JP2572747B2 - Thermal transfer material and thermal transfer recording method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a heat-sensitive transfer material capable of giving a transfer-recorded image of good print quality even on a recording medium having poor surface smoothness in thermal transfer recording. About.

[Conventional technology]

The thermal transfer recording method has the general features of a thermal transfer recording method that uses a lightweight, compact, noise-free device, and is excellent in operability and maintainability. It has the feature that it has excellent image durability, and is widely used recently.

This heat-sensitive transfer recording method uses a heat-sensitive transfer material obtained by coating a heat-transferable ink layer obtained by dispersing a coloring material in a heat-fusible binder on a generally sheet-shaped support,
This heat-sensitive transfer material is superimposed on the recording medium so that the heat transferable ink layer is in contact with the recording medium, and heat is supplied from a support side by a thermal head to transfer the melted ink layer to the recording medium, so that the heat-sensitive transfer material is transferred onto the recording medium. Heat supply shape (pattern)
To form a transfer recording image corresponding to the image.

However, in the conventional thermal transfer recording method, the transfer recording performance, that is, the printing quality is greatly affected by the surface smoothness of the recording medium, and good printing is performed on the recording medium having high smoothness, but the recording medium having low smoothness is obtained. In the case of (1), there is a problem that the printing quality is significantly reduced. For this reason,
Generally, paper having a high surface smoothness is used as a recording medium, but paper having a high smoothness is rather special, and ordinary paper has various degrees of irregularities due to entanglement of fibers. Therefore, in the case of paper having large surface irregularities, the ink melted at the time of printing cannot be transferred to the entire recording portion of the paper, and penetrates and adheres only to the convex portion on the surface or in the vicinity thereof, so that the edge portion of the printed image is sharp. The print quality is degraded due to lack of the image or part of the image.

Conventionally, in order to obtain a recorded image of good print quality on a recording medium having such poor surface smoothness, for example, using a heat-fusible binder having a low melt viscosity in at least the surface layer, or a heat transferable A method based on the idea of increasing the thickness of the ink layer to adhere or permeate the molten ink to the fine uneven structure of a recording medium such as paper faithfully has been adopted. However, when a binder having a low melt viscosity is used, the ink layer becomes tacky even at a relatively low temperature, causing a problem such as a decrease in preservability, a stain on a non-printed portion of a recording medium, and a blur of a transferred image. Also, when increasing the thickness of the transferable ink layer,
As the bleeding increases, it is necessary to increase the amount of heat supplied from the thermal head, and the printing speed decreases.

Also, as another point to be improved of the thermal transfer material,
In conventional thermal transfer recording, as described above, a transfer recording image is formed by the permeation and adhesion of the ink layer that contains a coloring material and is melted by the application of heat to the recording medium. Was difficult. In particular, in a recording medium having a low surface smoothness such as paper having a large surface unevenness, a transfer recording image that adheres to a convex portion on the surface or in the vicinity thereof is easily peeled off, but ink that has penetrated deep into the concave portion is not easily peeled. At the same time, causing contamination.

On the other hand, a heat-sensitive transfer material has been proposed in which the ink layer on the recording medium side is made of a heat-fusible material that does not penetrate into the recording medium when heat is applied (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-22090). , The transfer recording image adheres insufficiently to the recording medium,
A recorded image having poor scratch resistance is not preferred.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The present invention solves the conventional problems, while maintaining various thermal transfer performance, as well as a recording medium having a good surface smoothness, as well as a recording medium having a poor surface smoothness,
An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-sensitive transfer material capable of giving high-density and sharp printing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat-sensitive transfer material which has sufficient adhesion of a transfer recording image to a recording medium, can correct erroneous recording by peeling, and is less likely to be stained by peeling.

Further, the present invention has been made to provide a heat-sensitive transfer material that can be corrected by peeling of erroneous recording and is less likely to be stained by peeling, even in a recording medium having poor surface smoothness.

[Means for solving the problem]

That is, the heat-sensitive transfer material provided by the present invention comprises, on a support, a first ink layer, a second ink layer, and a third ink layer each containing a heat-fusible material in this order from the support side. Wherein the first ink layer is a layer in which a homogeneous system is formed by a heat-fusible material, and at least a second ink layer of the second and first ink layers contains a coloring material. And the third ink layer is made of a heat-fusible material.
It is characterized in that at least two types of domains are formed and contain no coloring material, and in the pattern heating section during transfer recording, the two or more types of domains are layers in which fusing and homogenization proceed. Further, the thermal transfer recording method provided by the present invention is directed to a thermal transfer recording method, comprising: a first ink layer, a second ink layer, and a third ink layer each containing a heat-fusible material on a support in order from the support side; Wherein the first ink layer is a layer in which a homogeneous system is constituted by a heat-fusible material, and at least a second ink layer of the second and first ink layers contains a coloring material. And recording the heat-sensitive transfer material in which the third ink layer is a layer in which two or more types of domains are formed of a heat-fusible material and does not contain a coloring material such that the third ink layer is in contact with a recording medium. In a thermal transfer recording method in which a transfer recording image is formed on a recording medium by superimposing the recording medium on a recording medium and performing pattern heating, cohesive force is generated by fusion and homogenization of the two or more types of domains in a pattern heating section. To increase It is an butterfly.

[Specific description and examples of the invention]

In the heat-sensitive transfer material of the present invention, since the heat-fusible material forms two or more types of domains in the third ink layer, the cohesive force in the ink layer should be greatly reduced as compared with a uniform system. Can be. The two or more types of domains are fused and homogenized in the pattern heating section to form a recording latent image having a high cohesive force and an adhesive force acting as an adhesive force of the recording latent image to the recording medium. Can occur. In addition, since each domain is composed of different types of fine particles, there are domains having different functions or physical properties such as adhesive force and cohesive force at the time of heating, so that each function or physical property is expressed more than in the case of a homogeneous system. It can be in a state that is easily performed. As described above, in the third ink layer, a large difference occurs in the cohesive force between the heat application section (pattern heating section) and the non-heating section, which is a factor in obtaining a clear recorded image.

Further, the first ink layer has a function of forming a homogeneous system of the heat-fusible material and controlling and suppressing the adhesive force to the support due to the adhesive force generated in the third ink layer when heat is applied.

That is, the recording latent image in which the film strength is improved in a pattern by the application of heat produces strong adhesion to the recording medium and weak adhesion to the support controlled by the first ink layer. This is a very favorable force relationship for transferring (forming a recorded image) to a recording medium. As a result, the heat-sensitive transfer material according to the present invention can form a recorded transfer image of good print quality even on a recording medium having poor surface smoothness.

Further, in the thermal transfer material of the present invention, the second ink layer, which is a colored layer, is in contact with the recording medium via the third ink layer, which is a non-colored layer. It is obtained by partially penetrating and adhering to a recording medium.
At this time, the coloring layer is present on the third ink layer that has penetrated and covered the recording medium. Therefore, the second ink layer, which is a colored layer, does not penetrate into the recording medium, so that it is possible to correct peeling with an adhesive tape or the like in correcting erroneous recording.

That is, the heat-sensitive transfer material according to the present invention can form a transfer recording image which can secure a sufficient adhesive force to a recording medium and can be corrected by peeling of erroneous recording.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail. In the following description, “%” and “parts” representing quantitative ratios are based on weight unless otherwise specified.

When the same elements are represented by the same reference numerals, the thermal transfer material 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 has a first ink containing a heat-fusible material on a generally sheet-shaped support 2. It has a layer 3, a second ink layer 4 and a third ink layer 5.

The second ink layer containing the coloring material is preferably transferred to the recording medium in a relatively strong film state in consideration of the correction by peeling, in which case the adhesive strength to the support, transferability to the recording medium, etc. Therefore, a great restriction is added to the material selection.

In the present invention, the functions of each layer are separated by providing the first ink layer and the third ink layer. That is, the first ink layer has an effect of adjusting and controlling the adhesive force to the support, and particularly, the heat-melting portion in which the adhesive force of the portion to which heat is applied to the support is not large compared to the adhesive force of the non-heat-applied portion. Material, preferably a decreasing hot-melt material.

In addition, the third ink layer has an action of expressing an adhesive force to the recording medium when heat is applied, and suppressing the penetration of the second ink layer into the recording medium.

The first ink layer 3 is a heat-fusible material forming a homogeneous system,
For example, a non-particle heat-meltable material is used as a component. Although the first ink layer 3 can contain a coloring material, the second ink layer 4 alone can contain a coloring material.

The second ink layer 4 includes, for example, a layer in which a homogeneous system is formed by a heat-fusible material, a layer in which the heat-fusible material forms a group of one kind of heat-meltable resin fine particles, and a third ink layer. 5
In the same manner as described above, the heat-fusible material is composed of layers or the like constituting two or more types of domains. Here, the domain refers to a region in a heterogeneous system that can be distinguished from others by its composition, physical properties, and the like. The two or more types of domains are constituted by, for example, an appropriate combination of the heat-fusible resin fine particles and the non-particle phase. That is, for example, when at least one type of the two or more types of domains is formed of the heat-fusible resin fine particles and at least one other type of the domain is formed of the non-particle phase, two or more types of the domains are formed. There is a case where each of the domains is composed of a different kind of non-particle phase, and a case where each of two or more types of domains is composed of a different kind of heat-fusible resin fine particles.

In the heat-sensitive transfer material 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the second ink layer 4, the heat-fusible material constitutes a group of one kind of heat-fusible resin fine particles 6.

In this case, the heat-fusible resin particles are fused together by the application of heat, and the cut between the formed recording latent image portion and the non-heat-applied portion can be improved.

The second ink layer 4 in the thermal transfer material 1 of FIG.
A heat-fusible material constituting a homogeneous system, for example, a non-particle heat-fusible material is constituted as a component.

In this case, the second ink layer is suitable for obtaining a highly uniform recorded image as a colored layer. Further, it is easy to suppress the melting and mixing with the third ink layer in the heat application section, and to suppress the mixing and permeation of the colorant in the second ink layer accompanying the penetration of the third ink layer into the recording medium. Becomes easier.

In the thermal transfer material 1 shown in FIG. 5, the second ink layer 4 includes, for example, a type A (in the figure, a hollow circle) and a type B (in the figure,
A black solid circle) is composed of two types of thermally fusible resin particles, and a domain is formed by a single or higher order type of fusible resin particles of type A and type B.

In the thermal transfer material 1 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the third ink layer 5 is made of, for example, class C (in the figure, hollow circle) and class D (in the figure, solid black circle). The above two types of heat-fusible resin fine particles are used as constituent components, and domains are formed by single or higher order heat-fusible resin fine particles of type A and type B.

In the thermal transfer material 1 shown in FIG. 2, the third ink layer 5 has one or more types of domains each formed by the heat-fusible resin fine particles E and the non-particulate phase F.
The heat-fusible resin fine particles E may form a single domain, or may form a domain by a high-order aggregate. Also, two or more types of domains may be formed by different heat-fusible resin fine particles E. Similarly, the non-particulate phase F may form two or more types of domains in a state where the phases are separated, for example.

In the thermal transfer material 1 shown in FIG. 3, the third ink layer 5 is composed of two types of non-particulates, for example, G type (solid black portion in the drawing) and H type (white portion in the drawing). Each phase forms a domain.

In this case, a material having a high cohesive force that cannot be used in a homogeneous system can be used.

In addition, because of the non-uniform system, the difference in cohesive force becomes clear due to the application of heat, and a clear recorded image with sharp prints can be obtained.

In addition, the term “thermal melting property” as used in the present invention means a property of being molten when heat is applied, or a property of being softened by heat and exhibiting adhesive strength or adhesive strength.

Examples of the structure of the thermal transfer material of the present invention include, in addition to these, for example, the third ink layer of the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the third ink layer shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. There is a thermal transfer material comprising a combination of two ink layers.

Each of the first to third ink layers 3 to 5 may contain various additives such as a plasticizer and an oil agent.

As the support 2, a conventionally known film or paper can be used as it is, for example, a relatively heat-resistant plastic film such as polyester, polycarbonate, triacetyl cellulose, polyphenylene sulfide, or polyimide, cellophane, or sulfuric acid paper. , Condenser paper and the like can be suitably used. The thickness of the support is
When considering a thermal head as a heat source at the time of thermal transfer, it is desirable that the thermal head is about 1 to 15 microns. When a thermal head is used, a heat-resistant protective layer made of silicone resin, fluorine resin, polyimide resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, acrylic resin, nitrocellulose, etc. By providing the can improve the heat resistance of the support,
Alternatively, a support material that could not be used conventionally can be used.

Examples of the heat-fusible material that can form a uniform system in the first and second ink layers 3 and 4 include waxes such as carnauba wax, paraffin wax, sasol wax, microcrystalline wax, caster wax, and stearic acid. , Higher fatty acids such as palmitic acid, lauric acid, aluminum stearate, lead stearate, barium stearate, zinc stearate, zinc palmitate, methylhydroxystearate, glycerol monohydroxystearate and the like, and metal salts and esters thereof. Derivatives, polyamide resins, polyester resins, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, acrylic resins (eg, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylamide), vinyl acetate resins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and other vinyls Resin, polyvinyl chloride resin (for example, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc.), cellulose resin (for example, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carboxy cellulose, etc.), polyvinyl alcohol resin (for example, Polyvinyl alcohol, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol, etc.), petroleum resin, rosin derivative, cumarone-indene resin, terpene resin, novolak type phenol resin, polystyrene resin, polyolefin resin (for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene,
Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, oxidized polyolefins), polyvinyl ether resins, polyethylene glycol resins, and elastomers, natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, methyl methacrylate-butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, and the like.

The softening temperature of the hot-melt material is in the range of 40C to 150C, preferably 60C to 140C. The melt viscosity is 2 centipoise to 200,000 centipoise at 150 ° C (rotational viscometer).
Preferably.

Examples of the heat-fusible material constituting the group of one kind of heat-fusible resin particles in the second ink layer 4 include wax, low-molecular-weight polyethylene, polyolefin-based resins such as polyolefin oxide, polyamide-based resins, polyester-based resins, and the like. Epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, acrylic resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, polyvinyl acetate resins, petroleum resins, phenolic resins, polystyrene resins, elastomers such as styrene butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, etc. Can be.

Hot-melt resin particles can be obtained by polymerization processes such as emulsion polymerization and suspension polymerization, by mechanically dispersing the hot-melt resin using a dispersant, etc., by other methods such as mechanical pulverization, spray drying, and precipitation. Among them, fine particles having a softening temperature of 50 ° C to 160 ° C, preferably 60 ° C to 150 ° C are used. The softening temperature here was measured using a Shimadzu flow tester model CFT-500, with a load of 10 kg and a heating rate of 2 ° C.
/ Min refers to the temperature at which the sample starts flowing out, measured under the condition of / min.

The average particle size of the heat-fusible resin particles is 20 μm or less (~
0.01μm), and further 10μm or less (~ 0.1μm)
It is preferred that If it exceeds 20 μm, it is too large, so that the particle diameter may be the same as the thickness of the ink layer. In this case, when the particles are fused with the adjacent particles by applying heat, voids are easily generated in the recording latent image, and the transferability is deteriorated. For this reason, it is not preferable that the particle diameter and the ink layer thickness be the same.

The ratio of the different types of heat-fusible resin particles constituting the second ink layer can be arbitrarily selected depending on the function or physical properties of each of them, and is not particularly limited.

When the heat-fusible material of the second ink layer 4 constitutes two or more types of domains, it can be appropriately selected from the same heat-fusible materials that can constitute the uniform system. When forming the heat-fusible resin particles, it is particularly preferable to appropriately select from the same heat-fusible materials as those constituting the group of the one kind of heat-fusible resin particles.

The heat-meltable material of the third ink layer 5 is the second ink layer 5.
The heat-meltable material exemplified when the ink layer of (1) constitutes two or more types of domains can be used.

Among the heat-fusible materials that can form each of these layers, the heat-fusible material used for the first ink layer is preferably a material having a low adhesive force to a support, and particularly preferable materials are carnauba wax, paraffin wax, and the like. Waxes, stearic acid and its derivatives, polyolefin resins and the like. As the heat-fusible material used for the second ink layer, those having high film strength are preferable, and particularly preferable materials are polyamide resin, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate resin, polyolefin resin, polyurethane resin, styrene butadiene. Butadiene-based resins such as rubber are exemplified. The heat-fusible material used for the third ink layer is preferably a material that exhibits an adhesive force when heated, and particularly preferable materials include polyamide resins and vinyl acetate resins.

When the first and second ink layers 3 and 4 are composed of a homogeneous system, the first and second ink layers are respectively melted with a heat-fusible material, a coloring material, and other additives that are added as necessary. The ink is mixed or kneaded with an appropriate solvent to obtain a hot-melt ink or a solution or dispersion ink. The ink is obtained by sequentially applying these inks on a support, heating and drying as necessary, and sequentially forming first and second ink layers.

When the second ink layer 4 constitutes a group of one kind of heat-fusible resin fine particles, the second ink layer 4 is formed, for example, by uniformly distributing the heat-fusible resin fine particles on a support, The layer can be formed by heating to a temperature not higher than the softening temperature of the fine particles and fixing the layer on the support, but after applying the dispersion of the fine particles, drying at a temperature lower than the softening temperature of the fine particles and dispersing. The method of forming a layer by removing the medium is particularly preferable.

In the heat-sensitive transfer material 1 shown in FIG. 5, the second ink layer 4 and the third ink 5 in the heat-sensitive transfer material shown in FIGS. Two or more types of fine particles are appropriately selected from the heat-fusible resin fine particles composed of a conductive material, and the fine particles are mixed appropriately and uniformly distributed on a support, and then heated to a temperature condition equal to or lower than the softening temperature of the fine particles. Then, the layer can be formed by being fixed on a support or the like, but after a fine particle dispersion, for example, a resin emulsion is appropriately mixed and applied, the softening temperature of the fine particle group is lower than the lowest softening temperature. A method of forming a layer by drying at a temperature to remove the dispersion medium is particularly preferred. In this case, coloring materials, additives, and the like, which are added as necessary, can be contained in the dispersion or the inside of the fine particles.

In the heat-sensitive transfer material 1 shown in FIG. 2, the third ink layer 5 includes, for example, heat-fusible resin particles or a dispersion thereof, or a heat-fusible material or a solution or dispersion thereof, and It is provided by applying a coating liquid containing a coloring material, an additive, and the like by a conventional method, and performing a heat treatment as necessary. Since the heat transferable ink layer causes the heat-fusible resin particles to remain in the ink layer in the form of particles, the heat treatment of the coating liquid is usually performed at a temperature lower than the softening temperature of the heat-fusible resin particles when forming the ink layer. You.

Of these, among the heat-fusible resin particles,
After selecting and mixing more than one kind of fine particles, and appropriately mixing and applying a dispersion liquid such as a resin emulsion, the dispersion medium is dried at a temperature between the lowest softening temperature and the highest softening temperature among the softening temperatures of the fine particle group. Is particularly preferred. In this case, coloring materials, additives, and the like, which are added as necessary, can be contained in the dispersion or the inside of the fine particles. According to this method, fine particles having a drying temperature higher than the softening temperature form a non-particulate phase, and fine particles having a drying temperature lower than the softening temperature are present as particles.

In the heat-sensitive transfer material 1 shown in FIG. 3, the third ink layer 5 is formed by dispersing, for example, a finely pulverized heat-fusible material insoluble in a solvent in the hot-melt material solution, Combination of incompatible materials among heat-meltable materials such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin and vinyl acetate resin, cellulose-based resin and acrylic resin by coating, heating and drying and melting on a support Hot melt mixing the blend,
It is obtained by coating on a support in the form of a solution or the like, subjecting it to a heat treatment if necessary, and phase separation.

Further, as another method different from these methods, a dispersion liquid of two or more kinds of heat-soluble resin fine particles, in other words, a resin emulsion is appropriately mixed and coated, and then the highest softening temperature among the softening temperatures of the fine particle group. A method of forming a layer by drying at a higher temperature to remove the dispersion medium is particularly preferable.
In this case, coloring materials, additives, and the like, which are added as necessary, can be contained in the dispersion or the inside of the fine particles.

Colorants include carbon black, nigrosine dye, lamp black, Sudan Black SM, First Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow, Pigment Yellow, India First Orange, Irgazine Red, Paranitroaniline Red, Toluidine Red, Carmin
FB, Permanent Bordeaux FRR, Pigment Orange R, Risor Red 2G, Rake Red C, Rhodamine FB, Rhodamine B Lake, Methyl Violet B
Rake, phthalocyanine blue, pigment blue, brilliant green B, phthalocyanine green, oil yellow GG, pomelo first yellow GGG, Kaya set Y963, Kaya set YG, Sumiplast yellow GG,
Pomelo First Orange RR, Oil Scarlet,
Known dyes and pigments such as Sumiplast Orange G, Orazol Brown G, Pomelo Fast Scarlet GG, Aizen Spiron Red BEH, Oil Pink OP, Victoria Blue F4R, Fast Gen Blue 5007, Sudan Blue, Oil Peacock Blue One or two or more can be used.

These coloring materials are heat-meltable materials in the ink layer used.
It is preferable to use 3 to 500 parts per 100 parts.

These coloring materials may be used in at least the second ink layer of the first ink layer and the second ink layer. However, the third ink layer does not contain a coloring material, and thus the recorded image after transfer is In the case of erroneous printing, correction becomes easier.

The thickness of the first ink layer is 0.5 to 10 μm, preferably 1 to 10 μm.
5 μm, the thickness of the second ink layer is 0.5 to 10 μm, preferably 0.5 to 5 μm, and the thickness of the third ink layer is 0.5 to 10 μm.
m, preferably 1 to 5 μm.

The total thickness of the first to third ink layers is preferably 2 to 20 μm.

The planar shape of the thermal transfer material of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is generally used in the form of a typewriter ribbon or a wide tape used for a line printer or the like. In addition, it is also possible to use a heat-sensitive transfer material in which hot-melt inks of several kinds of colors are applied in a stripe shape or a block shape for color recording.

The thermal transfer recording method using the thermal transfer material is not particularly different from a normal thermal transfer recording method, and a heat source such as a thermal head or a laser beam can be used as a heat source for thermal transfer recording.

To perform the peeling correction, for example, a thermal adhesive tape 61 as shown in FIG. 6 can be used. That is, the support 62
As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, an erroneous recorded image was formed on the heat-adhesive tape 61 provided with a heat-adhesive layer 63 for generating an adhesive force for heating.
The heat-adhesive layer 63 is overlapped so as to be opposed to 71, and is heated from the support side 62, for example, by the heat head 72 used for recording, and the erroneously recorded image 71 can be peeled off from the recording medium 73 by the generated adhesive force. it can.

At this time, a part of the third ink layer that has penetrated into the recording medium remains as it is, but there is no practical problem because it is a non-colored layer.

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.

Examples Example-1 <Ink 1> While heating each component of the above formulation to 120 ° C,
Ink 1 was prepared by mixing for 0 minutes.

0.3 g / m ^{2 of} an additional silicone resin for release paper was applied and dried to provide a heat-resistant protective layer. Ink 1 was hot-melt-coated with a Meyer bar on the side of the 3.5 μm polyester support opposite to the heat-resistant protective layer to provide a 2 μm-thick first ink layer.

<Ink 2> Ink 2 was prepared by mixing the components of the above formulation. The ink 2 was applied on the first ink layer provided above using an applicator and dried at 105 ° C. to provide a second ink layer having a layer thickness of 2 μm.

<Ink 3> The components of the above formulation were sufficiently mixed to prepare ink 2.
Apply ink 3 on the second ink layer provided earlier,
The water was evaporated to form a third ink layer composed of heat-fusible resin fine particles having a thickness of 2 μm. Thus, a heat-sensitive transfer material (I) having the structure shown in FIG. 1 was obtained.

Example-2 <Ink 4> Until the second ink layer is provided, the same procedure as in Example 1 is carried out. The ink 4 is applied on the second ink layer,
By evaporating water, a third ink layer having a thickness of 2 μm was formed to obtain a thermal transfer material (II) having the structure shown in FIG.

Example-3 <Ink 5> The same procedure as in Example 1 is performed until the first ink layer is provided. The ink 5 is applied on the second ink layer,
To form a third ink layer having a thickness of 2 μm. The heat-sensitive transfer material (II) having the structure shown in FIG.
I got.

Example-4 <Ink 6> Ink 6 was prepared by mixing the above-mentioned components. A thermal transfer material (IV) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the second ink layer was provided.

The second ink layer was formed by applying the ink 4 on the first ink layer using an applicator and drying at 105 ° C. to form a second ink layer having a thickness of 2 μm.

Comparative Example <Ink 7> The ink 7 was prepared by dispersing carbon black by mixing each component of the above-mentioned formulation in a sand mill for 30 minutes while heating at 130 ° C.

The ink 7 was hot-melt coated on a 35 μm PET with a back surface treatment to form an ink layer with a thickness of 4 μm to obtain a thermal transfer material (V).

The thus-obtained thermal transfer materials (I) to (V) were subjected to thermal transfer recording under the following conditions.

Also, the obtained print is superimposed on the heat-adhesive layer surface of the heat-adhesive tape so that the heat-sensitive adhesive tape has a thickness of 4 μm on a 6 μm PET.
m) Heated from the PET side with a thermal head to form a print pattern, and the print was peeled off.

The printing, transferability and peelability were evaluated, and the results are shown in Table 1.

Using the heat-sensitive transfer material of the present invention, even on paper with low smoothness as shown in the above table, good printing quality, good transferability, high quality printing with high print density can be obtained, and correction by peeling is also possible Becomes

〔The invention's effect〕

The thermal transfer material of the present invention can provide high-density and sharp prints not only on recording media having good surface smoothness but also on recording media having poor surface smoothness. . Further, the method for producing a heat-sensitive transfer material of the present invention is a novel method, and a heat-sensitive transfer material having such excellent characteristics can be advantageously produced.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heat-sensitive transfer material that has sufficient adhesion of a transfer recording image to a recording medium, can correct erroneous recording by peeling, and is less likely to be stained by peeling. Further, the present invention can provide a heat-sensitive transfer material that can be corrected by peeling of erroneous recording and is less likely to be stained by peeling, even in a recording medium having particularly poor surface smoothness.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 are schematic sectional views in the thickness direction of the thermal transfer material of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view in the thickness direction of a thermo-adhesive tape used for correction, and FIGS. 7 (A) to 7 (D). () Is an operation explanatory view showing a state of peeling of the ink layer at the time of peeling correction. 1 ... thermal transfer material, 2 ... support, 3 ... first ink layer, 4 ... second ink layer, 5 ... third ink layer.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tsutsuhiro Fukuda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-60-189493 (JP, A) JP-A Sho 60-253588 (JP, A) JP-A-59-224392 (JP, A) JP-A-60-102959 (JP, U)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A first ink layer containing a heat-fusible material, a second ink layer and a third ink layer each containing a heat-fusible material on a support, in order from the support side; The layer is a layer in which a homogeneous system is formed by a heat-fusible material, wherein at least a second ink layer of the second and first ink layers contains a coloring material, and the third ink layer is Two or more types of domains are constituted by a heat-fusible material and do not include a coloring material.
The thermal transfer material, wherein the two or more domains are layers in which fusion and homogenization proceed. 2. A first ink layer, a second ink layer and a third ink layer each containing a heat-fusible material on a support in this order from the support side. The layer is a layer in which a homogeneous system is formed by a heat-fusible material, wherein at least a second ink layer of the second and first ink layers contains a coloring material, and the third ink layer is A thermal transfer material, which is a layer in which two or more domains are composed of a heat-fusible material and does not contain a coloring material, is superimposed on a recording medium such that the third ink layer is in contact with the recording medium, and pattern heating is performed. In the thermal transfer recording method for forming a transfer recording image on a recording medium, characterized in that the cohesive force is increased by fusing and homogenizing the two or more domains in the pattern heating section. Recording method.