JP2014113798A - Method for producing test medium and the test medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a production method for producing a test medium that can be used for accurate measurement of the droplet volume, the position and the like of the droplets ejected by inkjet method.SOLUTION: The method for producing test medium according to the present invention includes: an ink-receiving layer forming composition imparting step to impart an ink-receiving layer forming composition that comprises solvent and anionic acrylic silicone, on a base material; a first heating step to apply heat treatment at a temperature lower by 5°C or more and 50°C or less than the boiling point of the solvent, to the ink-receiving layer forming composition that is imparted on the base material; and a second heating step to apply heat treatment at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent, to the ink-receiving layer forming composition, and is characterized to provide a test medium that includes an ink-receiving layer that swells and rises in the thickness direction by absorbing the ink.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an inspection medium and an inspection medium.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording method using an ink jet method has been used as a recording method on a recording medium (media) using ink containing a colorant. The ink jet method is excellent in that a fine pattern can be suitably formed.
A droplet discharge device applied to an ink jet method is used after adjustment suitable for ink discharge such as waveform adjustment of an applied voltage is performed in advance. Such adjustment is generally performed by ejecting ink droplets to be applied to the droplet ejection device, obtaining the ink droplet amount from the diameter of the ink ejected onto the inspection medium (inspection work), This is performed after obtaining the landing position accuracy from the landing position on the inspection medium (work for inspection) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, when the ink applied to the ink jet method does not contain a colorant or has a low content of the colorant, the amount of droplets, the landing position, etc. are determined as described above. It can be difficult.
In addition, a droplet discharge device applied to the ink jet method has problems such as a change in discharge amount over time and a decrease in landing position accuracy due to the solid content of ink adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle. In order to solve such a problem, the nozzle is periodically cleaned, and then, if necessary, the amount of droplets and the landing position are measured as described above. When the ink applied to the ink jet method does not contain a colorant or has a low content of the colorant, there is a problem similar to the above.

JP 2010-214318 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection medium that can be used for high-precision measurement of the amount and position of a droplet ejected by an ink jet method, and to provide an inspection medium for a droplet ejected by an ink jet method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method capable of manufacturing an inspection medium that can be used for highly accurate measurement of a droplet amount, a position, and the like.

Such an object is achieved by the present invention described below.
The method for producing a test medium according to the present invention includes an ink-receiving layer-forming composition applying step for applying an ink-receiving layer-forming composition containing a solvent and an anionic acrylic silicone on a substrate;
A first heating step of subjecting the composition for forming an ink receiving layer applied on the substrate to a heat treatment at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent by 5 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or less;
A second heating step of subjecting the ink-receiving layer-forming composition applied on the substrate to a heat treatment at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent;
It is characterized by obtaining an inspection medium provided with an ink receiving layer which swells by absorbing ink and rises in the thickness direction.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide a manufacturing method capable of efficiently manufacturing an inspection medium that can be used for highly accurate measurement of the amount and position of droplets ejected by the inkjet method.

In the method for producing a test medium of the present invention, it is preferable that the base material, to which the composition for forming an ink receiving layer is applied, is subjected to a heat treatment by being placed in a heated tank.
This makes it possible to heat the composition for forming an ink receiving layer applied on the substrate more uniformly, causing unintentional variations in composition at each site of the ink receiving layer, and at each site of the ink receiving layer. Unintentional thickness variations and the like can be more effectively suppressed.

In the method for producing a test medium according to the present invention, it is preferable to perform a heat treatment by heating from the surface opposite to the surface of the substrate on which the composition for forming the ink receiving layer is applied.
As a result, the anionic acrylic silicone is unevenly distributed in the vicinity of the outer surface of the ink receiving layer, and the content of the anionic acrylic silicone in other portions of the ink receiving layer can be made relatively small. The ink absorbing ability of the ink receiving layer can be made particularly excellent while the effect of including silicone is more effectively exhibited.

In the method for producing an inspection medium of the present invention, the first heating step is performed by heating from the surface of the substrate opposite to the surface to which the composition for forming the ink receiving layer is applied. Yes,
The second heating step is preferably performed by putting the base material, to which the ink receiving layer forming composition is applied, into a heated tank.

  As a result, an anionic acrylic resin is formed near the outer surface of the ink receiving layer while more effectively suppressing unintentional composition variation and unintentional thickness variation at each site in the surface direction of the ink receiving layer. Since the silicone can be unevenly distributed and the content of the anionic acrylic silicone in other parts of the ink receiving layer can be made relatively small, the effect of including the anionic acrylic silicone can be exhibited more effectively. The ink absorbing ability of the ink receiving layer can be made particularly excellent.

In the inspection medium manufacturing method of the present invention, it is preferable that the heating time in the first heating step is 120 seconds or more and 1200 seconds or less.
As a result, the productivity of the inspection media can be suppressed while more effectively suppressing the unintentional composition variation in each part of the ink receiving layer and the unintentional thickness variation in each part of the ink receiving layer. Can be made particularly excellent.

In the inspection medium manufacturing method of the present invention, the heating time in the second heating step is preferably 120 seconds or more and 1 hour or less.
As a result, the productivity of the inspection media can be suppressed while more effectively suppressing the unintentional composition variation in each part of the ink receiving layer and the unintentional thickness variation in each part of the ink receiving layer. Can be made particularly excellent.

In the inspection medium manufacturing method of the present invention, the ink absorption amount per 1 g of the ink receiving layer is 0.2 g or more,
It is preferable that the amount of ink absorbed per 1 g of the substrate is 0.1 g or less.
As a result, the portion of the ink receiving layer that has absorbed ink can be selectively and more efficiently swelled, and the measurement of the amount, position, etc. of the droplets ejected by the inkjet method can be improved. Can be done with precision.

In the method for producing a test medium of the present invention, the ink receiving layer forming composition preferably contains a colorant.
This makes it easier to identify the portion of the ink receiving layer that has absorbed the ink in the final inspection media, and makes it possible to more accurately measure the amount and position of the droplets ejected by the inkjet method. Can be done with precision.

In the method for producing an inspection medium of the present invention, the ink receiving layer forming composition preferably contains polyvinyl butyral.
Thereby, the affinity and wettability of the ink receiving layer forming composition with respect to the substrate can be made more suitable, and the layer made of the ink receiving layer forming composition can be more suitably formed. In addition, the coating property of the ink-receiving layer-forming composition on the base material (including droplet ejection by the ink jet method) can be made more suitable, and the productivity of the inspection media is particularly excellent. can do. In addition, in the finally obtained inspection media, it becomes easier to identify the portion of the ink receiving layer that has absorbed the ink, and the measurement of the amount, position, etc. of the droplets ejected by the ink jet method is further enhanced. Can be done with precision.

In the method for producing a test medium according to the present invention, the polyvinyl butyral has a content of vinyl alcohol having a hydroxyl group that is not etherified (including acetalization) and not esterified of 10% by mass to 40% by mass. Preferably there is.
Thereby, the affinity and wettability of the ink receiving layer forming composition with respect to the substrate can be further improved, and the layer made of the ink receiving layer forming composition can be further preferably formed. In addition, the coating property of the ink-receiving layer-forming composition on the base material (including droplet ejection properties by the ink jet method) can be further improved, and the productivity of the inspection media is further improved. can do. Further, in the finally obtained inspection medium, the affinity between the ink receiving layer and the solvent constituting the ink can be made particularly excellent, and the ink applied to the inspection medium is the ink receiving layer. Among these, it is possible to perform measurement of the droplet amount, position, and the like of the droplet that is suitably held by the portion to which the ink is applied and ejected by the ink jet method with higher accuracy.

In the method for producing a test medium of the present invention, the ink receiving layer preferably has a thickness of 10 μm or more and 500 μm or less.
As a result, the ink receiving layer can reliably absorb the ink applied to the inspection medium, and the portion of the ink receiving layer to which the ink has been applied can be more suitably raised in the thickness direction. In addition, it is possible to measure the amount and position of droplets ejected by the inkjet method with higher accuracy. In addition, the amount of droplets ejected from the inkjet nozzle can be suitably handled in a wider range.

In the method for producing an inspection medium of the present invention, the base material includes a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyacrylate, polyacetal, polyvinylidene chloride, and polyphenylene sulfide. It is preferable.
This makes it easier to identify the portion of the ink receiving layer that has absorbed the ink, and the measurement of the amount and position of the droplets ejected by the inkjet method can be performed with higher accuracy. In addition, when the base material is composed of the above materials, the affinity with the ink receiving layer forming composition can be optimized, and the ink receiving layer forming composition for the base material can be obtained. The function of the substrate and the function of the ink receiving layer can be surely exhibited while the wettability of the ink and the adhesion of the ink receiving layer to the substrate are made more suitable.
The inspection medium of the present invention is manufactured using the method of the present invention.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide an inspection medium that can be used for highly accurate measurement of the amount and position of droplets ejected by the inkjet method.

It is sectional drawing which shows typically suitable embodiment of the manufacturing method of the test | inspection medium of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state where the inspection medium of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 has absorbed ink. It is the photograph obtained by observation using the epi-illumination type optical microscope about the inspection medium of Example 1 of the state which absorbed the ink. It is the photograph obtained by observation using the epi-illumination type optical microscope about the inspection medium of the comparative example 2 of the state which absorbed the ink.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a preferred embodiment of a method for producing an inspection medium of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which the inspection medium of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 has absorbed ink. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing method of the present embodiment includes an ink-receiving layer-forming composition application step for applying an ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ containing a solvent and an anionic acrylic silicone on a substrate 1. (1a) and a first heating step in which the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ applied on the substrate 1 is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature lower by 5 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or less than the boiling point of the solvent ( 1b) and a second heating step (1c) in which the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ applied on the substrate 1 is heat-treated at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent. In the present invention, the boiling point means a boiling point under 1 atm unless otherwise specified.

[Ink-receiving layer forming composition application step]
In the ink-receiving layer-forming composition application step, an ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ is applied on the substrate 1 (1a).
(Base material)
The substrate 1 is provided with the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′, and the test medium 10 finally obtained has a function of holding the ink receiving layer 2.

The substrate 1 is provided with the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′, and any material can be used as long as it has a function of holding the ink-receiving layer 2 in the finally obtained inspection medium 10. The ink absorption amount per 1 g (ink absorption amount applied to the inspection medium 10) (ink absorption rate) may be 0.1 g or less. Preferably, it is 0.01 g or less. Thus, if the ink absorption rate for the substrate 1 is sufficiently small, the ink absorption rate for the substrate 1 and the ink receiving layer 2 (the composition 2 ′ for forming an ink receiving layer) are used. The difference between the ink absorption rate of the layer to be formed) can be made sufficiently large, and the portion of the ink receiving layer 2 that has absorbed ink can be selectively and more efficiently swollen. It is possible to measure the amount and position of the droplets ejected by the ink jet method with higher accuracy.
The ink absorption rate of the substrate can be determined as follows. That is, an increase in the weight of a member when a piece (sheet) 20 mm × 20 mm × 1 mm of the target member is immersed in a sufficient amount of ink adjusted to a liquid temperature of 25 ° C. and left to stand for 1 hour. Thus, the ink absorption rate can be obtained.

Examples of the constituent material of the base material 1 include various plastic materials, various metal materials, various ceramic materials, semiconductor materials, various glasses, various fiber materials, paper, and the like. The base material 1 includes polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene. It preferably contains a material selected from the group consisting of terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyacrylate, polyacetal, polyvinylidene chloride, and polyphenylene sulfide. This makes it easier to identify the portion of the ink receiving layer 2 that has absorbed the ink, and the amount and position of the droplets ejected by the inkjet method can be measured with higher accuracy. Further, when the substrate 1 is composed of the above-described material, the affinity with the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ described in detail later can be optimized, The function of the substrate 1 as described above, and the ink described in detail later, while making the wettability of the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 'to the material 1 and the adhesion of the ink-receiving layer 2 to the substrate 1 more suitable. The function of the receiving layer can be surely exhibited. In particular, when the total content of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyacrylate, polyacetal, polyvinylidene chloride, and polyphenylene sulfide in the substrate 1 is 80% by mass or more, as described above The effect is more prominent.
When the substrate 1 contains polyethylene terephthalate, the content of polyethylene terephthalate in the substrate 1 is preferably 50% by mass or more, and more preferably 80% by mass or more. Thereby, heat resistance, flatness, flexibility, and tensile strength can be made particularly excellent.

The base material 1 may have a uniform composition at each part, or may have a plurality of parts having different compositions. For example, the base material 1 may be a laminated body in which a plurality of layers having different compositions in the thickness direction are laminated, or is composed of a gradient material having a portion where the composition changes in a gradient direction in the thickness direction. It may be a thing.
Moreover, the base material 1 may contain materials (other components) other than the above. Examples of such components include carbon, titania, alumina fine particles, silica, mica, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate and the like. When the substrate 1 contains other components, the content of other components in the substrate 1 is preferably 20% by mass or less, and more preferably 5% by mass or less.

The substrate 1 may have any shape, but preferably has a sheet shape. Thereby, it can apply suitably to various ink jet devices (droplet discharge device).
Further, the thickness of the substrate 1 is preferably 10 μm or more and 500 μm or less, and more preferably 50 μm or more and 200 μm or less. Thereby, the stability of the shape of the base material 1 can be made particularly excellent, and the handleability of the base material 1 at the time of manufacturing the inspection medium 10 (this process, etc.) should be made particularly excellent. Can do. Further, the stability of the shape of the inspection medium 10 can be made particularly excellent, and the handling property (ease of handling) of the inspection medium can be made particularly excellent.

(Ink-receiving layer forming composition)
The ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ used in this step is a composition used for forming the ink receiving layer 2 having a function of absorbing ink, and includes a solvent and an anionic acrylic silicone.
The ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ is usually a resin material and / or a precursor thereof (monomer, dimer, oligomer, prepolymer, etc.) as the main component of the ink-receiving layer 2. Hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as “ink And a resin material as a constituent of the receiving layer 2).

  Examples of the resin material as a constituent component of the ink receiving layer 2 include acrylic resins (including modified acrylic resins), acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers (AS resins), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS resins). , Polystyrene resin, polystyrene rubber, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), styrene allyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyacrylamide (PAA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and precursors thereof. Butyral is preferred. Thereby, the affinity and wettability of the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ with respect to the substrate 1 can be made more suitable, and a layer made of the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ can be more suitably formed. be able to. Further, the coating property (including the droplet discharge property by the ink jet method) of the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ to the substrate 1 can be made more suitable, and the productivity of the inspection medium 10 is particularly improved. It can be excellent. Further, in the finally obtained inspection medium 10, it becomes easier to identify the portion of the ink receiving layer 2 that has absorbed the ink, and it is possible to measure the amount and position of the droplets ejected by the ink jet method. It can be performed with higher accuracy.

In addition, when the substrate 1 contains polyethylene terephthalate, if the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ contains polyvinyl butyral, the above-described effects are more remarkably exhibited, and the ink receiving layer forming composition is used. The adhesion of the ink receiving layer 2 formed using the composition 2 ′ to the substrate 1 can be made particularly excellent, and even when used in a high temperature environment or an environment with a large temperature change. Thus, more accurate inspection can be performed, and the reliability of the inspection medium 10 can be made particularly excellent.
Polyvinyl butyral has a structure in which polyvinyl alcohol is partially acetalized (butyralized) with butyraldehyde. The polyvinyl butyral may further contain vinyl alcohol having a hydroxyl group esterified with acetic acid or the like.

  When the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains polyvinyl butyral, the polyvinyl butyral has a content of vinyl alcohol having a hydroxyl group that is not etherified (including acetalization) and not esterified of 10% by mass or more. It is preferably 40% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less. Thereby, the affinity and wettability of the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ with respect to the substrate 1 can be further improved, and the above-described effects can be exhibited more remarkably. Further, in the test medium 10 finally obtained, the affinity between the ink receiving layer 2 and the solvent constituting the ink can be made particularly excellent, and the ink applied to the test medium 10 is The ink receiving layer 2 is suitably held by a portion to which ink is applied, and the amount, position, and the like of the droplet discharged by the ink jet method can be measured with higher accuracy.

  When the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ contains polyvinyl butyral, the content of polyvinyl butyral in the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is preferably 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less. It is more preferable that the content is not less than 30% by mass. Thereby, the ink absorption amount of the ink receiving layer 2 of the inspection medium 10 manufactured using the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ becomes particularly large, and the shape change of the ink receiving layer 2 due to swelling in a shorter time. By completing the above, observation can be suitably performed in a shorter time after the ink has landed on the inspection medium 10. In addition, since the inspection medium 10 absorbs ink more reliably before the ink gradually wets and spreads, and causes a shape change, the ink with high density and high accuracy with a small landing diameter is reduced while reducing errors due to wet spreading. Can be placed and observed.

  As described above, the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 'contains a solvent. Thereby, the viscosity and fluidity of the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ can be adjusted to suitable ones, and an ink receiving layer in which unintentional quality variation and thickness variation are prevented is suitably formed. can do. In addition, in this invention, a solvent means what makes a liquid independently at room temperature (25 degreeC).

  The boiling point of the solvent constituting the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is preferably 50 ° C. or higher and 130 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 60 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower. As a result, the drying speed can be made more uniform, the thickness uniformity of the ink receiving layer 2 after drying can be made higher, errors due to film thickness variations can be reduced, and higher accuracy can be achieved. Ink can be measured. Moreover, since the residue of the solvent in the inspection medium 10 can be further reduced, the surface of the ink receiving layer 2 which is a concern when the inspection medium 10 after drying is wound and stored can be more effectively suppressed. The storage stability of the inspection medium 10 can be made particularly excellent by minimizing the volatilization / penetration of the residual solvent during the storage period. When the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains a plurality of types of solvent components, the proportion of the solvent components whose boiling points in all the solvent components are within the above range is preferably 50% by mass or more. It is more preferably 80% by mass or more, and further preferably 90% by mass or more. Thereby, the effects as described above are more remarkably exhibited.

  Examples of the solvent constituting the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ include chains such as 2,2-dimethylbutane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, and heptane. Cyclic hydrocarbons such as methylcyclopentane and cyclohexane; heterocyclic compounds such as 1,3-dioxolane; ester compounds such as ethyl formate, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and isopropyl acetate; methyl t-butyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, Ether compounds such as diisopropyl ether, 1,2-dimethoxyethane (ethylene glycol dimethyl ether), 1,3-dioxolane; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, 4-methyl 2-pentanone; methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n Examples include alcohols such as propanol, n-butanol, t-butanol, isobutanol, methyl cellosolve, and allyl alcohol; nitriles such as acrylonitrile, acetonitrile, and propionitrile; and carbonates such as dimethyl carbonate (dimethyl carbonate). Of these, tetrahydrofuran is preferred. Thereby, the composition 2 ′ for forming the ink receiving layer can be more reliably prepared with a low viscosity, so that the occurrence of repelling and bubbles can be more reliably suppressed, and the surface of the substrate 1 is more preferably uniform. The ink receiving layer 2 having a sufficient thickness can be formed. In addition, since these solvents have a relatively low boiling point, the amount of the solvent remaining in the inspection medium 10 can be surely reduced.

  The content of the solvent in the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is preferably 50% by mass or more and 95% by mass or less, and more preferably 60% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less. As a result, the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ can be more uniformly applied onto the substrate 1 in a low viscosity state, which can cause measurement errors when observing ink on the inspection medium 10. In addition, it is possible to more effectively suppress the occurrence of fine repellency due to the wettability change of the substrate 1 and bubbles due to air entrainment. In addition, when the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains two or more components as a solvent, the sum of these contents is preferably within the above range.

As described above, the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ contains an anionic acrylic silicone. Thereby, in the finally obtained inspection medium 10, it is effectively prevented that the ink applied to the inspection medium 10 spreads out excessively, and the portion of the ink receiving layer 2 to which the ink is applied is suitable. It can be raised in the thickness direction, and the amount and position of the droplets discharged by the ink jet method can be measured with higher accuracy.
Examples of the anionic acrylic silicone include AQ7130 (manufactured by Enomoto Kasei Co., Ltd.), AQ914, ASi-91 (manufactured by Daicel Finechem), Cirrus PC-751 (manufactured by Toa Gosei Co., Ltd.), FB (manufactured by Murayama Chemical Laboratories), NE-500 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone) or the like can be used.

  The content of the anionic acrylic silicone in the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ is preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 3% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less. Is more preferable. Accordingly, the ink applied to the inspection medium 10 manufactured using the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is more effectively prevented from spreading excessively, and the applied ink is shortened in a shorter time. By being absorbed by the ink receiving layer 2, the portion of the ink receiving layer 2 to which ink has been applied can be more suitably raised in the thickness direction. As a result, the error due to wetting spread can be further reduced as compared with the case where no anionic acrylic silicone is contained, and ink droplets can be arranged and observed with high density and high accuracy with a smaller landing diameter.

  Further, the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is preferably composed of a material containing a colorant. Thereby, in the finally obtained inspection medium 10, it becomes easier to identify the portion of the ink receiving layer 2 that has absorbed the ink, and the amount, position, etc. of the droplets ejected by the ink jet method can be measured. It can be performed with higher accuracy. More specifically, in the observation of the inspection medium 10 after ink application, the contrast ratio between the peripheral portion (contour) of the portion that has absorbed ink and the other portion can be made particularly large, and the ink jet method. Thus, it is possible to measure the droplet amount, position, and the like of the discharged droplet with higher accuracy.

  When the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains a colorant, for example, various pigments and various dyes can be used as the colorant, but the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ is a colorant. It preferably contains a dye. As a result, the ink receiving layer 2 can be colored in a uniform and high concentration at the molecular level by simple and short-time mixing as compared with a pigment that requires labor for redispersion.

When the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ contains a colorant, the content of the colorant in the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is preferably 2.0% by mass or less, and 0.5 It is more preferable that the amount is not more than mass%. Thereby, in the inspection medium 10 manufactured using the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′, the interface reflected light between the substrate 1 and the back surface, the interface reflected light between the ink receiving layer 2 and the substrate 1, and further the ink. When the internal reflection light of the receiving layer 2 is sufficiently lowered by the addition of the colorant, the surface reflection light obtained according to the surface irregularities of the ink receiving layer 2 becomes relatively strong, and the outer peripheral portion ( It becomes possible to clearly observe the rapid change of the surface reflected light generated in the (contour) with high contrast.
Further, the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ may contain materials (other components) other than those described above. Examples of such components include polyurethane, polyepoxy, polyamine and the like. When the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ contains other components, the content of the other components in the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is preferably 20% by mass or less, and preferably 10% by mass. The following is more preferable.

(Method for applying composition for forming ink receiving layer)
In this step, the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ may be applied to the substrate 1 by any method. For example, an ink jet method, a dip method (including application by a brush, a squeegee, etc.), a bar coating method, etc. A casting method, a stencil printing method (screen printing method), a relief printing method, an intaglio printing method, and the like can be employed.

The amount of the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ applied to the substrate 1 per unit area (the amount of the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ applied per 1 m ² of the surface of the substrate 1) was 0.2 g / m. ^It is preferably ² or more and 10 g / m ² or less, and more preferably 1.0 g / m ² or more and 5.0 g / m ² or less. Thereby, the uniformity of the film thickness of the ink receiving layer 2 can be made higher, and the occurrence of repellency and unevenness can be more reliably prevented.

[First heating step]
Thereafter, the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ applied on the substrate 1 is heat-treated at a temperature lower by 5 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or lower than the boiling point of the solvent constituting the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′. (1b). Thereby, excess fluidity | liquidity is lost from composition 2 'for ink-receiving layer formation provided on the base material 1, and stability of a shape improves. As a result, finally, the ink receiving layer 2 having a desired shape and thickness can be reliably formed. In particular, by having the first heating step prior to the subsequent second heating step, it is possible to remove the solvent under mild conditions while preventing the bumping of the solvent. 10 can reliably prevent irregularities in the shape of the ink receiving layer 2 (including unintentional variations in thickness, generation of unintentional voids, etc.) and sufficiently excellent productivity of the inspection medium 10. Can be. In addition, by having the first heating step, in the finally obtained inspection medium 10, anionic acrylic silicone can be surely included in the vicinity of the outer surface of the ink receiving layer 2, and the ink receiving layer 2 The effect by including an anionic acrylic silicone can be exhibited reliably.

When the boiling point of the solvent constituting the ink-receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is T _bp [° C.], the processing temperature in this step is (T _bp −50) ° C. or more and (T _bp −5) ° C. or less. However, it is preferably (T _bp −30) ° C. or more and (T _bp −5) ° C. or less, more preferably (T _bp −10) ° C. or more and (T _bp −5) ° C. or less. Thereby, the effects as described above are more remarkably exhibited.

When the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains a plurality of types of solvent components, the above relationship is satisfied with the boiling point of the solvent component having the lowest boiling point.
In addition, the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains a plurality of types of solvent components, and these components form an azeotrope, and the boiling point of the azeotrope is determined for each solvent component. When the boiling point is lower than the boiling point, the above relationship is satisfied with the boiling point of the azeotrope.

The treatment time in this step is preferably 120 seconds or more and 1200 seconds or less, and more preferably 400 seconds or more and 900 seconds or less. As a result, the inspection medium 10 is more effectively suppressed while suppressing the unintentional composition variation at each site of the ink receiving layer 2 and the unintentional thickness variation at each site of the ink receiving layer 2. The productivity can be made particularly excellent.
In this step, the processing temperature (heating temperature) may be constant or may vary. For example, heat treatment is performed for T ₁ [seconds] at a temperature of (T _bp −50) ° C. or more and (T _bp −5) ° C. or less, and then only T ₂ [seconds] at a temperature of less than (T _bp −50) ° C. Heat treatment may be performed, and then heat treatment may be performed for T ₃ [seconds] at a temperature of (T _bp −50) ° C. or more and (T _bp −5) ° C. or less. In such a case, it is preferable that the integrated time (T ₁ + T ₃ ) of the heat treatment time at a temperature of (T _bp −10) ° C. to (T _bp −5) ° C. is a value within the above range.

  The heat treatment in this step may be performed by putting the substrate 1 provided with the ink-receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ into a heated tank (chamber). As a result, the ink receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ applied on the substrate 1 can be heated more uniformly, and unintentional compositional variation at each site of the ink receiving layer 2, the ink receiving layer 2. The unintentional thickness variation in each of the above can be more effectively suppressed.

  In the heat treatment in this step, the substrate 1 is heated from the surface (second surface 12) opposite to the surface (first surface 11) provided with the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′. It may be performed by. Thereby, anionic acrylic silicone is unevenly distributed in the vicinity of the outer surface of the ink receiving layer 2, and the content of the anionic acrylic silicone in other portions of the ink receiving layer 2 can be made relatively small. Ink-absorbing ability of the ink receiving layer 2 can be made particularly excellent while exhibiting the effect of containing the acrylic acrylic more effectively.

[Second heating step]
Thereafter, the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ applied on the substrate 1 is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent constituting the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′, whereby the ink receiving layer is received. The layer 2 is formed to obtain the inspection medium 10 (1c). As a result, the occurrence of inconvenience (for example, a decrease in the reliability and durability of the test medium) due to the remaining solvent constituting the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ remaining in the ink receiving layer 2 is ensured. Can be prevented. In particular, since the first heat treatment is performed prior to this step, the content of the solvent in the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ on the substrate 1 is relatively low. The solvent to be removed can be efficiently removed in a relatively short time. Therefore, it is possible to form the ink receiving layer 2 while effectively preventing adverse effects due to heating to components other than the solvent constituting the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′. Further, by performing the first heat treatment prior to this step, it is possible to surely prevent the solvent from boiling in this step, and unintentional deformation or the like occurs in the formed ink receiving layer 2. This can be surely prevented.

When the boiling point of the solvent constituting the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ is T _bp [° C.], the treatment temperature in this step may be higher than T _bp ° C. (T _bp +10) It is preferable that it is not less than C and not more than (T _bp +100) ° C., more preferably not less than (T _bp +15) ° C. and not more than (T _bp +80) ° C. Thereby, the effects as described above are more remarkably exhibited.

In the case where the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains a plurality of types of solvent components, the above relationship is satisfied with the boiling point of the solvent component having the highest boiling point.
In addition, the ink-receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ contains a plurality of types of solvent components, and these components form an azeotrope, and the boiling point of the azeotrope is determined for each solvent component. When the boiling point is higher than the boiling point, the above relationship is satisfied with the boiling point of the azeotrope.

The treatment time in this step is preferably 120 seconds or more and 1 hour or less, and more preferably 600 seconds or more and 1 hour or less. As a result, the inspection medium 10 is more effectively suppressed while suppressing the unintentional composition variation at each site of the ink receiving layer 2 and the unintentional thickness variation at each site of the ink receiving layer 2. The productivity can be made particularly excellent.
In this step, the processing temperature (heating temperature) may be constant or may vary. For example, a heat treatment is performed at a temperature above T _bp ° C for T ₄ [seconds], then a heat treatment is performed at a temperature equal to or lower than T _bp ° C for T ₅ [seconds], and then a temperature at a temperature higher than T _bp ° C. The heat treatment may be performed for T ₆ [seconds]. In such a case, it is preferable that the integrated time (T ₄ + T ₆ ) of the heat treatment time at a temperature higher than T _bp ° C is a value within the above range.

  The heat treatment in this step may be performed by putting the substrate 1 provided with the ink-receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ into a heated tank (chamber). As a result, the ink receiving layer-forming composition 2 ′ applied on the substrate 1 can be heated more uniformly, and unintentional compositional variation at each site of the ink receiving layer 2, the ink receiving layer 2. The unintentional thickness variation in each of the above can be more effectively suppressed.

  In the heat treatment in this step, the substrate 1 is heated from the surface (second surface 12) opposite to the surface (first surface 11) provided with the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′. It may be performed by. Thereby, anionic acrylic silicone is unevenly distributed in the vicinity of the outer surface of the ink receiving layer 2, and the content of the anionic acrylic silicone in other portions of the ink receiving layer 2 can be made relatively small. For this reason, the ink absorbing ability of the ink receiving layer 2 can be made particularly excellent while the effect of including the anionic acrylic silicone is more effectively exhibited.

  In particular, the first heating step described above is performed by heating from the surface (second surface 12) opposite to the surface of the substrate 1 to which the ink receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ is applied. In some cases, the heat treatment in this step (second heating step) is performed by putting the substrate 1 provided with the ink-receiving layer forming composition 2 ′ into a heated tank. Is preferred. An anionic acrylic silicone is provided near the outer surface of the ink receiving layer 2 while more effectively suppressing unintentional compositional variation, unintentional thickness variation, etc. at each site in the surface direction of the ink receiving layer 2. The content of the anionic acrylic silicone in other parts of the ink receiving layer 2 can be made relatively small, so that the effect of including the anionic acrylic silicone can be exhibited more effectively. The ink absorbing ability of the ink receiving layer 2 can be made particularly excellent.

  The ink receiving layer 2 formed as described above has a function of absorbing ink. The ink swells by absorbing ink and rises in the thickness direction (see FIG. 2). As described above, the portion that has absorbed the ink has a shape that selectively changes three-dimensionally, so that the portion that has absorbed the ink (position information) and the volume of the absorbed ink (volume of the droplet) Can be obtained easily and accurately. In addition, dirt (satellite) caused by mist generated due to ejection of droplets can be easily detected with high sensitivity. In particular, ink that does not contain a colorant that has conventionally been difficult to detect the landing position of the droplet, the volume of the droplet, and the satellite (substantially colorless ink. For example, the transmittance of visible light having a wavelength of 500 nm is 90%. Even when the above is applied, it is possible to accurately determine the landing position of the droplet, the volume of the droplet (droplet amount), and the like.

  The ink receiving layer 2 preferably has an ink absorption amount per 1 g (ink absorption amount applied to the inspection medium 10) (ink absorption rate) of 0.2 g or more, and 0.5 g The above is more preferable. Thus, if the ink absorption rate of the ink receiving layer 2 is sufficiently large, the difference between the ink absorption rate of the substrate 1 and the ink absorption rate of the ink receiving layer 2 is sufficiently large. The portion of the ink receiving layer 2 that has absorbed the ink can be swelled selectively and more efficiently, and the amount and position of the droplets ejected by the ink jet method. Etc. can be measured with higher accuracy. In addition, by forming the ink receiving layer 2 as described above, it is possible to suitably form the ink receiving layer 2 that satisfies such conditions.

  The absorption rate of the ink receiving layer can be determined as follows. That is, a sheet (100 μm thickness) of the target member is placed with an inclination of 45 degrees, and a sufficient amount of ink adjusted to a liquid temperature of 25 ° C. is dripped very slowly to observe and swell. The ink absorption rate is determined from the ratio Wi / Ws of the ink weight Wi when the saturated ink starts to move according to gravity and the weight Ws of the receiving layer included in the ink contact area per area.

  When the ink receiving layer 2 contains polyvinyl butyral, the content of polyvinyl butyral in the ink receiving layer 2 is preferably 40% by mass or more and 99% by mass or less, and 60% by mass or more and 98% by mass or less. Is more preferable. As a result, the ink absorption amount of the ink receiving layer 2 becomes particularly large, and the shape change of the ink receiving layer 2 due to swelling is completed in a shorter time, so that after the ink has landed on the inspection medium 10 Observation can be suitably performed in a short time. In addition, since the inspection medium 10 absorbs ink more reliably before the ink gradually wets and spreads, and causes a shape change, the ink with high density and high accuracy with a small landing diameter is reduced while reducing errors due to wet spreading. Can be placed and observed.

  The content of the anionic acrylic silicone in the ink receiving layer 2 is preferably 5% by mass or less, and more preferably 2% by mass or less. Thereby, the ink applied to the inspection medium 10 is more effectively prevented from spreading excessively, and the applied ink is absorbed by the ink receiving layer 2 in a shorter time, whereby the ink receiving layer. The portion to which ink is applied among 2 can be raised more suitably in the thickness direction. As a result, the error due to wetting spread can be further reduced as compared with the case where no anionic acrylic silicone is contained, and ink droplets can be arranged and observed with high density and high accuracy with a smaller landing diameter.

  When the ink receiving layer 2 contains a colorant, the content of the colorant in the ink receiving layer 2 is preferably 10% by mass or less, and more preferably 5% by mass or less. As a result, the interface reflected light between the base material 1 and the back surface, the interface reflected light between the ink receiving layer 2 and the base material 1, and further the internal reflected light of the ink receiving layer 2 are sufficiently reduced by the addition of the colorant. The surface reflected light obtained according to the surface irregularities of the layer 2 becomes relatively strong, and a sharp change of the surface reflected light generated at the outer peripheral portion (contour) of the portion that has absorbed ink can be clearly observed with high contrast. become able to.

  The thickness of the ink receiving layer 2 is preferably 10 μm or more and 500 μm or less, and more preferably 30 μm or more and 200 μm or less. Thereby, the ink receiving layer 2 can surely absorb the ink applied to the inspection medium 10, and the portion of the ink receiving layer 2 to which the ink is applied is more preferably raised in the thickness direction. Therefore, it is possible to measure the amount and position of the droplets discharged by the ink jet method with higher accuracy. In addition, the amount of droplets ejected from the inkjet nozzle can be suitably handled in a wider range.

By using the inspection medium manufactured using the manufacturing method of the present invention as described above, it becomes easier to identify the portion of the ink receiving layer that has absorbed the ink, and the liquid droplets ejected by the ink jet method. Measurement of the drop volume, position, etc. can be performed with higher accuracy.
The ink applied to the inspection medium 10 preferably contains an organic solvent having a boiling point of 100 ° C. or higher, and more preferably contains an organic solvent having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher. Thereby, unintentional drying (evaporation of the liquid component) of the ink after ejection by the ink jet method can be more effectively prevented, and the ink applied to the inspection medium 10 is the ink in the ink receiving layer 2. It is possible to more accurately measure the amount, position, etc. of the droplets that are suitably held by the site to which the ink is applied and are ejected by the ink jet method.
The proportion of the organic solvent in the total liquid component constituting the ink is preferably 95% by mass or more, more preferably 99% by mass or more, and 99.5% by mass or more. Further preferred. Thereby, the effect mentioned above is exhibited more notably.

  Specific examples of the organic solvent constituting the ink include chain hydrocarbons such as n-octane; alicyclic compounds such as methylcyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, cyclohexylamine; 1,4-dioxane, pyridine, N-methylmorpholine. Heterocyclic compounds such as morpholine and N-ethylmorpholine; aromatic compounds such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, chlorobenzene and pyridine; methyl n-propyl ketone, diethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl n-butyl ketone, ethyl Ketones such as n-butyl ketone (3-heptanone), 2-heptanone, methyl isoamyl ketone, 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one (mesityl oxide); carboxylic acids such as formic acid and acetic acid; nitromethane, nitroethane 2-nitropropane Nitro compounds such as 1-nitropropane; sec-butyl acetate, normal propyl acetate, methyl butyrate, iso-butyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, isobutyl isobutyrate, amyl acetate, methyl lactate, 1-methylpentyl acetate, 2-acetate Ester compounds such as methoxyethyl (ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate), propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate; 2-methyl-2-butanol, isobutanol, n-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 1-methoxy-2-butanol, methyl isobutyl carbinol (4-methyl-2-pentanol), methyl lactate, N, N-dimethyl eta Alcohols such as amine, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, 2-methoxyethyl acetate (ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate), propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol Ether compounds such as methyl ether acetate, 1-methoxy-2-butanol, 3-methoxypropylamine, etc .; dinormal propylamine, ethylenediamine, 3-methoxypropylamine, N, N-dimethylethanolamine, cyclohexylamine, pyridine, N -Amines such as methylmorpholine, morpholine, N-ethylmorpholine, etc .; diethyl carbonate (dicarbonate carbonate) Carbonyl esters such as chill); Nitriles such as butyronitrile; and acrylic / methacrylic compounds such as phenoxyethyl acrylate, hydroxybutyl acrylate, VEEA, ethyl carbitol acrylate, phenoxyethyl methacrylate, and pentamethylpiperidinyl methacrylate.

The ink applied to the inspection medium 10 preferably contains an aprotic aromatic compound (for example, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, chlorobenzene, etc.) as a liquid component (organic solvent). Thereby, the affinity between the ink receiving layer 2 and the solvent constituting the ink can be made particularly excellent, and the ink applied to the inspection medium 10 is applied to the ink of the ink receiving layer 2. It is possible to more accurately measure the amount and position of a droplet that is suitably held by a part and discharged by an inkjet method.
Examples of the aprotic aromatic compound include toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, chlorobenzene and the like.

  The ink applied to the inspection medium 10 preferably does not contain a colorant. Conventionally, the measurement of the droplet amount and positional accuracy of the droplets ejected by the inkjet method has been performed for ink containing a colorant, and when this is applied to an ink not containing a colorant, It was not possible to determine the droplet amount and position of the droplet with sufficient accuracy. On the other hand, in the present invention, not only ink containing a colorant but also ink not containing a colorant can determine the droplet amount, position, etc. of the droplets with excellent accuracy. That is, when the inspection medium is applied to an ink that does not contain a colorant, the effect of the present invention is more remarkably exhibited.

  The ink applied to the inspection medium 10 may be used for any purpose and may be for general consumers, but is preferably for industrial use. Ink-jet inks applied for industrial use are generally required to have a higher level of droplet uniformity and positional accuracy, but as described above, by using the inspection media of the present invention, Since the amount and position of the droplets can be measured with high accuracy, the effects of the present invention are more remarkably exhibited when industrial ink is used. Industrial inks include, for example, medical / biological systems (eg, culture solution, test solution such as fluorescence, modeling solution, reaction solution, etc.), plating, organic EL, adhesive, UV curing agent, transparent conductor In many cases, a colorless or high light transmittance ink that does not contain a colorant is used. However, as described above, the inspection medium of the present invention may use such an ink. It is possible to measure the amount and position of the droplet with high accuracy.

In addition, when the ink applied to the inspection medium 10 is an organic EL ink, the material contained in the ink is composed of an extremely pure material and cannot be colored, and the thickness of one layer Therefore, it is necessary to control the amount of ink to be arranged with extremely high accuracy without using a light emitting means for damaging the material such as fluorescent light.
In the present invention, the ink may be ejected by the ink jet method. As a droplet discharge method (inkjet method), a piezo method, a method in which ink is discharged by bubbles generated by heating the ink, or the like can be used. From this point of view, the piezo method is preferable.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above.
For example, the production method of the present invention includes, in addition to the above-described steps, other steps (for example, a pretreatment step performed prior to the ink receiving layer forming composition applying step, an ink receiving layer forming composition applying step). Intermediate processing step performed between the first heating step and the first heating step, an intermediate processing step performed after the second heating step, a post-processing step performed after the second heating step, etc.) It may be.

  Further, the inspection medium of the present invention may have a part other than the base material and the ink receiving layer as described above. For example, at least one intermediate layer may be provided between the substrate and the ink receiving layer. By having such an intermediate layer, for example, the adhesion between the substrate and the ink receiving layer can be made particularly excellent. Further, the inspection medium of the present invention may have at least one layer of coating on the outer surface side of the ink receiving layer (the surface side opposite to the surface facing the substrate of the ink receiving layer). As a result, the reflectance of the ink receiving layer can be increased and the amount of light serving as a base can be increased, and as a result, the contrast with dark portions can be further increased by increasing the amount of background light. . As a result, it is possible to more clearly identify the edge of the portion where the shape has been changed by absorbing ink, and the measurement accuracy can be further improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples.
[1] Production of inspection media (Example 1)
First, a sheet material (base material) made of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 100 μm and a smooth surface was prepared. The sheet material had a surface roughness Ra of 0.2 μm.

Next, a composition for forming an ink receiving layer from which foreign matters were removed with a 5 μm filter was uniformly applied onto one surface of the sheet material at a coating amount of 4.0 g / m ² by a casting method. (Ink receiving layer forming composition application step). The composition for forming an ink receiving layer has a content of vinyl alcohol acetalized with butyraldehyde of 85% by mass, a content of vinyl alcohol esterified with acetic acid of 3% by mass, and etherification ( Acetalization), polyvinyl butyral containing 12% by mass of a vinyl alcohol having a hydroxyl group not esterified: 15.0 parts by mass, tetrahydrofuran: 83.7 parts by mass, AQ7130 as an anionic acrylic silicone ( Enomoto Kasei Co., Ltd.): 0.3 parts by mass, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 5: 1.0 mass part was used.

  Next, the sheet material on which the composition for forming the ink receiving layer is uniformly applied to the surface is put into a thermostat (first thermostat) adjusted to a temperature of 60 ° C., and the heat treatment (first) is performed for 15 minutes. 1) (first heating step), followed by replacement in a thermostat (second thermostat) adjusted to a temperature of 120 ° C., followed by a second heat treatment for 15 minutes (second) Heating step). As a result, an inspection medium in which an ink receiving layer having a thickness of 80 μm was provided on a base material made of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 100 μm was obtained.

(Examples 2 to 10)
Except that the type of sheet material, the composition of the ink receiving layer forming composition, the processing conditions of the first heating step, and the processing conditions of the second heating step are as shown in Table 1, Example 1 and In the same manner, an inspection medium was manufactured.
(Comparative Example 1)
A sheet material similar to that used in Example 1 was prepared and used as it was as an inspection medium. That is, in this comparative example, the sheet material was used as it is as the inspection medium without forming the ink receiving layer.

(Comparative Example 2)
As the sheet material, plain paper (manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation, Superfine exclusive gloss film MJA3NSP6) was prepared and used as it was as the inspection medium.
(Comparative Example 3)
A test medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a mixture of carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose was used as the ink receiving layer forming composition.

(Comparative Example 4)
An inspection medium was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the first heating step was omitted.
(Comparative Example 5)
An inspection medium was manufactured in the same manner as in Comparative Example 4 except that the processing time of the second heating step was changed.

(Comparative Example 6)
An inspection medium was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the second heating step was omitted.
(Comparative Example 7)
An inspection medium was manufactured in the same manner as in Comparative Example 6 except that the processing time of the first heating step was changed.

(Comparative Example 8)
First, in the same manner as in Example 1, a composition for forming an ink-receiving layer from which foreign matters were removed with a 5 μm filter on one surface of a polyethylene terephthalate sheet material (base material) was cast on a base material. Was uniformly applied at an application amount of 4.0 g / m ² (ink-receiving layer-forming composition application step).
Next, the sheet material to which the composition for forming the ink receiving layer is applied is put into a thermostat (first thermostat) adjusted to a temperature of 120 ° C., subjected to heat treatment for 15 minutes, and then the temperature is increased. : It replaced in the thermostat adjusted to 60 degreeC, and obtained the test | inspection media by performing the heat processing for 15 minutes.

  Table 1 summarizes the manufacturing conditions of the inspection media and the configuration of the inspection media for each of the examples and comparative examples. In the table, polyethylene terephthalate is “PET”, polybutylene terephthalate is “PBT”, polycarbonate is “PC”, polyimide is “PI”, polyvinyl chloride is “PVC”, polyamide is “PA”, and polyoxymethylene is “POM”, polyphenylene sulfide “PPS”, plain paper (manufactured by Seiko Epson, Superfine gloss film MJA3NSP6) “plain paper”, tetrahydrofuran (boiling point: 66 ° C.) “THF”, ethanol (boiling point: 78 4 ° C.) “EtOH”, t-butanol (boiling point: 82.4 ° C.) as “t-BuOH”, 4-methyl 2-pentanone (boiling point: 117 ° C.) as “MIBK”, methyl tert-butyl ether (boiling point: 55 ° C) for "MtBE" and diisopropyl ether (boiling point: 69 ° C) DIPE ”, ethyl acetate (boiling point: 77 ° C.)“ EAc ”, methylcyclopentane (boiling point: 72 ° C.)“ MCP ”, methyl ethyl ketone (boiling point: 79 ° C.)“ MEK ”, n-butanol (boiling point: 117 ° C.) ) Is “nBuOH”, t-butanol (boiling point: 83 ° C.) is “tBuOH”, dimethyl carbonate (boiling point: 90 ° C.) is “DMC”, and the content of vinyl alcohol acetalized with butyraldehyde is 85% by mass. Yes, polyvinyl butyral with a content of vinyl alcohol esterified with acetic acid of 3% by mass and a content of vinyl alcohol with hydroxyl groups not etherified (including acetalized) and not esterified is 12% by mass "PVB1", the content of vinyl alcohol acetalized with butyraldehyde is 83% by mass Polyvinyl butyral having a content of vinyl alcohol esterified with acetic acid of 3% by mass and a content of vinyl alcohol having hydroxyl groups not etherified (including acetalization) and not esterified is 14% by mass. "PVB2," the content of vinyl alcohol acetalized with butyraldehyde is 78% by mass, the content of vinyl alcohol esterified with acetic acid is 3% by mass, and etherified (including acetalization) Polyvinyl butyral with a content of 19% by weight of vinyl alcohol having a hydroxyl group not esterified is “PVB3”, the content of vinyl alcohol acetalized with butyraldehyde is 75% by weight, and esterified with acetic acid The content of the vinyl alcohol thus obtained is 3% by mass, Polyvinyl alcohol having a non-esterified hydroxyl group content of 22 mass% is “PVB4”, and the content of vinyl alcohol acetalized with butyraldehyde is 61 mass%. Polyvinyl butyral having a content of vinyl alcohol esterified with acetic acid of 3% by mass, a content of vinyl alcohol having a hydroxyl group not etherified (including acetalization) and non-esterified is 36% by mass “PVB5”, AQ7130 (Enomoto Kasei Co., Ltd.) as an anionic acrylic silicone, “AQ7130”, AQ7130 (Enomoto Kasei Co., Ltd.) as an anionic acrylic silicone, solid content “AQ7130S”, polyetherimide “PEI” , Acrylonitrile-butadiene Tylene copolymer is “ABS”, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer is “AS”, methyl methacrylate / styrene copolymer is “MS”, polyurethane is “PU”, and methyl methacrylate / butadiene / styrene copolymer is “MBS”. ”, Carboxymethylcellulose“ CMC ”, hydroxyethylcellulose“ HEC ”, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 5 to “SB5”, C.I. I. Solvent Red 27 is changed to “SR27”, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 35 to “SB35”, C.I. I. Solvent Black 3 is indicated by “SK3”. Moreover, about the comparative example 8, the conditions of the heat processing performed previously were shown in the column of the 1st heating process, and the conditions of the heat processing performed later were shown in the column of the 2nd heating process. In the column of the heating method of the first heating step and the second heating step, heat treatment is performed by putting the base material provided with the ink receiving layer forming composition into a heated thermostat. The method is indicated by “M1”, and the method of performing heat treatment by heating from the surface opposite to the surface to which the composition for forming the ink-receiving layer of the substrate is applied using a hot plate is indicated by “M2”. In addition, the amount of ink absorbed per 1 g of the ink receiving layer of the inspection media manufactured in each of the above examples is 0.2 g or more, and the base material of the inspection media manufactured in each of the above examples The amount of ink absorbed per gram was 0.1 g or less. Further, the amount of ink absorbed per 1 g of the ink receiving layer of the inspection medium produced in Comparative Example 3 was 0.01 g or less. The amount of ink absorbed by the substrate and the amount of ink absorbed by the ink receiving layer were determined using the methods described above.

[2] Application of ink An ink for organic EL was ejected from the ink jet type droplet ejection device toward the inspection media of the above-described examples and comparative examples under the same conditions. As the ink for organic EL, poly (9,9′-dioctylfluorene-co-N- (4-butylphenyl) diphenylamine) (F8-TFB): 1 part by mass, dibetylnaphthalene: from 99 parts by mass What was used. The organic EL ink was substantially colorless and had a visible light transmittance of 95% or more at a wavelength of 500 nm. In each of the above Examples and Comparative Example 3, ink was ejected to the surface side where the ink receiving layer was provided.

[3] Evaluation [3.1] Positional accuracy Each inspection medium to which ink droplets were applied as described above was observed using an epi-illumination optical microscope. According to the following four-stage criteria, evaluated.
A: The landing position of the droplet could be easily detected, and the position accuracy of the landing of the droplet could be easily measured.
B: Although it was somewhat difficult to detect the landing position of the droplet, the position accuracy of the landing of the droplet could be measured.
C: It was difficult to detect the landing position of the droplet, and the position accuracy of the landing of the droplet could not be measured appropriately.
D: It was extremely difficult to detect the landing position of the droplet, and the position accuracy of the landing of the droplet could not be measured.

[3.2] Droplet landing diameter (droplet volume)
Each inspection medium provided with ink droplets as described above was observed using an epi-illumination type optical microscope, and evaluated according to the following four-stage criteria.
A: The peripheral edge of the droplet could be easily identified, and the landing diameter (droplet amount) of the droplet could be easily measured.
B: Although it was somewhat difficult to identify the periphery of the droplet, the landing diameter (droplet amount) of the droplet could be measured.
C: It was difficult to identify the periphery of the droplet, and the landing diameter (droplet amount) of the droplet could not be measured properly.
D: It was extremely difficult to identify the peripheral edge of the droplet, and the landing diameter (droplet amount) of the droplet could not be measured.

[3.3] Satellite Each of the inspection media provided with ink droplets as described above was observed using an epi-illumination type optical microscope and evaluated according to the following three-stage criteria.
A: The position and mist size of dirt (satellite) caused by the mist generated along with the discharge of the droplets could be easily detected.
B: It was possible to detect the presence or absence of dirt (satellite) due to the mist generated when the droplets were discharged.
C: Dirt (satellite) due to mist generated due to the discharge of droplets could not be detected.
These results are summarized in Table 2. In addition, with respect to Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, photographs when the inspection media provided with ink droplets were observed with an epi-illumination type optical microscope were shown as FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

  As is apparent from Table 2, in the present invention, the amount of droplets discharged by the ink jet method, the landing position, and dirt (satellite) due to mist generated due to the discharge of the droplets are all highly accurate. It was possible to detect and measure. On the other hand, in the comparative example, a satisfactory result was not obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Inspection medium 1 ... Base material 11 ... 1st surface 12 ... 2nd surface 2 ... Ink receiving layer 2 '... Composition for ink receiving layer formation

Claims (13)

An ink-receiving layer-forming composition applying step for applying an ink-receiving layer-forming composition containing a solvent and an anionic acrylic silicone on a substrate;
A first heating step of subjecting the composition for forming an ink receiving layer applied on the substrate to a heat treatment at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent by 5 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or less;
A second heating step of subjecting the ink-receiving layer-forming composition applied on the substrate to a heat treatment at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent;
A method for producing an inspection medium, comprising: an inspection medium provided with an ink receiving layer that swells by absorbing ink and rises in a thickness direction.   The method for producing an inspection medium according to claim 1, wherein the substrate to which the composition for forming an ink receiving layer is applied is subjected to a heat treatment by being placed in a heated tank.   The method for producing an inspection medium according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat treatment is performed by heating from the surface opposite to the surface of the substrate on which the composition for forming the ink receiving layer is applied. The first heating step is performed by heating from the surface of the substrate opposite to the surface to which the ink-receiving layer forming composition is applied,
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second heating step is performed by putting the base material to which the composition for forming the ink receiving layer is applied into a heated tank. 5. The manufacturing method of the test | inspection medium as described.   The method for manufacturing an inspection medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a heating time in the first heating step is 120 seconds or more and 1200 seconds or less.   The method for manufacturing an inspection medium according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a heating time in the second heating step is 120 seconds or more and 1 hour or less. The ink receiving layer: the amount of ink absorbed per 1 g is 0.2 g or more;
The method for producing an inspection medium according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has an ink absorption amount of 0.1 g or less per 1 g.   The method for producing an inspection medium according to claim 1, wherein the composition for forming an ink receiving layer contains a colorant.   The method for producing an inspection medium according to claim 1, wherein the composition for forming an ink receiving layer contains polyvinyl butyral.   10. The inspection media according to claim 9, wherein the polyvinyl butyral has a content of vinyl alcohol having a hydroxyl group that is not etherified (including acetalization) and not esterified to 10% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less. Production method.   The method for producing a test medium according to claim 1, wherein the ink receiving layer has a thickness of 10 μm or more and 500 μm or less.   12. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyacrylate, polyacetal, polyvinylidene chloride, and polyphenylene sulfide. A method for producing the inspection medium described in 1.   An inspection medium manufactured using the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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