) can be added to the image receiving layer. The material to be added is preferably selected from those having good dispersion stability in the composition and not denatured by light irradiation.
For example, in the case of organic materials, thiocyanate compounds, road propagyl derivatives, isothiazolinone derivatives, trihalomethylthio compounds, quaternary ammonium salts, biguanide compounds, aldehydes, phenols, benzimidazole derivatives, pyridine oxide, carbanilide, diphenyl ether, etc. Materials.
Examples of the inorganic material include zeolite, silica gel, glass, calcium phosphate, zirconium phosphate, silicate, titanium oxide, and zinc oxide.

  Further, it is preferable that the antibacterial agent is basically exposed on the surface of the image receiving layer. Furthermore, the content of the antibacterial agent in the image receiving layer is preferably in the range of 0.05 part by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less, and 0.1 part by mass or more and 3 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic resin. More preferably, it is in the range of parts or less.

(Release layer)
The release layer includes a release material. Further, in the sixth embodiment, the surface resistivity of the peelable interface side surface of the release layer is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less. It needs to be. From the viewpoint of controlling the surface resistivity within the above range, the release layer preferably contains the aforementioned charge control agent. The content and the like at that time are as described above.

  In the image transfer media according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, the thickness of the release layer is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 50 μm or less, more preferably 0.2 μm or more and 20 μm or less, and 0.5 μm. More preferably, it is 10 μm or less.

  The releasable material is not particularly limited, but a silicone hard coat material can be used. This silicone-based hard coat material is composed of a condensate resin containing at least a silane-based composition or a mixed composition of these with a colloidal silica dispersion. Moreover, in order to improve adhesiveness with a base | substrate, it is preferable that the organic resin is further included.

  Specific examples of the silane-based composition include organic silicon compounds, such as silane compounds, fluorine-containing silane compounds, and isocyanate silane compounds, which are condensed to form a resin composition.

Silane compounds include Si (OCH ₃ ) ₄ , CH ₃ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , HSi (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , (CH ₃ ) ₂ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₂ , CH ₃ SiH (OCH ₃ ) ₂ , C _{6 H 5 Si (OCH 3)} 3, Si (OC 2 H 5) 4, CH 3 Si (OC 2 H 5) 3, (CH 3) 2 Si (OC 2 H 5) 2, H 2 Si (OC 2 H ₅ ) ₂ , C ₆ H ₅ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ , (CH ₃ ) ₂ CHCH ₂ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , CH ₃ (CH ₃ ) ₁₁ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ , CH ₃ Alkoxysilanes such as (CH ₂ ) ₁₅ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ and CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₁₇ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ ; Silazanes such as (CH ₃ ) ₃ SiNHSi (CH ₃ ) ₃ ; _((CH 3) SiN _{) 2 CO, tert-C 4} H 9 (CH 3) 2 special silylating agent such as SiCl; silane coupling agent; and _{HSC 3 H 6 Si (OCH 3} ) silane compounds such as _3; and these hydrolysis Products and partial condensates.

  Examples of the silane coupling agent include vinyl silanes such as vinyltris (β-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltriethoxysilane, and vinyltrimethoxysilane; acrylic silanes such as γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane; β- (3, Epoxy silanes such as 4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane; N-β- (aminoethyl) -γ-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane And aminosilanes such as N-phenyl-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane;

Examples of the fluorine-containing silane compounds include CF ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , C ₆ F ₁₃ C ₂ H ₄ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , and C ₇ F ₁₅ CONH (CH ₂ ) _3. Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ , C ₈ F ₁₇ C ₂ H ₄ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , C ₈ F ₁₇ C ₂ H ₄ SiCH ₃ (OCH ₃ ) ₂ , C ₈ F ₁₇ C ₂ H ₄ Si ( ON = C (CH ₃ ) (C ₂ H ₅ )) ₃ , C ₉ F ₁₉ C ₂ H ₄ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , C ₉ F ₁₉ C ₂ H ₄ Si (NCO) ₃ , (NCO) ₃ SiC _{2 H 4 C 6 F 12 C} 2 H 4 Si (NCO) 3, C 9 F 19 C 2 H 4 Si (C 2 H 5) (OCH 3) 2, (CH 3 O) 3 SiC 2 H 4 C 8 _{F 16 C 2 H 4 Si (} OCH 3) 3, _{CH 3 O) 2 (CH 3} ) SiC 9 F 18 C 2 H 4 Si (CH 3) (OCH 3) a fluorine-containing silane compounds such as _2, and silane compounds such as these hydrolyzate or partial condensate thereof It can be illustrated.

Examples of the isocyanate silane compounds include (CH ₃ ) ₃ SiNCO, (CH ₃ ) ₂ Si (NCO) ₂ , CH ₃ Si (NCO) ₃ , vinylsilyl triisocyanate, C ₆ H ₅ Si (NCO) ₃ , Si (NCO) ₄ , C ₂ H ₅ OSi (NCO) ₃ , C ₈ H ₁₇ Si (NCO) ₃ , C ₁₈ H ₃₇ Si (NCO) ₃ , (NCO) ₃ SiC ₂ H ₄ (NCO) ₃ etc. it can.

  Examples of the condensate resin of the silane-based composition include curable silicone resins such as thermosetting (condensation type and addition type) and photo-curable curable silicone resins. become that way.

Among the thermosetting silicone resins, as a condensation-type curable silicone resin, a polysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane having a silanol group at the terminal is used as a base polymer, and polymethylhydrogensiloxane is blended as a crosslinking agent. Reacts with curable silicone resins synthesized by heat condensation in the presence of organic acid metal salts such as organotin catalysts and amines, and polydiorganosiloxanes terminated with reactive functional groups such as hydroxyl groups and alkoxy groups. Examples thereof include curable silicone resins synthesized by synthesis, and polysiloxane resins synthesized by condensing silanol obtained by hydrolyzing a trifunctional or higher functional chlorosilane or a mixture of these with a 1,2-functional chlorosilane.
The condensation type is classified into a solution type and an emulsion type in terms of form, and any of them can be suitably used.

Among the thermosetting silicone resins, as an addition-type curable silicone resin, a polysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane containing a vinyl group is used as a base polymer, and polydimethylhydrogensiloxane is blended as a crosslinking agent. Examples thereof include a curable silicone resin synthesized by reaction and curing in the presence of a platinum catalyst.
The addition type is classified into a solvent type, an emulsion type, and a solventless type in terms of form, and any of them can be suitably used.

  Examples of the thermosetting silicone resin obtained by the condensation type and addition type curing include, for example, pure silicone resin, silicone alkyd resin, silicone epoxy resin, silicone polyester resin, silicone acrylic resin, silicone phenol resin, silicone urethane resin, and silicone. A melamine resin etc. are mentioned suitably.

  Examples of the photocurable silicone resin include a curable silicone resin synthesized using a photocationic catalyst, and a curable silicone resin synthesized using a radical curing mechanism. Moreover, the modification | denaturation obtained by carrying out photocuring reaction of the low molecular-weight polysiloxane which has a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group etc. couple | bonded with the silicon atom, and an alkyd resin, a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a phenol resin, a polyurethane, or a melamine resin. Silicone resin is preferably used. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

The curable silicone resin is particularly preferably an acrylic-modified silicone resin (a resin obtained by photocuring the acrylic resin and a low molecular weight polysiloxane) or a thermosetting silicone resin for the following reasons.
The acrylic-modified silicone resin is a silicone that contains a styrene-acrylic resin or a polyester resin, which is usually used as an image forming material, and has an acrylic chain with high chemical affinity in the molecule, while exhibiting releasability. It also has a resin part. Therefore, there are a part that easily adheres to the toner and a part that is difficult to adhere in one molecule. Further, since these are compatible, image fixability and image peelability are expressed on a molecular order.

  In the acrylic modified silicone resin, an image transfer medium having an appropriate surface hardness can be produced by freely controlling the ratio of acrylic chains to silicone chains, curing conditions thereof, and the like.

  For the above reasons, it is preferable to use a thermosetting silicone resin, particularly an acrylic-modified silicone resin.

As the curable silicone resin, an acrylic-modified silicone resin and a thermosetting silicone resin may be contained.
When the acrylic modified silicone resin and the thermosetting silicone resin are contained, it becomes possible to express these intermediate properties depending on the content ratio, curing conditions, addition amount, etc. It is possible to further freely control the image fixing property and the image peeling property.

  When the curable silicone resin containing an acryl-modified silicone resin and a thermosetting silicone resin is used, the content mass ratio (acryl-modified silicone resin / thermosetting silicone resin) is curable silicone. Since it varies depending on the type of resin and the like, it cannot be specified unconditionally, but a range of 1/100 to 100/1 is preferable, and a range of 1/10 to 10/1 is more preferable.

  Moreover, when using what contains an acrylic modified silicone resin and a thermosetting silicone resin as said curable silicone resin, as the combination, for example, the combination of an acrylic modified silicone resin and a silicone alkyd resin, an acrylic modified A combination of a silicone resin and a pure silicone resin, or a combination of an acrylic-modified silicone resin, a silicone alkyd resin, and a pure silicone resin is preferable.

  The molecular weight of the curable silicone resin is preferably in the range of 10,000 to 1,000,000 in terms of weight average molecular weight. Moreover, as a ratio of the phenyl group in all the organic groups in the said curable silicone resin, the range of 0.1 mol% or more and 50 mol% or less is preferable.

  The silicone-based hard coat material preferably further contains colloidal silica in the range of 5 parts by mass or more and 25 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the solid content of the condensate resin of the silane composition. More preferably, it is the range of 10 mass parts or more and 15 mass parts or less. Within this range of use, the image-receiving layer film is not cracked, and the mechanical strength can be achieved at an optimum level.

  These colloidal silicas are usually in the form of an aqueous dispersion or an aqueous / organic solvent dispersion. These production methods are shown, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 4,914,143, 3,986,997, 5,503,935, and 4,177,315.

  Further, these colloidal silicas have an average particle diameter of less than 10 nm in diameter when observed with a transmission electron microscope or the like, and at least 80% of the colloidal silica particles are 6 nm or more and 9 nm or less based on the particle volume. Have a diameter in the range of

(Protective layer)
The protective layer is a layer that forms a surface layer when the image receiving layer is transferred to an image support to form an image recording body, and has a function of protecting the image. From the viewpoint of exhibiting this function, the protective layer is required to have resistance to scratches and drugs, and the protective layer preferably contains a photocurable or thermosetting resin such as a silicone-based hard coat material. .
In addition to these, various materials can be added as necessary, but the silicone-based hard coat material may be included in the range of 0.5% by mass or more and 98% by mass or less in the entire resin constituting the protective layer. Preferably, it is contained in the range of 1% by mass to 95% by mass.

Moreover, in the said 5th Embodiment, the surface resistivity of the interface side surface which can peel this protective layer is 1.0 * 10 < ⁸ > ohm / square or more and 1.0 * 10 < ¹³ > ohm / square or less. It takes a thing. From the viewpoint of controlling the surface resistivity within the above range, the protective layer preferably contains the above-described charge control agent. The content and the like at that time are as described above.

  In the image transfer media according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, the thickness of the protective layer is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 100 μm or less, more preferably 1.0 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and 2.0 μm or more. More preferably, it is 20 μm or less.

(Substrate)
Although it does not specifically limit as a base | substrate, A plastic film can be used typically. Among these, PET films that can be used as OHP films or printed films are polyacetate film, cellulose triacetate film, nylon film, polyester film, polycarbonate film, polysulfone film, polystyrene film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polyphenylene ether film, cyclohexane film, Olefin films, polypropylene films, polyimide films, cellophane, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin films, polyarylate films, and the like can be preferably used.

  In addition, it is preferable that the said base | substrate is comprised from two or more layers from a viewpoint of thermocompression bonding (lamination property) with the image support body mentioned later.

  The polycarbonate is a polycondensate obtained from bisphenols and carbonic acid, and the polyarylate is a polyester obtained by polycondensation of bisphenol and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid. Polyarylate generally has higher heat resistance than polycarbonate because it contains a rigid aromatic ring in the main chain at a high density.

  Examples of the bisphenols include bisphenol A (2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane), bisphenol C (4,4 ′-(1-methylethylidene) bis (2-methylphenol)), bisphenol AP (4 , 4 ′-(1-phenylethylidene) bisphenol), bisphenol Z (4,4′-cyclohexylidenebisphenol), 4,4′-cyclohexylidenebis (3-methylphenol), 5,5 ′-(1 -Methylethylidene) (1,1'-biphenyl) -2-ol, (1,1'-biphenyl) -4,4'-diol, 3,3'-dimethyl (1,1'-biphenyl) -4, 4'-diol, 4,4 '-(1,4-phenylenebis (1-methylethylidene)) bisphenol), 4,4'-(1,4-phenyle) Bis (1-methylethylidene) bis (2-methylphenol)), 4,4 '-(1,3-phenylenebis (1-methylethylidene) bis (2-methylphenol)), bisphenol S (4,4' -Bis (dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone) etc. are mentioned, The thing of bisphenol A is used more preferably, Moreover, these may be used independently and may be used in mixture of 2 or more types.

  Examples of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid include terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, itaconic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, icodic acid diacid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, diphenic acid, dodecane A diacid, cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, etc. are mentioned. These raw materials are not necessarily used alone, and two or more of them may be copolymerized. Among these, it is preferable to use a mixture with a terephthalic acid component and / or an isophthalic acid component. In the case of such a mixture, the mixing ratio can be freely selected, but a range of terephthalic acid component / isophthalic acid component = 9/1 to 1/9 (molar ratio) is preferable, particularly 7/3 to 3/7 ( The range of (molar ratio), more preferably 1/1 (molar ratio).

  The manufacturing method of the said base | substrate is not specifically limited, It can produce using well-known methods, such as a co-extrusion method and a bonding method. In particular, those produced by coextrusion are preferred. For example, the substrate is a laminate of the above-mentioned polycarbonate or polyarylate, or a copolymer thereof, or film 1 (I layer) made of PET, and film 2 (II layer) made of PETG resin on one or both sides thereof. For example, it can be manufactured as follows.

  First, as a method of laminating film 2 (II layer) on one side or both sides of film 1 (I layer), a composition constituting film 1 (I layer) and a composition constituting film 2 (II layer) Can be obtained by the coextrusion method of extruding while being laminated from the same die in a molten state after being fed to separate extruders.

  The unstretched film can be used as a substrate as it is. Further, the unstretched film is stretched between rolls having a speed difference (roll stretching) or stretched by being held by a clip and expanded (tenter). Biaxial orientation treatment may be performed by stretching) or stretching by inflation with air pressure (inflation stretching), and this may be used as a substrate.

In general, when a substrate is produced, after being co-extruded, it enters a longitudinal stretching step, stretches between two or many rolls having different peripheral speeds, and adjusts to a target film thickness to wind up. It is done. In the case of biaxial stretching, the film that has passed through the above process is introduced into the tenter as it is, and stretched 2.5 times to 5 times in the width direction. A preferable stretching temperature at this time is in a range of 100 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less.
The biaxially stretched film thus obtained is subjected to heat treatment as necessary. The heat treatment is preferably performed in a tenter, and a film having a low thermal shrinkage rate can be obtained by performing heat treatment particularly while relaxing in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  As the substrate, paper (plain paper, coated paper, etc.), metal (aluminum, etc.), ceramics (alumina, etc.) can also be used. There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a shape of this base | substrate, Although it can select freely from well-known shapes as a base | substrate, a film form is preferable.

  As the paper, for example, as chemical pulp, hardwood bleached kraft pulp, hardwood unbleached kraft pulp, hardwood bleached sulfite pulp, softwood bleached kraft pulp, softwood unbleached kraft pulp, softwood bleached sulfite pulp, soda pulp and other wood Virgin bleached chemical pulp produced by chemically treating the fiber raw material of the fiber and subjecting it to a bleaching process. Among these, a pulp having high whiteness is particularly preferable. Waste paper pulp includes waste paper pulp, high quality paper, high quality coated paper, and medium quality paper that are dissociated from unprinted waste paper such as white, special white, medium white, and white loss generated in bookbinding, printing factories, cutting offices, etc. , Flat coated paper, letterpress, intaglio, printing, etc. on medium coated paper, reprinted paper, etc., electrophotographic system, thermal system, thermal transfer system, pressure sensitive recording paper, ink jet recording system, waste paper printed with carbon paper, water based, oily Examples include waste paper pulp that has been deinked by an optimal method after dissociating waste paper and newspaper waste paper written with ink or pencil. Among these, waste paper pulp having high whiteness and few impurities is particularly preferable.

  The substrate may be colored by adding pigments or dyes. Further, the substrate may be in the form of a film or a plate, or may have a shape having a thickness that is not flexible or has a strength required for a requirement as a substrate.

  In the image transfer media according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, the film thickness of the substrate is preferably 50 μm or more and 500 μm or less, more preferably 75 μm or more and 300 μm or less, and further preferably 100 μm or more and 250 μm or less. preferable.

<< Image transfer medium having two layers (first and second embodiments) >>
The two-layer image transfer medium according to the first and second embodiments has a configuration in which the image receiving layer 150 is provided on the surface of the substrate 110.

  In the image transfer media according to the first and second embodiments, the image receiving layer 150 is a layer that can be peeled off from the substrate 110. That is, when an image formed of an image forming material by an electrophotographic method or the like is transferred onto an image support, the image receiving layer 150 is peeled off from the substrate 110, and the image receiving layer 150 is placed on the image support. The image transferred to the cover is covered and this image is protected.

(Image receiving layer)
The image receiving layer in the first and second embodiments contains at least a thermoplastic resin, and may contain particles, a curable silicone resin, other additives, and the like. In particular, in the first and second embodiments, the curable silicone resin is preferably contained from the viewpoint of good peeling of the image receiving layer from the substrate.

In the first embodiment, the surface resistivity of the peelable interface side surface of the image receiving layer is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. It needs to be. From the viewpoint of controlling the surface resistivity within the above range, the image receiving layer preferably contains the above-described charge control agent. The content and the like at that time are as described above.

  In the image transfer media according to the first and second embodiments, the film thickness of the image receiving layer is preferably 4.0 μm or more and 15.0 μm or less, and more preferably 5.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less. And more preferably 6.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less.

In the image receiving layers in the first and second embodiments, the configurations described in the fifth and sixth embodiments are used as they are as the configurations of the thermoplastic resin, particles, filler, other additives, and the like used. Can be adopted.
As the thermoplastic resin, an acrylic resin or a polyester resin excellent in compatibility with an image forming material such as toner is preferably used. The acrylic resin as the thermoplastic resin preferably has a glass transition point (Tg) in the range of 50 ° C to 120 ° C, and more preferably in the range of 60 ° C to 105 ° C.

-Curable silicone resin-
As described above, in the first and second embodiments, the image receiving layer preferably contains a curable silicone resin.
A known curable silicone resin can be used as the curable silicone resin, but it contains a curable silicone resin that is excellent in compatibility with an acrylic resin or a polyester resin used as a binder resin in image forming materials such as toner. preferable.

The curable silicone resin contained in the image receiving layer will be described below.
In general, silicone resins are classified according to their molecular structure into silicone resins having a linear structure, which is a material such as silicone oil and silicone rubber, and silicone resins having a three-dimensionally crosslinked structure. Various properties such as releasability, adhesiveness, heat resistance, insulation, and chemical stability are determined by molecules (organic molecules) bonded to silicon atoms, the degree of polymerization thereof, and the like.

The curable silicone resin is preferably a silicone resin having a three-dimensionally crosslinked structure. A silicone resin having a three-dimensionally crosslinked structure is usually polymerized from polyfunctional (trifunctional or tetrafunctional) units and has a crosslinked structure.
A silicone resin having a linear structure has a low molecular weight, and as a silicone oil, an insulating oil, a liquid coupling, a buffer oil, a lubricating oil, a heat medium, a water repellent, a surface treatment agent, a mold release agent, an erasing agent. Examples include those used for foaming agents, and silicone rubbers that are polymerized to a molecular weight (siloxane unit) of about 5,000 to 10,000 by heat curing after adding a vulcanizing agent.

  Curable silicone resins are classified according to their molecular weight units into silicone varnishes that are soluble in organic solvents and have a relatively low molecular weight, silicone resins with a high degree of polymerization, and the like. The curable silicone resin is classified into a condensation type, an addition type, a radiation type (ultraviolet ray curable type, an electron beam curable type), and the like, depending on a curing reaction in the generation stage. Further, depending on the application form, it is classified into a solvent type, a solventless type and the like.

Among these curable silicone resins, a curable acrylic-modified silicone resin (curable acrylic silicone resin) is particularly preferable.
In curable acrylic silicone resins, image fixability and image releasability can be controlled freely by controlling the ratio of acrylic chain to silicone chain, the curing conditions, and the amount of curable silicone compound and modified silicone oil to be described later. It is possible to control.

As the curable silicone resin, a thermosetting silicone resin can also be particularly preferably used. The thermosetting silicone resin has a lower surface hardness than the acrylic silicone resin known as a photo-curable type, and the thermosetting silicone resin has a higher release property than an acrylic silicone resin.
In the case of a thermosetting silicone resin, in the case of a mixed system of a silicone component and a non-silicone component, the image fixing property can be controlled by controlling the ratio, the curing conditions, and the addition amount of the curable silicone compound and the modified silicone oil. And image peelability can be freely controlled.

  A mixture of an acrylic silicone resin and a thermosetting silicone resin can be preferably used. When mixing the acrylic silicone resin and the thermosetting silicone resin, the mixing ratio will show an intermediate performance between the two, the ratio, the curing conditions, the addition amount of the curable silicone compound and the modified silicone oil, etc. By controlling this, it is possible to freely control the image fixing property and the image peeling property.

  Examples of the curable silicone resin include the following when classified into a condensation type, an addition type, and an ultraviolet curable type.

As the condensation type curable silicone resin, for example, a polysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane having a silanol group at the terminal is used as a base polymer, and polymethylhydrogensiloxane or the like is blended as a crosslinking agent, and an organic acid metal such as an organotin catalyst. A curable silicone resin synthesized by heat condensation in the presence of a salt or amine, or a curable silicone resin synthesized by reacting a polydiorganosiloxane having a reactive functional group such as a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group at the terminal. And a polysiloxane resin synthesized by condensing silanol obtained by hydrolyzing a trifunctional or higher functional chlorosilane or a mixture of these and a bifunctional chlorosilane.
The condensed type is classified into a solution type and an emulsion type in terms of form, and any of them can be used preferably.

As an addition type curable silicone resin, for example, a polysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane containing a vinyl group is used as a base polymer, and a polydimethylhydrogensiloxane is blended as a cross-linking agent to react in the presence of a platinum catalyst. Examples thereof include a curable silicone resin synthesized by curing.
The addition type is classified into a solvent type, an emulsion type, and a useless type in terms of form, and any of them can be suitably used.

  Examples of the ultraviolet curable curable silicone resin include a curable silicone resin synthesized using a photocationic catalyst and a curable silicone resin synthesized using a radical curing mechanism.

  A modified silicone resin obtained by reacting a low molecular weight polysiloxane having a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group bonded to a silicon atom with an alkyd resin, a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a phenol resin, a polyurethane, or a melamine resin. Etc. are also preferred. These curable silicone resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The molecular weight of the curable silicone resin used for the image receiving layer is preferably 10,000 to 1,000,000 in terms of weight average molecular weight. Moreover, as a ratio of the phenyl group in all the organic groups in curable silicone resin, 0.1 mol% or more and 50 mol% or less are preferable, and as functionality, 1 or more and 4 or less are preferable.

  The content of the curable silicone resin in the image receiving layer is preferably from 30% by mass to 100% by mass, and more preferably from 50% by mass to 100% by mass.

(Substrate)
For the substrates in the first and second embodiments, the configurations described in the fifth and sixth embodiments can be employed as they are.

In the second embodiment, the surface resistivity of the peelable interface side surface of the substrate is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. Cost. From the viewpoint of controlling the surface resistivity within the above range, the base preferably contains the above-described charge control agent. The content and the like at that time are as described above.

  In the image transfer media according to the first and second embodiments, the thickness of the substrate is preferably 50 μm or more and 500 μm or less, more preferably 75 μm or more and 300 μm or less, and further preferably 100 μm or more and 250 μm or less. preferable.

<< 3-layer image transfer medium (third and fourth embodiments) >>
In the image transfer medium having a three-layer structure according to the third and fourth embodiments, the release layer 120 and the image receiving layer 160 are provided from the substrate 110 side on the surface of the substrate 110 on which the image receiving layer 160 is provided. It has the structure provided sequentially.

  In the image transfer media according to the third and fourth embodiments, the image receiving layer 160 is a layer that can be peeled from the release layer 120. That is, when an image formed of an image forming material by a method such as an electrophotographic method is transferred onto an image support, the image receiving layer 160 is peeled off from the release layer 120, and the image receiving layer 160 is supported by the image supporting layer. It covers the image transferred on the body and protects this image.

(Image receiving layer)
The image receiving layer in the third and fourth embodiments contains at least a thermoplastic resin, and may contain particles, a curable silicone resin, other additives, and the like. As a structure of the said thermoplastic resin, particle | grains, a filler, another additive, etc., the structure as described in the above-mentioned 5th and 6th embodiment is employable as it is. Moreover, as a structure of the said curable silicone resin, the structure as described in the above-mentioned 1st and 2nd embodiment is employable as it is.

In the third embodiment, the surface resistivity of the peelable interface side surface of the image receiving layer is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less. It needs to be. From the viewpoint of controlling the surface resistivity within the above range, the image receiving layer preferably contains the above-described charge control agent. The content and the like at that time are as described above.

  In the image transfer media according to the third and fourth embodiments, the film thickness of the image receiving layer is preferably 4.0 μm or more and 15.0 μm or less, and more preferably 5.0 μm or more and 12.0 μm or less. And more preferably 6.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less.

(Release layer)
For the release layers in the third and fourth embodiments, the configurations described in the fifth and sixth embodiments can be employed as they are.

In the fourth embodiment, the surface resistivity of the peelable interface side surface of the release layer is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. It needs to be. From the viewpoint of controlling the surface resistivity within the above range, the release layer preferably contains the aforementioned charge control agent. The content and the like at that time are as described above.

  In the image transfer media according to the third and fourth embodiments, the thickness of the release layer is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 50 μm or less, more preferably 0.2 μm or more and 20 μm or less, and 0.5 μm. More preferably, it is 10 μm or less.

(Substrate)
For the substrates in the third and fourth embodiments, the configurations described in the fifth and sixth embodiments can be employed as they are.

  In the image transfer media according to the third and fourth embodiments, the thickness of the substrate is preferably 50 μm or more and 500 μm or less, more preferably 75 μm or more and 300 μm or less, and further preferably 100 μm or more and 250 μm or less. preferable.

<Method for producing image transfer medium>
The above-described image transfer media according to the first to sixth embodiments can be manufactured by sequentially coating the surface of the substrate using a coating liquid containing a material constituting each layer except the substrate. The coating liquid is prepared by mixing the material constituting each layer and the solvent component, and dispersing the mixture with an apparatus such as an ultrasonic wave, a wafer blower, an attritor or a sand mill.

  As the coating method, commonly used methods such as blade coating method, wire bar coating method, spray coating method, dip coating method, bead coating method, air knife coating method, curtain coating method and roll coating method are adopted. .

  The layers sequentially formed on the surface of the substrate may be dried by air, but can be easily dried by heat drying. As the drying method, a commonly used method such as a method of placing in an oven, a method of passing through an oven, or a method of contacting with a heating roller is employed.

<Image Recorder and Method for Producing the Same>
Next, an image recording body according to a seventh embodiment which is a preferable aspect will be described.
The image recording body according to the seventh embodiment includes an image support and an image covering layer provided on at least one surface of the image support, and is provided at an interface between the image support and the image covering layer. An image is disposed, and the image covering layer is an image receiving layer or a member including the image receiving layer constituting the image transfer medium according to the first to sixth embodiments.

  Here, when producing the image recording body, first, an image of an image forming material is formed on the image receiving layer side surface of the image transfer medium by an electrophotographic method or the like (image forming step). Next, the surface on the image receiving layer side of the image transfer medium and the surface of the image support are faced and overlapped to form a laminate (laminate formation step). Further, the laminated body is heated and pressed to press the image transfer medium and the image support to form a pressure bonded body (pressure bonded body forming step). From this pressure-bonded body, the substrate constituting the image transfer medium or the member including the substrate is peeled off (peeling step) to produce an image recording body.

  Examples of the image recording material include (1) an image in which an image is transferred to an image support together with at least an image receiving layer by thermocompression bonding from an image transfer medium having an image formed of an image forming material according to information on the surface. Utilizing a configuration of a sheet, an image panel, etc., and (2) at least one means selected from an electric means, a magnetic means, and an optical means arranged at at least one of the image supports. Include at least information chip that can read information by IC card, magnetic card, optical card, or a combination of these, etc. The configuration of a simple information recording medium can be given.

  In the image recording material described in the item (1), an image formed by the image forming material partially or entirely serves as information having some identification function, and functions as identifiable information such as image information and character information. There is no particular limitation as long as it includes an image. Further, the identification of the image as information is not particularly limited as to whether or not it can be visually identified, and may be mechanically identifiable.

  In the image recording body (information recording medium) shown in the above item (2), the information chip has information having some kind of identification function, and is selected from at least electrical means, magnetic means, and optical means. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be read by using one means. This information chip may be dedicated to reading information, but may be one that can both read and write information (including “rewriting”) as necessary. A specific example of this information chip is an IC chip (semiconductor circuit), for example.

  It should be noted that the image formed by the image forming material formed when the information chip is used as the information source of the image recording body is not particularly limited as to whether or not a part or all of the image has information having some identification function.

On the other hand, the image formed by the image forming material and the information included in the information chip are not particularly limited as long as they can be identified, but may include variable information. The variable information means that information of individual image recording bodies is different among a plurality of image recording bodies manufactured according to the same standard or standard.
For example, when an image formed by an image forming material includes variable information, an image formed by a portion of the image forming material corresponding to the variable information can be different for each image recording body.

  Further, the variable information may include personal information. In this case, the image recording medium (information recording medium) can be used for cash cards, employee ID cards, student ID cards, individual ID cards, residence IDs, various driver's licenses, and various qualification certificates. In this case, the personal information includes, for example, a face photograph, personal identification image information, name, address, date of birth, and combinations thereof.

-Image forming process and image forming material-
In the image forming process in the production of the image recording body according to the seventh embodiment, a known method such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, or the like can be adopted as a method for forming an image, and the method is particularly limited. It is not something. Below, the method of forming an image using the electrophotographic system which is a particularly preferable aspect among these will be described.

  In the image formation on the image transfer medium by the electrophotographic method, first, the surface of the electrophotographic image carrier (photoreceptor) is charged and charged, and then the obtained image information is exposed on the surface of the image carrier. Then, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to exposure is formed. Next, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and developed with toner (toner image is formed) by supplying toner as an image forming material from the developing device to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier. Furthermore, the formed toner image is transferred to the surface of the image transfer medium on which the image receiving layer is formed, and finally the toner image is fixed on the surface of the image receiving layer by heat, pressure, etc., and an image is formed from the image forming material. Is done.

  In the seventh embodiment, the image formed on the image receiving layer of the image transfer medium needs to be a reverse image (mirror image). For this reason, when forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier, it is preferable that mirror image information is provided as image information exposed on the surface of the image carrier.

  As the image forming material used in the image forming step, for example, toner is used if an electrophotographic method is used for forming an image.

-Image support-
The image support used in the seventh embodiment is a metal, plastic, ceramic or the like, and these are preferably in the form of a sheet.
As the image support, a plastic sheet is preferable, and in particular, it is preferably opaque so that an image formed when the image recording medium is formed is easily visible, and a whitened plastic sheet is typically used.

  As the plastic sheet resin, those used for the substrate in the image transfer media according to the first to sixth embodiments can be applied as they are. Specifically, polyacetate film, cellulose triacetate film, nylon film, polyester film, polycarbonate film, polystyrene film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polypropylene film, polyimide film, cellophane, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin film, etc. It can be preferably used.

  Among them, polyester films, particularly PETG in which about half of the ethylene glycol component of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is replaced with 1,4-cyclohexanemethanol component, and the PET is mixed with polycarbonate to be alloyed. Further, non-biaxially stretched PET, and amorphous polyester called A-PET can be used more preferably.

  In the image support, at least the image receiving layer (or a member including the image receiving layer) on which the image is received is transferred on the surface thereof, such as vinyl chloride resin or polycarbonate resin, ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid and 1,4-cyclohexane. A resin called PETG containing polyester obtained by copolymerizing at least a dimethanol component is preferable.

  Further, considering the use of a substrate that does not contain chlorine, the polystyrene resin sheet, the ABS resin sheet, the AS (acrylonitrile-styrene) resin sheet, the PET sheet, and the polyolefin resin sheet such as polyethylene and polypropylene can be used as additional materials. In addition, a sheet to which a hot melt adhesive such as polyester or EVA is added can also be preferably used.

  As a method for whitening the plastic, a method in which a white pigment, for example, metal oxide particles such as silicon oxide, titanium oxide, and calcium oxide, an organic white pigment, and polymer particles are mixed in the film can be used. Further, the surface of the plastic sheet can be made uneven by subjecting the surface of the plastic sheet to sandblasting or embossing, and the plastic sheet can be whitened by light scattering due to the unevenness.

  As the image support, a sheet made of a plastic having a thickness of 75 μm or more and 1000 μm or less is preferably used, and a PETG sheet having a thickness of 100 μm or more and 750 μm or less is more preferably used.

When the final image recording body is used as an IC card or the like, an image support having a semiconductor circuit inside or on the surface can be used.
As a method for incorporating a semiconductor circuit in an image support, there is a method in which a sheet called an inlet to which the semiconductor circuit is fixed is sandwiched between sheet materials constituting the image support, and heat fusion is integrated by heat press. Generally, it is preferably used. Further, it is possible to arrange a semiconductor circuit directly without using the inlet sheet and integrate it by heat fusion.

In addition, it is possible to incorporate a semiconductor circuit by adhering sheets constituting the image support by using an adhesive such as hot melt, regardless of the heat fusion, but it is limited to these. Instead, for example, any method for incorporating a semiconductor circuit in an IC card can be applied as a method for manufacturing the image support.
Furthermore, if there is no problem in use as an image recording body, it is possible to arrange the semiconductor circuit exposed on the surface instead of the inside of the image support.

  When the image recording body is used not only as an IC card but also as a magnetic card or the like, an antenna, a magnetic stripe, an external terminal or the like is embedded in the image support as necessary. Moreover, a magnetic stripe, a hologram, etc. may be printed and required character information may be embossed.

-Laminate formation process-
The image transfer medium and the image support may be overlapped by holding and aligning the image transfer medium and the image support by hand, or after the image is formed on the image transfer medium, the image is applied to a collating member or the like. The transfer medium and the image support may be sequentially discharged and aligned.
In the laminate forming step, the two image transfer media on which the images are formed may face each other with the fixed image surface formed on the surface of the image support on the front and back of the image support. Is preferable in that it can be transferred.

-Crimped body formation process-
The pressure-bonding method in the pressure-bonding body forming step is not particularly limited, and any of various conventionally known laminating techniques and laminating apparatuses can be suitably employed. Among these, it is preferable to use a heat press method of laminating by applying heat, for example, by inserting a laminate of an image transfer medium and an image support into a press-contact portion of a pair of heatable heat rolls. They can be crimped using a normal laminating technique and laminating apparatus in which both are melted to some extent and thermally fused.

  Note that an image transfer medium on which an unfixed image is formed may be used in the pressure-bonding body forming step. In this case, the temperature at the time of heating and pressurization is compared with the case of using the image transfer medium that has undergone the fixing step. By making it higher, the color developability of the image forming material can be secured.

-Peeling process-
After the image forming material is cooled and solidified, the pressure-bonded body obtained through the pressure-bonding body forming step becomes an image recording body by peeling the substrate constituting the image transfer medium or the member including the substrate from the pressure-bonded body.

  The cooling and solidifying temperature is specifically a temperature not higher than a softening point at which an image forming material such as toner is sufficiently hardened, for example, not higher than the glass transition temperature of the image forming material, and preferably not lower than normal temperature (25 ° C.) and 30 ° C. The following is preferable. The conditions for peeling the substrate constituting the image transfer medium or the member including the substrate from the pressure-bonded body are not particularly limited. However, it is preferable that the end surface of the image transfer medium is grasped and gradually peeled off from the pressure-bonded body.

-Image recording body manufacturing method and image recording body manufacturing apparatus-
Next, the image recording body according to the seventh embodiment described above will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state before heating and pressing in the production of an image recording body according to the seventh embodiment, and FIG. 4B shows an example of a state after heating and pressing and peeling. FIG. 4A and 4B, 100 is an image transfer medium, 110 is a substrate or a member including a substrate, 180 is an image receiving layer or a member including an image receiving layer (an image covering layer after being subjected to a peeling step), Reference numeral 190 denotes an image forming material, 200 denotes an image support, and 300 denotes an image recording body.

  FIG. 4A illustrates an image transfer medium 100 including a substrate (or a member including a substrate) 110 and an image receiving layer (or a member including an image receiving layer) 180, and an image support 200 (for example, an image transfer medium). It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a state when a laminated body is comprised by superimposing a PETG sheet). Prior to heating and pressing, the image forming material 190 is on the image receiving layer (or member containing the image receiving layer) 180 side of the image transfer medium 100, or the image receiving layer (or member containing the image receiving layer) 180 and the image support 200. Exists at the interface.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the image recording body 300 obtained after thermocompression bonding and peeling, the image forming material 190 is covered with an image covering layer (an image receiving layer or a member including an image receiving layer) 180. The image forming material 190 is protected.

  The peeled image recording body 300 can be used as the image recording body 300 as it is. However, when a plurality of individual images are formed on the image transfer medium 100, the image recording body 300 is cut for each image and a plurality of image recordings of a predetermined size are recorded. A body 300 can be obtained.

Next, an image recording body manufacturing method according to the seventh embodiment and an image recording body manufacturing apparatus used therefor will be described in more detail.
The image recording body manufacturing apparatus according to the seventh embodiment uses the image transfer medium according to the first to sixth embodiments described above, and an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer on at least one surface. An image transfer medium storage unit for storing, an image forming unit for forming an image made of an image forming material on the surface of the image transfer medium on which the image receiving layer is provided, and an image support storage for storing an image support A laminated body forming part (positioning part), and a laminated body, wherein the laminated body and the image transfer medium are laminated so that at least one side of the image support and the surface on which the image is formed face each other. A pressure-bonding body forming portion (heat-pressure bonding portion) that forms a pressure-bonded body by thermocompression bonding, and a peeling that peels off the substrate constituting the image transfer medium or a member including the substrate from the pressure-bonded body after the image forming material is cooled and solidified. And comprising A.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an apparatus for producing the image recording body.
5 includes an image forming apparatus 12, a collating apparatus 14 (positioning unit), a laminating apparatus 16 (thermocompression bonding section), and a peeling apparatus 17 (peeling section). ing.

  The image forming apparatus 12 includes, for example, an image transfer medium storage unit 18, an image formation unit 20, a conveyance path 24 that conveys the image transfer medium 22 from the image transfer medium storage unit 18 to the image formation unit, and the image formation unit 20. The conveyance path 26 conveys the image transfer medium 22 to the discharge port 28. Other configurations are omitted.

  The image transfer medium storage unit 18 stores the image transfer medium 22 and is provided with a feed roll and a paper feed roll provided in a normal paper feeding device, and the paper feed roll and the like rotate at a predetermined timing. Then, the image transfer medium 22 is conveyed to the image forming unit 20.

  Although not shown, the image forming unit 20 develops a latent image holding body that forms a latent image, a developing device that develops the latent image using a developer containing at least toner, and obtains a toner image, and the developed toner image The image transfer medium 22 includes a transfer device and a fixing device that fixes the toner image transferred to the image transfer medium 22 by heating and pressurizing the image transfer medium 22.

  The conveyance paths 24 and 26 are composed of a plurality of roller pairs including guide roller pairs and guides (not shown). Further, the conveyance path 26 is an inversion path that reverses the conveyance direction of the image transfer medium 22 by 180 °. 26a is provided. A cam 32 for changing the guide direction of the image transfer medium 22 is provided at a branch between the conveyance path 26 and the reversing path 26a. When the image transfer medium 22 is reciprocated by the reversing path 26a and returned to the transport path 26, the transport direction of the image transfer medium 22 is reversed by 180 ° and the front and back of the image transfer medium 22 are reversed and transported.

  The collating device 14 includes an image support housing portion 34, a collating portion (positioning portion) 36, a conveyance path 40 that supplies the image support 38 from the image support body housing portion 34 to the collating portion 36, and an image forming apparatus. The conveyance path 42 is configured to supply the image transfer medium 22 discharged from the 12 discharge ports 28 to the collating unit 36.

A conveyance path 40 discharge section for supplying the image support 38 to the collating section 36 and a conveyance path 42 discharge section for supplying the image transfer medium 22 to the collating section 36 are provided in parallel in the height direction.
The conveyance paths 40 and 42 may have a configuration in which a plate-like member and a conveyance roll for conveying the image transfer medium 22 or the image support 38 on the surface thereof are provided, or a belt-like conveyance that rotates. It may be composed of a body. Then, at the timing when the image transfer medium 22 is discharged from the image forming apparatus 12 or the timing at which the image support 38 is discharged, the transport roll or the belt rotates, and the image transfer medium 22 or the image support 38 is moved to the collating portion 36. Transport.

  The image support storage unit 34 stores an image support 38 and also includes a feed roll and a paper supply roll that are provided in a normal paper supply device. The collating unit 36 is an image support storage unit 34. The sheet feeding roll or the like rotates at a timing immediately after moving to the position of the discharge port, and conveys the image support 38 to the collating unit 36.

  For example, part of the end of the collating unit 36 is up and down (up and down in the drawing) so that the image support 38 and the image transfer medium 22 are respectively supplied from the conveyance path 40 discharge unit and the conveyance path 42 discharge unit. It is connected to a belt outer wall stretched around the belt and is configured to move up and down as the belt rotates. Not only the lifting and lowering means but also known lifting and lowering means such as a motor drive system can be applied. Further, positioning means (not shown) for aligning the ends of the laminated image support 38 and the image transfer medium 22 is provided.

  The collating unit 36 is provided with a temporary fixing device 44 for temporarily fixing a laminated body in which two image transfer media 22 are laminated via an image support 38. This temporary fixing device is composed of, for example, a pair of protruding pieces made of metal so as to be heated by a heater or the like, and by sandwiching the ends of the stacked body between the pair of heated protruding pieces, The ends are thermally welded and temporarily fixed.

  The method of temporary fixing is not limited to a method using a pair of protrusions as long as thermal welding is used, but other existing methods, that is, a heated needle-like member is penetrated in the vertical direction of the sheet, or ultrasonic vibration is used. It is also possible to sandwich the sheet with a member on which a child is mounted and weld it by heat generated by ultrasonic vibration. Further, a means for mechanically restraining movement of each other without using heat, that is, fixing using a staple needle or the like, or a gripper movable along with the sheet along the conveyance path may be provided.

  When the temporary fixing device 44 is provided on the transport path of the laminate from the collating portion 36 to the laminating device 16, the temporary fixing device 44 is disposed at the end of the collating portion 36 only at the time of temporary fixing. In other cases, it is necessary to adopt a structure that can be retracted from the conveyance path.

The laminating apparatus 16 can employ, for example, a so-called belt nip method in which a contact pressing region is formed by a pair of belts 46. Each belt 46 is stretched by a heating / pressure roll 48, a stretch roll 50, and further rolls 52 and 54.
The pressure bonding method in the laminating apparatus 16 is not particularly limited, and any of various conventionally known laminating techniques and laminating apparatuses can be suitably employed. For example, an ordinary laminating technique and laminating apparatus, or a hot pressing technique, and a hot pressing apparatus, in which the laminated body is inserted into a contact pressing region such as a pair of hot rolls to thermally melt and heat both of them to some extent. And can be crimped.

  The peeling device 17 includes, for example, an air ejection nozzle 19 and guides 21 a and 21 b, and a discharge unit 56 is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance path of the image support 38.

Here, a method for transferring an image from the image transfer medium 22 onto both the front and back surfaces of the image support 38 will be described.
First, in the image forming apparatus 12, the first image transfer medium 22 a that is in pressure contact with the back surface (lower side in the drawing) of the image transfer medium 22 among the image transfer medium 22 is transported from the image transfer medium storage unit 18 to the transport path 24. And a predetermined toner image is transferred by electrophotography to the upper surface (upper side in the drawing) of the first image transfer medium 22a, and then fixed and a fixed image is formed. . At this time, since the fixed image is formed on the upper surface of the first image transfer medium 22 a, the first image transfer medium 22 a is conveyed as it is to the discharge port 28 through the conveyance path 26, and then to the collating device 14. Sent.

  In the collating device 14, the first image transfer medium 22 a is supplied to the collating unit 36 through the conveyance path 42 of the collating device 14. Here, the first image transfer medium 22a that has exited the transport path 42 discharge section is supplied to the collating section 36 by its own weight so that the image surface faces the upper surface.

  Next, the collating unit 36 is lowered to the conveyance path 40 discharge unit, and the image support 38 is supplied from the image support storage unit 34 to the collating unit 36 via the conveyance path 40. Here, the image support 38 that has exited the discharge section of the conveyance path 40 is supplied to the collating section 36 by its own weight, and is superimposed on the first image transfer medium 22a.

  Next, in the image forming apparatus 12, the second image transfer medium 22 b pressed against the surface of the image support 38 (upper side in the drawing) is transferred from the image transfer medium storage unit 18 through the conveyance path 24 to the image forming unit. After a predetermined toner image is transferred to the upper surface (upper side in the drawing) of the second image transfer medium 22b by an electrophotographic method, it is fixed and a fixed image is formed (image forming step). Since the fixed image is formed on the upper surface of the second image transfer medium 22b, the second image transfer medium 22b passes through the transport path 26, returns to the transport path 26 again via the one end and the reverse path 26a. It is conveyed to the discharge port 28 and sent to the collating device 14.

  At this time, at the branch of the conveyance path 26 and the reversing path 26a, the cam 32 is driven so that the tip thereof overlaps the conveyance path 26, and the conveyance direction of the second image transfer medium 22b reaching the tip position of the cam 32 is changed. Then, it is guided and conveyed to the reverse path 26a. Then, after the second image transfer medium 22b reaches the reversing path 26a, a driving roll (not shown) is reversed, the second image transfer medium 22b is reciprocated along the reversing path 26a, and returned to the conveying path 26 again. For this reason, the second image transfer medium 22b returned to the conveyance path 26 is conveyed with the conveyance direction reversed by 180 ° and the front and back surfaces thereof reversed, and the image surface facing downward (lower side in the figure). The Rukoto.

  Then, in the collating device 14, the second image transfer medium 22 b is supplied to the collating unit 36 through the conveyance path 42 of the collating device 14. Here, the second image transfer medium 22b that has exited the transport path 42 discharge section is supplied to the collating section 36 by its own weight so that the image surface faces downward, and is superimposed on the image support 38.

  As described above, the collating unit 36 is supplied with the first image transfer medium 22a with the image surface facing upward, the image support 38, and the second image transfer medium 22b with the image surface facing downward in this order. (Positioning step). In this laminated body, a first image transfer medium 22a and a second image transfer medium 22b are laminated with an image surface facing each other through an image support 38.

  Next, the end portions of the first image transfer medium 22a, the image support 38, and the second image transfer medium 22b on the collating portion 36 are aligned by positioning means (not shown), and then the temporary fixing device 44 is used. Then, after temporarily fixing the end of the laminate, the laminate is conveyed to the laminating apparatus 16. Note that the sizes of the image transfer medium 22 and the image support 38 are made equal, and positioning is performed by aligning the ends of the laminate.

  Next, in the laminating device 16, the laminated body of the first image transfer medium 22 a, the image support 38 and the second image transfer medium 22 b is passed through the contact pressing area of the pair of belts 46 and subjected to thermocompression bonding. The image support 38 is heat-pressed with the first image transfer medium 22a and the second image transfer medium 22b.

  The heat-pressed laminate is then conveyed to the peeling device 17. For example, the image support 38 has a notch at the right end of the tip thereof, and the first image transfer medium 22a and the second image transfer medium 22b are not bonded to the image support 38 at that portion, and a certain gap is formed. Open and confront. When the leading end of the laminated body reaches the air ejection nozzle 19, compressed air is ejected from the nozzle. The ends of the first image transfer medium 22a and the second image transfer medium 22b are lifted from the image support 38, and the tips of the guides 21a and 21b are the first image transfer medium 22a, the image support 38, and the second image. It enters the gap between the transfer medium 22b and the image support 38. Further, as the laminate is transported, the two image transfer media are transported along the guides 21a and 21b in a direction separating from the image support 38, and are peeled off from the image support 38.

  The image support 38 is discharged to the discharge unit 56, and a recorded image support is obtained. Here, when a plurality of individual images are formed on the image support, each image is cut to obtain an image support of a predetermined size.

  The first image transfer medium 22a and the second image transfer medium 22b are then discharged to the image transfer medium discharge portion 57 through a path (not shown). The discharged image transfer medium may be returned to the image transfer medium storage unit and image recording may be performed again.

  As described above, in the image recording body manufacturing apparatus according to the seventh embodiment, two images are formed on one side of the image transfer medium 22 by the electrophotographic method, and the two images are provided via the image support 38. It is possible to print on the image support by peeling the image transfer medium by heat-pressing the transfer medium 22 with the image surface facing.

In addition to the above, the image recording body according to the seventh embodiment can be manufactured by the method described below.
First, an image made of an image forming material is formed on each of both sides of an image transfer medium provided with image receiving layers on both sides (image forming step). Subsequently, each surface of the image transfer medium on which images are formed on both sides and the image support are faced and overlapped to form a laminate (laminate formation step). When forming the laminate, the image transfer medium and the image support are aligned so that the image formed on the surface of the image transfer medium is transferred to a desired position on the image support. Next, by heating and pressing the laminate, the image transfer medium and the image support are pressure-bonded to form a pressure-bonded body (pressure-bonded body forming step). Then, after the image forming material is cooled, the substrate constituting the image transfer medium or the member including the substrate is peeled from the pressure-bonded body (peeling step).
In this method, two image recording bodies can be produced from one image transfer medium.

  Hereinafter, examples will be described in more detail, but the present invention is not limited to these. In the following examples and comparative examples, “part” means “part by mass”. In all the examples and comparative examples described below, the pressure bonding between the image transfer medium and the image support by heat and pressure was performed under atmospheric pressure.

<Example 1>
A transfer sheet A1 (image transfer medium) was produced as follows.
(Preparation of image receiving layer coating liquid A1)
30 parts of a polyester resin (Toyobo Co., Ltd., Byron 290), 4.5 parts of cross-linked acrylic particles (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd., MX-1000, volume average particle size 9.7 μm), and charge control agent (Nippon Yushi Co., Ltd.) (Manufactured by ELEGAN 264WAX) was added to 100 parts of methyl ethyl ketone and sufficiently stirred to prepare an image-receiving layer coating liquid A1.

(Preparation of resistance adjustment layer coating solution A1)
10 parts of a polyester resin (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd., Foret 4M, solid content 30% by mass), 0.5 part of cross-linked acrylic particles (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd., MX300, volume average particle size 3 μm), and charge control agent (Japan) 0.6 parts of Elegan 264WAX, manufactured by Yushi Co., Ltd.) was added to 100 parts of a liquid in which cyclohexanone and methyl ethyl ketone were mixed at a mass ratio of 10:90 and sufficiently stirred to prepare a resistance adjustment layer coating liquid A1.

(Preparation of transfer sheet A1)
As a substrate, a PET film (Panac, PET100SG-2, thickness: 101 μm) provided with a releasable thermosetting resin layer (release layer) containing a fluororesin on one surface is used. The resistance adjustment layer coating liquid A1 is applied to the surface (the surface opposite to the surface on which the release layer is formed) using a wire bar, and dried at 120 ° C. for 30 seconds to adjust the resistance to a film thickness of 0.2 μm. A layer was formed.
Next, the image receiving layer coating solution A1 is applied to the surface opposite to the surface on which the resistance adjusting layer is formed using a wire bar, dried at 120 ° C. for 60 seconds, and a film thickness of 6.3 μm. The image receiving layer was formed. Thereafter, the sheet was cut into A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm) to prepare a transfer sheet A1.

The surface resistivity of the image receiving layer surface of this transfer sheet A1 was 1.8 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □. Further, the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer on the peeling interface side was measured by the above-described method and found to be 5.6 × 10 ¹¹ Ω / □. Moreover, the surface resistivity of the resistance adjusting layer was 1.2 × 10 ¹² Ω / □.
Further, the peel force between the image receiving layer and the release layer of the transfer sheet A1 was measured and found to be 0.196 N / cm (20 gf / cm).

(Image formation on transfer sheet)
On the surface of the image receiving layer of the transfer sheet A1 (image not formed), a face photograph and a name, a numerical character having a size of 1 to 5 points, a solid image with an image forming apparatus (color copier DocuColor1256CP manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) A color mirror image including the image was formed on the image receiving layer surface.

(Production of Image Recorder A1 (Card A1))
The image recording body uses a contact IC card (trade name: DNP Standard-9, manufactured by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., having a step height of 30 μm maximum due to the IC module and antenna on the front and back surfaces) as an image support. The transfer sheet A1 on which the image is fixed is superimposed on the front and back surfaces on the image surface, and a laminator (manufactured by Fuji Plastic Co., Ltd., Lamipacker LPD3206 City) is used, and the feed rate is 0.3 m / min (5 mm / s). ), And the pressure-bonded body obtained was cooled to room temperature (25 ° C.), and then the base-side members (release layer, base body, and resistance adjusting layer) of the pressure-bonded body were peeled from the image-support-side members, A card A1 (image recording body A1) in which an image including a face photograph was transferred onto an IC card together with an image receiving layer was produced. The surface resistivity of the card surface after peeling (corresponding to the release layer side of the transfer sheet) was 5.6 × 10 ¹¹ Ω / □.

(Evaluation of image recording material)
The following evaluation was performed on the card A1.
-Image fixability evaluation-
Toner image fixing property was evaluated by attaching a commercially available 18 mm wide cellophane adhesive tape (manufactured by Nichiban Co., Ltd., cellophane tape) to the image portion transferred on the surface of the card A1 at a linear pressure of 700 g / cm, 10 mm / sec. The peeling of the image when peeled at a speed of was evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.
◎: No problem at all ○: Image peeling after peeling test, image distortion occurred slightly, but within acceptable range Δ: Image peeling after peeling test, image disturbance occurred ×: Image peeling after peeling test, image Disturbance is very noticeable

-Coefficient of static friction between cards (μ)-
The coefficient of static friction between the cards was measured by stacking the cards, shifting them in the short direction, and calculating backward from the load at which the cards began to move.
F = μmg (N)
∴ μ = F / mg m: Mass of card (kg)
g: magnitude of gravitational acceleration (m / s ² )
F: Load at the time of behavior (N)
The measurement results were evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.
○: μ is less than 0.8 Δ: μ is 0.8 or more and less than 1.0 ×: μ is 1.0 or more

− Adhesion of dust −
The card surface was visually observed, and the number of dusts of 100 μm or more was counted and evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.
○: When there is none △: When less than 1 ×: When more than 2

-Image quality evaluation-
Regarding the image quality, the accurate print transferability (print reproducibility) of thin line characters was evaluated. As an image, numerical characters of 1 to 5 points were evaluated by the number of points at which the character can be distinguished from the resolution after print transfer, and evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.
◎: When all of the 1 to 5 point characters have been confirmed ○: Only 3 to 5 point characters have been confirmed Δ: Only 4 to 5 point characters have been confirmed ×: Only 5 point characters have been confirmed or 5 When the point character could not be confirmed

-Evaluation of residual bubbles-
The appearance of bubbles remaining in the stepped portion of the card produced, the image portion on the back side of the IC module, and the presence or absence of residual bubbles in the stepped portion on the line caused by the antenna were visually evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.
◎: When there are no residual bubbles ○: When you do not understand if you do not look closely △: When bubbles and bubbles appear to shine x: When there are clearly large bubbles remaining

<Example 2>
(Preparation of release layer coating solution A2)
40 parts of a silicone hard coating agent (GE Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd., SHC900, solid content 30% by mass) containing organosilane condensate, melamine resin, and alkyd resin, 0.06 part of trimethoxymethylsilane, amino-modified silicone oil ( GE Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd. product: TSF4702) 0.06 part was added to 60 parts of a mixture of cyclohexanone and methyl ethyl ketone at a mass ratio of 10:90 and sufficiently stirred to prepare a release layer coating liquid A2.

(Preparation of image receiving layer coating liquid A2)
30 parts of polyester resin (Toyobo Co., Ltd., Byron 885), 2.25 parts of crosslinked acrylic particles (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd., MX-2000, volume average particle size: 20 μm), and ELEGAN 264WAX as a charge control agent 3.3 parts (manufactured by Nippon Oil & Fats Co., Ltd.) was added to 100 parts of methyl ethyl ketone and sufficiently stirred to prepare an image receiving layer coating liquid A2.

(Preparation of transfer sheet A2)
Using a PET film (Toray Industries, Lumirror 100T60, thickness: 100 μm), the release layer coating solution A2 was applied to one side of the substrate using a wire bar and dried at 120 ° C. for 30 seconds. A release layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm was formed on the surface. On this single-sided release layer, the image receiving layer coating liquid A2 was applied using a wire bar and dried at 120 ° C. for 2 minutes to form an image receiving layer having a thickness of 9.8 μm on the surface of the substrate. . The resistance adjustment layer coating solution A1 is applied to the other surface (untreated surface) of this substrate using a wire bar, dried at 120 ° C. for 30 seconds, and the resistance adjustment with a film thickness of 0.2 μm is performed on the back surface side of the substrate. A layer was formed. Thereafter, the sheet was cut into A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm) to prepare a transfer sheet A2.

The surface resistivity of the surface of the image receiving layer of this transfer sheet A2 was 3.2 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □. Further, the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer on the peeling interface side was measured by the above-described method, and found to be 2.2 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □.
Furthermore, the peel strength between the image receiving layer and the release layer of the transfer sheet A2 was measured and found to be 0.147 N / cm (15 gf / cm).

  On the image receiving layer surface of the transfer sheet A2 (image not formed), a face photograph and a name of 1 to 5 points were obtained by an image forming apparatus (color copier DocuColor 1256CP manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) by the method described in Example 1. A color mirror image including a size character and a solid image was formed on the image receiving layer surface.

(Preparation of Image Recorder A2 (Card A2))
As the image recording material, a card A2 (image recording material A2) in which an image including a face photograph was transferred onto an IC card together with an image receiving layer by the method described in Example 1 was produced. The surface resistivity of the card surface after peeling (corresponding to the release layer side of the transfer sheet) was 2.2 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □.

(Evaluation of card A2 (image recording body A2))
The card A2 was evaluated by the method described in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.

<Comparative Example 1>
In Example 1, except that the amount of the charge control agent (manufactured by Nippon Oil & Fats Co., Ltd., Elegan 264WAX) in the image receiving layer coating liquid A1 was changed to 0.5 part, the transfer sheet B1 was prepared by the method described in Example 1. Produced.

The surface resistivity of the image receiving layer surface of this transfer sheet B1 was 1.0 × 10 ¹⁶ Ω / □. Further, when the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer on the peeling interface side was measured by the above-described method, it was 1.0 × 10 ¹⁶ Ω / □ or more.
Furthermore, the peel strength between the image receiving layer and the release layer of the transfer sheet B1 was measured and found to be 1.13 N / cm (115 gf / cm).

Further, an image recording body B1 was produced by the method described in Example 1 and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The surface resistivity of the card surface after peeling (corresponding to the release layer side of the transfer sheet) is 1.0 × 10 ¹⁶ Ω / □ or more, the coefficient of static friction exceeds 2, and card conveyance failure occurred. .

<Comparative example 2>
In Example 2, a transfer sheet B2 was produced by the method described in Example 2 except that the charge control agent of the image receiving layer coating liquid A2 was not used.

The surface resistivity of the image receiving layer surface of this transfer sheet B2 was 1.0 × 10 ¹⁶ Ω / □. Further, when the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer on the peeling interface side was measured by the above-described method, it was 1.0 × 10 ¹⁶ Ω / □ or more.
Furthermore, the peel strength between the image receiving layer and the release layer of the transfer sheet B2 was measured and found to be 1.13 N / cm (115 gf / cm).

Further, an image recording body B2 was produced by the method described in Example 1 and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The surface resistivity of the card surface after peeling (corresponding to the release layer side of the transfer sheet) is 1.0 × 10 ¹⁶ Ω / □ or more, the coefficient of static friction exceeds 2, and card conveyance failure occurred. .

<Comparative Example 3>
In Example 1, the transfer sheet B3 was prepared by the method described in Example 1 except that the amount of the charge control agent (manufactured by NOF Corporation, Elegan 264WAX) in the image receiving layer coating liquid A1 was changed to 5.4 parts. Produced.

The surface resistivity of the image receiving layer surface of this transfer sheet B3 was 1.2 × 10 ⁷ Ω / □. Further, the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer on the peeling interface side was measured by the above-described method, and found to be 5.8 × 10 ⁷ Ω / □.
Furthermore, the peel strength between the image receiving layer and the release layer of the transfer sheet B3 was measured and found to be 0.05 N / cm (5.1 gf / cm).

Further, an image recording body B3 was produced by the method described in Example 1 and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The surface resistivity of the card surface after peeling (corresponding to the release layer side of the transfer sheet) was 5.8 × 10 ⁷ Ω / □.

<Comparative example 4>
In Example 1, except that the amount of the charge control agent (manufactured by NOF Corporation, Elegan 264WAX) in the image receiving layer coating liquid A1 was changed to 1.5 parts, the transfer sheet B4 was prepared by the method described in Example 1. Produced.

The surface resistivity of the image receiving layer surface of this transfer sheet B4 was 4.2 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. Further, the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer on the peeling interface side was measured by the above-described method, and found to be 1.8 × 10 ¹⁴ Ω / □.
Furthermore, the peel strength between the image receiving layer and the release layer of the transfer sheet B4 was measured and found to be 0.49 N / cm (50 gf / cm).

Further, an image recording body B4 was produced by the method described in Example 1 and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. The surface resistivity of the card surface after peeling (corresponding to the release layer side of the transfer sheet) was 1.8 × 10 ¹⁴ Ω / □.

Below, the preferable aspect of this invention is shown. First, the image transfer medium of the present invention is
<1> A substrate and an image receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the substrate and constituting the outermost surface, the image receiving layer including a thermoplastic resin, and the image receiving layer or the image receiving layer And the substrate or the member containing the substrate can be peeled off, and the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55 ° C.) of the image receiving layer or the member side including the image receiving layer at the peelable interface. % RH) is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve both suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure compared to the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<2> The image receiving layer is formed such that the image receiving layer is in direct contact with at least one surface of the substrate, the image receiving layer and the substrate are peelable, and the surface resistance of the surface of the image receiving layer at the peelable interface. The image transfer medium according to <1>, wherein the rate (23 ° C. and 55% RH) is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve both better suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure than in the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<3> The release layer and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and in direct contact with each other on at least one surface of the substrate, and the image receiving layer and the release layer are peelable, and the peeling The surface resistivity (23 ° C., 55% RH) of the surface of the image receiving layer at a possible interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. 1>. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve both better suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure than in the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<4> The release layer, the protective layer, and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and in direct contact with each other on at least one surface of the front substrate, and the protective layer and the release layer are peelable. Yes, the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface of the protective layer at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to <1>. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve both better suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure than in the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<5> The layer constituting the image-receiving layer or the member-side surface including the image-receiving layer at the peelable interface contains a thermoplastic resin, and the heat of the charge control agent in the layer constituting the surface The image transfer medium according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the content with respect to the plastic resin is 7% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to more easily and satisfactorily achieve the suppression of dust adhesion and the prevention of poor conveyance as compared with the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<6> A substrate and at least an image receiving layer provided on at least one side of the substrate and constituting the outermost surface, wherein the image receiving layer includes a thermoplastic resin, and the image receiving layer or the image receiving layer And the substrate or the member including the substrate are peelable, and the surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the surface of the substrate or the member including the substrate at the peelable interface is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve both suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure compared to the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<7> The image receiving layer is formed so as to be in direct contact with at least one surface of the substrate, the image receiving layer and the substrate are peelable, and the surface resistivity of the substrate surface at the peelable interface ( 23 ° C. and 55% RH) is the image transfer medium according to the above <6>, which is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve both better suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure than in the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<8> The release layer and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and in direct contact with each other on at least one surface of the substrate, and the image receiving layer and the release layer are peelable, and the peeling The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the release layer surface at a possible interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. 6>. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve both better suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure than in the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<9> The release layer, the protective layer, and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and in direct contact with each other on at least one surface of the substrate, and the protective layer and the release layer are peelable. The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the release layer at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to <6>. Compared with the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into account, it is possible to achieve both better suppression of dust adhesion and prevention of conveyance failure.
<10> The layer constituting the substrate or the member-side surface including the substrate at the peelable interface contains a thermoplastic resin, and the charge control agent in the layer constituting the surface contains the thermoplastic resin. The image transfer medium according to any one of <6> to <9>, wherein the amount is 0.5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to more easily and satisfactorily achieve the suppression of dust adhesion and the prevention of poor conveyance as compared with the case where the surface resistivity is not taken into consideration.
<11> The image transfer medium according to any one of <1> to <10>, wherein the image receiving layer includes particles. By adopting such a configuration, there is less disturbance in the transfer of the image forming material from the image transfer medium and the generation of residual bubbles is suppressed as compared with those not containing particles. Is good. When the amount is less than the range, residual bubbles are likely to be generated. When the amount is larger than the range, the image may be disturbed during transfer of the image forming material, and the image density may be lowered.
<12> The image transfer medium according to <11>, wherein the image receiving layer has a thickness of 0.4 to 0.736 times the volume average particle diameter of the particles. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the generation of residual bubbles and to suppress poor image transfer as compared with the case where the relationship between the thickness of the image receiving layer and the volume average particle diameter of the particles is not taken into consideration.
<13> The image receiving layer is formed on the substrate via at least a release layer, and the release layer is in contact with a surface of the release layer on the side where the image receiving layer is provided, The image transfer medium according to <1> or <6>, wherein a peeling force necessary for peeling is in a range of 0.098 N / cm or more and 4.90 N / cm or less. By adopting such a configuration, there is less disturbance in the transfer of the image forming material from the image transfer medium as compared with the case where the peeling force is not taken into account, and when it is less than the above range, the image receiving layer is easily peeled off before image transfer. In some cases, the image may be lost, and if it is larger than the above range, peeling may be insufficient and a part of the image may remain on the image transfer medium side.
<14> The above <1> to <13, wherein the surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) on both the front and back surfaces is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to any one of the above. By adopting such a configuration, image transfer in the image forming process can be performed more favorably and image deterioration can be prevented better than in the case where the surface resistivity on both the front and back surfaces is not taken into consideration.

The image recording material of the present invention is
<15> An image support and an image covering layer provided on at least one side of the image support, wherein an image is disposed at an interface between the image support and the image covering layer, and the image covering layer is An image recording layer which is an image receiving layer or an image recording layer constituting the image transfer medium according to any one of <1> to <14>. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide an image recording body having a well-formed image without causing dust adhesion and conveyance failure as compared with the case without the configuration.
<16> The surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the surface of the image covering layer opposite to the surface on which the image is formed is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹³ The image recording material according to <15>, which is in a range of Ω / □ or less. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide an image recording body having a well-formed image without causing dust adhesion and conveyance failure as compared with the case without the configuration.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example (2 layer structure) of the image transfer medium of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example (3 layer structure) of the image transfer medium of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example (4 layer structure) of the image transfer medium of this invention. (A) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which an image transfer medium and an image support are superimposed, and (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image recording body. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the production apparatus of the image recording body of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image recording body preparation apparatus 12 Image forming apparatus 14 Collating apparatus 16 Laminating apparatus 17 Peeling apparatus 18 Image transfer medium storage part 19 Air ejection nozzle 20 Image forming parts 21a, 21b Guides 22, 22a, 22b Image transfer medium 24 Path 26a reversing path 26 transport path 28 discharge port 32 cam 34 image support body storage section 36 collating section 38 image support body 40 transport path 42 transport path 44 temporary fixing device 46 belt 48 heating / pressurizing roll 50 stretching roll 52 roll 56 Ejector 57 Image Transfer Medium Ejector 110 Base (Base or Member Containing Base)
120 Release layer 130 Protective layer 140, 150, 160 Image receiving layer 180 Image receiving layer or member containing image receiving layer (image covering layer)
190 Image forming material 200 Image support 300 Image recording body

Claims (12)

A substrate and an image receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the substrate and constituting the outermost surface;
The image receiving layer contains a thermoplastic resin;
The image receiving layer or the member containing the image receiving layer and the substrate or the member containing the substrate are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the image receiving layer or the member-side surface including the image receiving layer at the peelable interface is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 An image transfer medium characterized by being in a range of ¹³ Ω / □ or less. Formed so that the image receiving layer is in direct contact with at least one surface of the substrate;
The image receiving layer and the substrate are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the surface of the image receiving layer at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to claim 1. The release layer and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and directly in contact with at least one surface of the substrate,
The image receiving layer and the release layer are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the surface of the image receiving layer at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to claim 1. A release layer, a protective layer, and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and directly in contact with at least one surface of the substrate,
The protective layer and the release layer are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the protective layer surface at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less. The image transfer medium according to claim 1.   The layer constituting the image-receiving layer or the member-side surface including the image-receiving layer at the peelable interface contains a thermoplastic resin, and the charge control agent in the layer constituting the surface corresponds to the thermoplastic resin. Content is 7 mass% or more and 15 mass% or less, The image transfer medium in any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. A substrate and an image receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the substrate and constituting the outermost surface;
The image receiving layer contains a thermoplastic resin;
The image receiving layer or the member containing the image receiving layer and the substrate or the member containing the substrate are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. and 55% RH) of the surface of the substrate or the member including the substrate at the peelable interface is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. An image transfer medium characterized by being in the following range. Formed so that the image receiving layer is in direct contact with at least one surface of the substrate;
The image receiving layer and the substrate are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the substrate surface at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to claim 6. The release layer and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and directly in contact with at least one surface of the substrate,
The image receiving layer and the release layer are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the release layer surface at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to claim 6. A release layer, a protective layer, and the image receiving layer are formed in this order and directly in contact with at least one surface of the substrate,
The protective layer and the release layer are peelable,
The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the release layer surface at the peelable interface is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image transfer medium according to claim 6.   The layer constituting the substrate or the member-side surface including the substrate at the peelable interface contains a thermoplastic resin, and the content of the charge control agent in the layer constituting the surface with respect to the thermoplastic resin is 0. The image transfer medium according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the content is from 5% by mass to 15% by mass. An image support, and an image covering layer provided on at least one side of the image support,
An image is disposed at an interface between the image support and the image covering layer;
The image recording layer, wherein the image covering layer is an image receiving layer constituting the image transfer medium according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a member including an image receiving layer. The surface resistivity (23 ° C. 55% RH) of the surface of the image covering layer opposite to the surface on which the image is formed is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □. The image recording material according to claim 11, wherein the image recording material is within the following range.

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