JP3493636B2 - Magnetic card - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card suitable for sublimation thermal transfer recording using a polyethylene terephthalate film as a base material for a card, especially a commuter pass and various prepaid cards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sublimation thermal transfer recording system is a method in which a sublimable ink ribbon containing a heat sublimable or vaporizable dye is superposed on a transfer medium having a sublimable ink image-receiving layer, and the back surface of the sublimable ink ribbon is thermally transferred. An image is formed by heating with a head and transferring the dye in the sublimable ink ribbon to the sublimable ink image-receiving layer. When this transfer recording method is used for transfer recording to a polyethylene terephthalate film widely used for magnetic cards, particularly a magnetic card based on a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 100 to 300 μm which is generally used. Since the rigidity of the base material is higher than that of the polyvinyl chloride film used for cash cards and the like, the transferability is poor and image quality problems such as insufficient image density and poor resolution are likely to occur. When high technology energy is applied from the thermal head at the time of transfer recording to improve such a problem, heat at the time of this transfer is applied only from one direction of the substrate, so that the magnetic card after transfer recording is not affected by heat. Due to deformation or warpage or fusion of the ink ribbon to the transfer target, when the user inserts the magnetic card into the automatic ticket gate or ticket vending machine, there are problems such as poor transport and reading error of the magnetic record. There was a problem that occurs.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems and provides excellent image characteristics when used in a sublimation thermal transfer recording system.
It is intended to provide a magnetic card having good transportability in an apparatus that does not cause problems such as ink ribbon fusion, card deformation and warpage even when high energy is applied.

[0004]

The present invention provides a magnetic card comprising a polyethylene terephthalate film as a substrate, a magnetic recording layer on one side of the substrate, and a sublimable ink image-receiving layer on the other side. The polyester resin having a glass transition temperature of 50 ° C or higher is melted between the material and the sublimable ink image receiving layer.
The magnetic card is characterized in that an intermediate layer containing polyethylene wax having a point of 110 ° C. or lower is provided.

Materials constituting the magnetic card of the present invention will be described below. The intermediate layer formed between the substrate and the sublimable ink image-receiving layer contains a polyester resin and polyethylene wax. Such an intermediate layer has a function as a cushion and a function of dispersing the heat of the thermal head to the entire layer when an image is formed by heating the sublimable ink ribbon to the sublimable ink image receiving layer with a thermal head. Therefore, good image characteristics such as insufficient image density and poor resolution can be obtained, and it is possible to form an image with a low printing heat amount, so that deformation and warpage of a magnetic card based on polyethylene terephthalate film occurs. Can be prevented.

The polyester resin used for the intermediate layer is
As its acid component, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, methylterephthalic acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, methyl-tetrahydrophthalic acid , Hexahydrophthalic acid, methyl-hexahydrophthalic acid, and their anhydrides. On the other hand, as the alcohol component, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1.3-butanediol, 1.4-butanediol, 1.6-hexanediol, neopentylglycol, bishydroxyethyl phthalate, hydrogenated bisphenol A, water Ethylene oxide adduct or propylene oxide adduct of added bisphenol A, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, glycerin, pentaerythritol and the like can be used. While in the present invention may be a polyester resin obtained by appropriately combining the above-mentioned acid component and alcohol component, glass transition temperature 5
A polyester resin having a temperature of 0 ° C. or higher is applied because a particularly good printing density is obtained and the image characteristics are excellent. In addition,
The glass transition temperature as referred to in the present invention means that measured by a differential thermal analysis method (shoulder value).

Polyethylene wax is a low molecular weight polyethylene and has a molecular weight of about 1000-1000.
About 0 can be applied, and a modified type polyethylene wax having a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group or the like can also be used. In the present invention Ru using polyethylene wax having a melting point of 110 ° C. or less since the anti-fusion bonding effect of dispersion and thermal head heat during recording is excellent. The melting point is a value measured by a differential thermal analysis method.

The intermediate layer of the present invention is formed by appropriately blending the above polyester resin and polyethylene wax, and 1 to 20 parts by weight of polyethylene wax, particularly 3 parts by weight of polyester resin is used. ~ 1
It is preferable that 0 part by weight is added. If the amount of polyethylene wax added is small, the heat of the thermal head will not be sufficiently dispersed throughout the layer, and if the amount of polyethylene wax added is too large, wax bleeding will occur and the sublimation properties formed next It impairs the adhesion to the ink image receiving layer. The intermediate layer can be formed by a conventional coating method or printing method, and the layer thickness thereof is 0.5 to 5 μm, preferably 1 to 3 μm.

As the base material, polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 50 μm to 1 mm is applied.
A polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 00 to 300 μm is practical, and a magnetic card having a thickness of 188 μm or 250 μm is preferably used.

The magnetic material used for the magnetic recording layer is r-
Magnetic powders such as iron oxide, cobalt-doped r-iron oxide, chromium oxide, barium ferrite, and strontium ferrite are applied. These magnetic materials are vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / vinyl alcohol copolymers, polyurethane resins, polyester resins,
A magnetic recording layer is formed by dispersing a binder such as an epoxy resin together with other additives such as a pigment to form a magnetic paint or ink, which is coated or printed on a substrate and then dried. At this time, a magnetic field orientation treatment may be performed before the magnetic recording layer is dried.

The sublimable ink image-receiving layer is formed of a resin and a release agent. As the resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-
Examples thereof include vinyl acetate copolymer resins, and in the present invention, polyester resins and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resins are preferable from the viewpoint of recording characteristics and adhesiveness to the intermediate layer. Examples of the release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon powder, phosphate ester-based surfactants, and silicone oil. In the present invention, silicone oil is dispersed uniformly. preferable. The sublimable ink image-receiving layer made of the above materials can be formed by any method such as coating and printing, and has a thickness of about 1 to 10 μm.

[0012]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of examples. Example 1 A magnetic layer coating material was prepared with the following formulation.・ Barium ferrite (MC127 manufactured by Toda Kogyo Co., Ltd.) 100 parts by weight ・ Carbon black (MA100 manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd.) 3 parts by weight ・ Vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / vinyl alcohol copolymer 20 parts by weight (S-REC A by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Polyurethane resin (N2304 manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Co., Ltd.) 20 parts by weight Toluene 60 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 60 parts by weight Methyl isobutyl ketone 60 parts by weight A mixture having the above composition was dispersed in a ball mill for 8 hours, and then a polyisocyanate resin (Japan 5 parts by weight of Polyurethane Coronate L) was added to prepare a magnetic coating,
A magnetic recording layer was formed by applying a gravure coating method on a base material made of a white polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 188 μm, performing a magnetic field orientation treatment and then drying. In addition,
The dry coating amount was 30 g / m ² .

Next, an intermediate layer coating material provided on the opposite surface of the white polyethylene terephthalate film provided with the magnetic recording layer was prepared with the following composition. Polyester resin 20 parts by weight (Toyon Co., Ltd. Byron 200, glass transition temperature 67 ° C.) Polyethylene wax 1 part by weight (Mitsui Petrochemical Co., Ltd. 110 P, melting point 100 ° C.) Toluene 100 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 100 parts by weight A paint having the composition was applied on the opposite surface of the white polyethylene terephthalate film provided with the magnetic recording layer by the gravure coating method and dried to form an intermediate layer. In addition,
The dry coating amount was 3 g / m ² , and the coating thickness was 3 μm.

Next, a sublimable ink image-receiving layer coating material was prepared with the following composition.・ Vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer 20 parts by weight (Solvine CN manufactured by Nisshin Chemical Co., Ltd.) ・ Silicone oil (KF-393 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1 part by weight ・ Toluene 100 parts by weight ・ Methyl ethyl ketone 100 parts by weight Above A sublimable ink image-receiving layer was formed by printing and drying a coating material having the composition of 1) on the intermediate layer by a screen printing method. The dry coating amount was 2 g / m ² and the coating thickness was 2 μm. The magnetic recording medium formed as described above is compliant with JIS
A magnetic card of the present invention was produced by punching in a size.

Example 2 A magnetic card of the present invention was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the paint having the following composition was used as the intermediate layer paint. -Polyester resin 20 parts by weight (Toyon Co., Ltd. Byron 290, glass transition temperature 72 ° C) -Polyethylene wax 1 part by weight (Mitsui Petrochemical Industrial Company 110P, melting point 100 ° C) -Toluene 100 parts by weight-Methyl ethyl ketone 100 parts by weight

Example 3 A magnetic card of the present invention was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the paint having the following composition was used as the sublimable ink image-receiving layer paint.・ Polyester resin (Vylon 290 manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) 20 parts by weight ・ Amino-modified silicone oil (KF-857 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1 part by weight ・ Epoxy-modified silicone oil 1 part by weight (KF-103 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) ) Toluene 100 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 100 parts by weight

[0017]

[0018]

Comparative Example 1 A magnetic card for comparison was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the intermediate layer was not provided.

Comparative Example 2 A magnetic card for comparison was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the paint having the following composition was used as the intermediate layer paint. 20 parts by weight of nitrocellulose resin (Celnova BT-SL manufactured by Asahi Kasei) 1 part by weight of polyethylene wax (110P manufactured by Mitsui Petrochemical Co., melting point 100 ° C) 100 parts by weight of toluene 100 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone

Comparative Example 3 A magnetic card for comparison was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the paint having the following composition was used as the intermediate layer paint.・ Vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / vinyl alcohol copolymer resin 20 parts by weight (VAGH manufactured by Union Carbide) ・ Polyethylene wax 1 part by weight (110P manufactured by Mitsui Petrochemical Co., melting point 100 ° C) ・ Toluene 100 parts by weight ・ Methyl ethyl ketone 100 parts by weight

Comparative Example 4 A magnetic card for comparison was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the paint having the following composition was used as the paint for the intermediate layer. -Polyester resin 20 parts by weight (Toyon Co., Ltd. Byron 200, glass transition temperature 67 ° C) -Toluene 100 parts by weight-Methyl ethyl ketone 100 parts by weight

Images were formed on the surface of the sublimable ink image-receiving layer of the magnetic cards prepared in Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 by heating the sublimable transfer ink ribbon with a thermal head. The results are as shown in Table 1, and all the magnetic cards provided with the specific intermediate layer of the present invention showed good image characteristics, and neither warping nor deformation of the magnetic card occurred. On the other hand, the magnetic card of the comparative example is not provided with the intermediate layer, or even if provided, since the polyester resin and the polyethylene wax are not used in combination, both are inferior in image characteristics, and the magnetic card is warped. There was a problem because it caused deformation.

[0024]

[Table 1]

The evaluation method of each characteristic in Table 1 is as follows. (1) Image density: The density of a solid black portion of the formed image measured by a Macbeth densitometer RD-914 visual filter. (2) Resolution: The formation state of image 1 dot was observed with an optical microscope. ∘: Very good ○: Good Δ: Somewhat poor resolution ×: Poor and practically problematic. (3) Warp of magnetic card: Place the magnetic card after image formation on a flat surface so that the warp is on the upper side, and measure the height from the flat surface, that is, the height from the flat surface of the corner of the card with the largest warp. It was warped. (4) Conveyability: When 100 sheets of magnetic cards after image formation were read / written with a commercially available magnetic reader / writer, the number of sheets that caused conveyance failure was examined.

[0026]

The magnetic card of the present invention comprises a polyethylene terephthalate film as a base material, a magnetic recording layer on one side,
Since the sublimable ink image-receiving layer is sequentially laminated on the intermediate layer containing polyester resin and polyethylene wax on the opposite side, the transferred image from the sublimable ink ribbon can be efficiently received, resulting in a high transferred image density. Not only does it have excellent image characteristics with good resolution, but it does not cause deformation or warpage of the magnetic card after transfer recording, so it has excellent practical characteristics such as transportability in the device. is there.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-323683 (JP, A) JP-A-7-89226 (JP, A) JP-A-7-89224 (JP, A) JP-A-62- 220395 (JP, A) JP 63-274951 (JP, A) JP 4-197657 (JP, A) JP 5-12518 (JP, A) JP 60-25798 (JP, A) JP-A-7-17173 (JP, A) JP-A-6-239073 (JP, A) JP-A-6-183184 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B42D 15/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A magnetic card comprising a polyethylene terephthalate film as a substrate, a magnetic recording layer on one surface of the substrate, and a sublimable ink image-receiving layer on the other surface of the substrate. Glass transition temperature is 50 ℃
A magnetic card provided with an intermediate layer containing the above polyester resin and a polyethylene wax having a melting point of 110 ° C. or less . 2. The polyester resin 100 in the intermediate layer
The magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein 1 to 20 parts by weight of polyethylene wax is added to parts by weight.