JP3714029B2 - Thermal transfer recording medium and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

【００４２】
【表２】

【００４３】
以上のような構成の熱転写記録媒体を被転写体Ｘ（上質紙：王子製紙製）と被転写体Ｙ（キャストコート紙：王子製紙製）とを用い、熱転写プリンター（Ｍ４８００ＲＶ：サトー社製）を用いて６inch／sec の印画スピードでバーコードパターンの熱転写を行い印字画像を得た。
【００４４】
得られた転写画像の目視評価を行い更に、得られた画像の品位の確認として、バーコード検査機（Ｌ４０００ 和泉データロジック製）でＡＮＳＩ規格に基づく印字品位の評価を行った。
【００４５】
【表３】

【００４６】
以上、表３から明らかなように、実施例１より得られる熱転写記録媒体を用いると、比較例１〜８に比べ、上質紙に良好な印字ができ更にキャストコート紙のような平滑性の高い被転写体へも良好な印字が可能となり、地汚れも少ない。その中で実施例１とカルナバワックスの代わりにパラフィンワックスを使用した比較例８の印字物を学振摩耗試験機にて綿布（金巾３号）にて荷重５００ｇで２００回往復させたところ実施例１のほうが印字画像に乱れは少なかった。
【００４７】
【発明の効果】
本発明の熱転写記録媒体を用いると、本発明は、上質紙や軽量コート紙にも良好な印字ができ且つフィルムや合成紙、キャストコート紙といった平滑な被転写体にも印字が可能で、従来のワックスタイプの熱転写記録媒体より印字品位、耐擦過性に優れ地汚れの少ない熱転写記録媒体を提供することすることが出来る。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の熱転写記録媒体の一例を表す概略断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１０・・・基材
１１・・・耐熱滑性層
１２・・・剥離層
１３・・・着色層
１４・・・地汚れ防止層[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording medium used for labels such as barcodes and POS, tag printers, and ticket issuing machines. Specifically, the present invention relates to various types of substrates such as plain paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, synthetic paper, and film. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording medium that can form a good image on a transfer body and has little background contamination due to rubbing and slipping with a transfer target even when printing at high speed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The thermal transfer recording method, which uses a thermal head and heat-transfers the colored layer formed on the substrate to the transfer target to form an image, has low noise during image formation, and can form a color image relatively easily. Since the image forming apparatus itself is advantageous in that it is compact and low in cost, it is currently widely used in various printers and facsimiles.
Among them, label printers, ticket issuing machines, etc. are required to use various substrates such as plain paper, coated paper, synthetic paper, film, etc., and to form good images on each subject. ing. Furthermore, since a barcode or the like is printed, it is inevitable that the barcode can be read by a reader, so high printing quality and scratch resistance are required.
[0003]
However, a resin type thermal transfer recording medium having a thermal transfer layer mainly composed of a thermoplastic resin on a transfer target such as a film or synthetic paper is used for higher print quality and scratch resistance. What is required to be printed at lower cost and at higher speed is printing on a subject such as plain paper using a wax type thermal transfer recording medium having a thermal transfer layer mainly composed of petroleum wax.
In the former, the printed image is sharp and the scratch resistance is strong, but the transfer can be performed only on a transfer target having an image receiving layer on a smooth film, and the printing energy is higher than that of the latter. Yes, not suitable for high-speed printing. The material cost is also high.
[0004]
The latter can be printed on plain paper, coated paper, etc., can be printed with relatively low energy, can be printed at a higher speed than the former, and is inexpensive, but smooth cast coated paper or synthetic paper. The printing on the film is not smooth and cannot be printed well. Also, the overall scratch resistance is weak, and the printed image is not sharp and the printing quality is not good. In addition, scumming due to rubbing and sliding with the transfer target is likely to occur.
[0005]
Therefore, in recent years, it is possible to print on various materials to be transferred such as films, synthetic papers, coated papers, etc., and has a thermal transfer layer mainly composed of both wax and thermoplastic resin having excellent scratch resistance to some extent. Semi-resin type thermal transfer recording media have also been used. However, although this semi-resin type thermal transfer recording medium can be printed on a smooth transfer medium such as film, synthetic paper, and cast coated paper, it has a slightly low smoothness such as high-quality paper and lightweight coated paper. The print quality of the transferred image on paper is not very good.
[0006]
Actually, when considering cost and versatility, high-quality paper and light-weight coated paper are most often used at present, so film, synthetic paper and cast-coated paper can be printed, and it is also good for high-quality paper and light-weight coated paper Therefore, there is a demand for a thermal transfer recording medium that can perform accurate printing and has excellent print quality and scratch resistance compared to conventional wax-type thermal transfer recording media and has less background stains.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention can perform good printing on high-quality paper and light-weight coated paper, and can also be printed on a smooth transfer target such as film, synthetic paper, and cast-coated paper, and has higher print quality than conventional wax-type thermal transfer recording media. An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording medium having excellent scratch resistance and less soiling and a method for producing the same.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0009]
The invention shown in claim 1 is a thermal transfer recording medium having a heat-resistant layer on one side of a base material, and a release layer, a colored layer, and an antifouling layer laminated in this order on the other side of the base material. In the manufacturing method of the thermal transfer recording medium to be manufactured, the release layer is composed mainly of wax and resin, the colored layer is composed of wax and pigment, and the antifouling layer is composed mainly of wax and filler, and the components of these layers are respectively The release layer has a resin content of 15% or less, the colored layer has a pigment content of 35% or less, and the antifouling layer has a filler content of 35% or less, and the wax is carnauba wax, The layer, the colored layer, and the anti-stain layer are sequentially laminated by applying and drying an ink composition to which a resin, a pigment, and a filler are added in a dispersion in which wax is dispersed in an organic solvent or water. In this case, in the case of the release layer and the colored layer, each is dried at a temperature below the melting point of the wax, and in the case of the antifouling layer, the atmospheric temperature is below the melting point and the antifouling layer The method of manufacturing a thermal transfer recording medium is characterized by blowing air having a temperature 1 to 10 ° C. higher than the melting point of the wax.
[0010]
In the invention shown in claim 2 , the release layer and the antifouling layer are both ink compositions dispersed and dissolved in an organic solvent, and the colored layer uses an ink composition dispersed in water. Te is a method for producing a thermal transfer recording medium according to claim 1, characterized by the formation of each layer.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention is a thermal transfer recording medium in which a release layer, a colored layer, and an antifouling layer are laminated on a substrate having a heat-resistant layer on the back surface, the release layer comprising a wax, a resin, and a colored layer. Is composed of wax and pigment, and the antifouling layer is mainly composed of wax and filler. The component of each layer is 15% or less of the resin of the release layer, the pigment content of the colored layer is 35% or less, and the filler content of the antifouling layer is 35. %, And the wax is carnauba wax.
[0012]
Wax has a low viscosity at the time of melting, easily penetrates into paper or porous material, and has good transferability to high-quality paper or coated paper. Among these waxes, carnauba wax, in particular, has a relatively high melting point of about 83 ° C., and is hard and brittle at room temperature. Therefore, it is possible to print very sharply and to have high scratch resistance. Furthermore, since it exhibits an appropriate tackiness when melted, the transferability to synthetic paper or film is also good. However, when a conventional wax is used for the thermal transfer layer, a pigment is added to this to form a colored layer. However, since the wax alone is weak in adhesion to the substrate, a resin is added to the colored layer, or a resin is used as in the present invention. It is necessary to provide a release layer containing.
[0013]
When a resin is added to the former colored layer, the melt viscosity of the colored layer increases, so that the transferability to high-quality paper or coated paper is deteriorated, and the layer is not brittle and sharp printing cannot be obtained. Therefore, a release layer is provided as in the latter, and a minimum resin having adhesiveness to the substrate to the extent that it does not peel off at the time of manufacture, processing and printing in the printer during printing is added thereto. If the amount of pigment in the colored layer increases too much, the melt viscosity of the colored layer increases, so the minimum amount of pigment that can provide a sufficient printing density is added.
And, by providing such a release layer and a colored layer, sharp and sharp prints can be obtained, but when the colored layer and the transferred material are in contact with each other during printing, high pressure, rubbing, or slipping occurs There is a problem that scumming occurs in a portion that is not a printed portion.
[0014]
In order to prevent this background stain, a colorless background stain prevention layer is provided on the colored layer. Since the anti-staining layer does not deteriorate the printing performance, a wax is used like the colored layer. In addition, slipping easily occurs with the wax alone, and therefore, a colorless or white filler is added to roughen the surface to increase the friction coefficient with the transferred body and prevent slipping. Addition of the filler also increases the melt viscosity, so add the minimum amount that does not cause slipping.
[0015]
When laminating the release layer, the colored layer, and the anti-stain layer as described above, a method of applying a hot melt ink in which a resin, a pigment, a filler, etc. are kneaded with a molten wax and applying heat in a molten state, Alternatively, a resin or pigment dissolved in a dispersion in which a wax is dispersed in an organic solvent or water, an ink in which a dispersion of a filler is mixed, or an ink in which a resin or pigment is already kneaded in an organic solvent or water. There is a method of applying and drying.
The former hot-melt ink can be applied at a high speed since there is no drying step, but it cannot be applied unless the melting point and melt viscosity are low, and it is difficult to make a thin film because there is no volatile content. The wax used in such hot melt ink is generally a petroleum wax having a melting point of 50 to 70 ° C. The thermal transfer recording medium using this can be printed on high-quality paper or coated paper, but melted. Since the viscosity is too low and it is relatively soft even at room temperature, the prints are not cut off, and bleeding or insufficient density due to excessive penetration tends to occur. Also, since film and synthetic paper have low adhesiveness, good transfer cannot be performed. Many conventional wax-type thermal transfer recording media are of this type.
[0016]
When using an ink mainly composed of carnauba wax as in the present invention, an ink mixed with a dispersion of a resin, pigment or filler in which the latter wax is dissolved in a dispersion of an organic solvent or water is applied and dried. Laminate. When drying, the applied wax melts to a certain degree of dispersed particles instead of a uniform film, and the formed layer becomes brittle and prints. In this case, sharp printing with few burrs becomes possible. However, the antifouling layer, which is the top layer, contains filler and becomes more brittle, so it may fall off during manufacture, processing and printing in the printer during thermal transfer media. It is necessary to make it.
[0017]
For this reason, the release layer and the colored layer are dried at a temperature lower than the melting point of the wax, and the drying ambient temperature of the antifouling layer is lower than the melting point, but the temperature of the wind sprayed from the surface of the antifouling layer is 1 By increasing the temperature by 10 ° C., only the surface is melted to form a film. As a result, the surface of the antifouling layer is formed into a film and does not fall off, but the colored layer and release layer close to the lower substrate are not formed into a film, and a sharp and sharp print is possible.
[0018]
Further, each layer is formed by using an ink composition in which a release layer and an antifouling layer are dispersed and dissolved in an organic solvent and a colored layer is dispersed in water. Wax is usually more finely dispersed in water than in an organic solvent. The solvent-dispersed wax particles are about 1 to 10 μm, and the water-dispersed wax particles are about 0.1 to 1 μm.
[0019]
Since the colored layer contains pigment and the reflection density is important, it is important to finely disperse the pigment particles and increase the density, and it is necessary to make the thickness uniform in order to reduce density unevenness. Use the dispersed ink.
Since the release layer contains a resin to provide adhesion to the base material, the cohesive force of the layer becomes stronger than when only the wax is used, so that the layer breaks. Therefore, by using ink dispersed in a solvent, wax having a particle larger than the ink layer is present in the release layer, thereby reducing the cohesive force of the entire release layer and enabling sharp and sharp printing. Since the antifouling layer is intended to roughen the surface by adding a filler, an ink having a large particle dispersion is used.
[0020]
In this way, when the present invention is used, it is possible to print on a film, synthetic paper or cast coated paper, and on a high quality paper or lightweight coated paper, it is possible to print well, and the print quality is higher than that of a conventional wax type thermal transfer recording medium. Thus, a thermal transfer recording medium having excellent scratch resistance and less soiling can be obtained.
[0021]
Hereinafter, the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a thermal transfer recording medium according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This thermal transfer recording medium has a structure in which a heat-resistant layer 11 is laminated on one surface of a substrate 10, and a release layer 12, a colored layer 13, and an antifouling layer 14 are sequentially laminated on the other surface.
[0022]
The substrate 10 used in the present invention functions as a support for the thermal transfer recording medium. As such a base material 10, what is conventionally used as a base material of a thermal transfer recording medium can be used, and although it is not limited, it is preferable to use a polyester film.
In addition, there is no limitation in particular in the thickness of the base material 10, Although it can select suitably as needed, when it considers transportability, intensity | strength, and heat conductivity, it is a base material with a thickness of 1-10 micrometers preferably. .
[0023]
The heat-resistant layer 11 is a layer for preventing sticking and breakage of the base material against heat from a thermal head or the like during printing, and to make the thermal head and slip better, and has been conventionally used as a heat-resistant slip layer of a thermal transfer recording medium. You can use what is used as. For example, it is common to use a silicone copolymer such as acrylic-silicone, or a blend product obtained by adding a modified silicone oil to a resin.
In addition, there is no limitation in particular in the thickness of the heat-resistant slipping layer 11, Although it can select suitably as needed, About 0.1-2 micrometers is common.
Moreover, there is no problem even if a so-called B / C-attached base material that has been subjected to a heat-resistant slip treatment on one surface during film formation of the base material is used as the base material 10, in which case the heat-resistant slip-treated surface is heat resistant. It also serves as the layer 11 and there is no need to newly form the heat-resistant layer 11.
[0024]
The release layer 12 is usually bonded to the colored layer 13 and the substrate 10 and melts only the portion that has received heat from a heating means such as a thermal head during printing to facilitate the release from the substrate 10. This is a layer for enabling easy thermal transfer to a transfer body.
[0025]
The release layer 12 of the present invention is mainly composed of carnauba wax with a resin added thereto. The resin added is thermoplastic resin such as polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, epoxy, acrylic, styrene, chlorinated polyolefin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-butadiene rubber, etc. It can be used alone, mixed or copolymerized.
[0026]
By adding these resins, the adhesive strength with the substrate 10 is increased. However, if the amount added is increased, the melt viscosity is high when heat is applied during printing, and the release becomes too heavy to transfer easily, so the amount of resin. Is 15% or less, preferably 3 to 10%. In addition, adding a resin increases the film strength of the layer and makes it difficult to cut. Therefore, use a solvent-dispersed wax with large wax particles, apply the ink in which the resin is dissolved, and dry it below the melting point of the wax. The coarse particles of the wax are left, and the layer is made brittle to improve the cutability of the layer.
[0027]
By using a solvent-dispersed wax, the selection range of the resin to be added is widened. The wax particles are preferably about 1 to 10 μm.
Moreover, although the thickness of the peeling layer 12 can be selected suitably, generally the thickness of about 0.5-2.0 micrometers is preferable.
[0028]
The colored layer 13 is a layer that forms an image by thermal transfer to a transfer target, and can be used by adding a general colored pigment conventionally used in thermal transfer recording media to carnauba wax. Furthermore, an ink in which wax is finely dispersed in water so that a sufficient transfer density is exhibited with a small amount of pigment is used, and this also makes the characteristics of the layer brittle and sharp after application of the ink in the same manner as the release layer 12. Therefore, it dries below the melting point of the wax. As a result, sharp printing with high density and good cutting becomes possible.
[0029]
The amount of the color pigment added to the colored layer 13 affects the printing density, but if it is added in a large amount, the melt viscosity of the colored layer 13 increases and the transferability to fine paper or coated paper deteriorates. Therefore, the pigment is preferably added in an amount of 35% or less so that a necessary transfer density can be obtained.
Moreover, although the thickness of the colored layer 13 can be selected suitably, generally the thickness of about 0.5-4.0 micrometers is preferable.
[0030]
The anti-stain layer 14 is a layer that is in direct contact with the transfer target when an image is formed, and is a layer that prevents a smudge due to rubbing or slipping with the transfer target.
The antifouling layer 14 is formed from a material obtained by adding a filler to carnauba wax. Since this anti-stain layer 14 is required to have a moderately rough surface to prevent slippage with the transfer object, a wax-dispersed solvent having a relatively large particle size is used, and a filler is further added thereto. The dispersed ink is applied and dried.
[0031]
At this time, in order to make the layer brittle like the release layer 12 and the ink layer 13, if the drying is performed below the melting point of the wax, the filler and the wax particles are too brittle, so that the powder falls off during drying, processing or printing. Therefore, only the drying of the antifouling layer is carried out at a melting point of the wax or higher and melted so that the wax and the filler are combined to form a film and held on the colored layer 12. In this case, drying is performed by applying a wind of 1 to 10 ° C. of the melting point of the wax only from the surface of the antifouling layer so that the wax of the release layer and the colored layer does not melt so much.
[0032]
If the amount of filler added is too large, the melt viscosity of the entire layer will be high and it will be difficult to penetrate into high-quality paper or coated paper, and it will be difficult to transfer to smooth transfer materials such as film, synthetic paper, and cast coated paper. Even if the wax is melted, it does not bind and falls off, so an amount effective to prevent rubbing and slipping with the transferred material at 35% or less is added.
[0033]
Although it does not specifically limit as a kind of filler added to the anti-stain layer 14, the colorless or white filler conventionally used as a matting agent or an anti-slip agent can be used, but in view of cost and the like, calcium carbonate, It is preferable to use a natural mineral filler such as talc. Furthermore, the particle diameter of the filler used varies greatly depending on the type and application of the filler and the transfer target, but is usually about 0.1 to 2.0 μm. When the thickness is less than 0.1 μm, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient effect against soiling. When the thickness exceeds 2.0 μm, the filler is likely to fall off even if the wax is melted.
[0034]
Further, the thickness of the anti-stain layer 14 can be appropriately selected according to conditions such as a material to be used and a transfer target, but is generally 0.1 to 5.0 μm, preferably 0.2 to 2. 0.0 μm. If it is too thin, it will be easy for the filler to fall off, and it will be difficult to prevent sufficient background smearing during high-speed printing. Conversely, if it is too thick, the printing sensitivity will decrease and the transfer sharpness of the transferred image will decrease. Because.
[0035]
The carnauba wax preferably used in the present invention is, for example, a natural carnaba No. 1 wax or carnauba No. 2 wax refined. As the solvent of the solvent dispersion used for the release layer 12 and the anti-stain layer 14, organic solvents such as toluene, MEK, MIBK, IPA, ethyl acetate, alcohol and the like which are usually used for ink can be used. The dispersed wax preferably has a particle size of 1 to 10 μm. The particle size of the wax of the aqueous dispersion used for the colored layer 13 can be 5 μm or less, and preferably 1 μm or less. Moreover, you may add alcohol, such as ethanol and isopropanol, to the ink of the water dispersion used for the colored layer 13 for the purpose of a drying improvement or a defoaming effect.
[0036]
The release layer 12 is mainly composed of wax and resin, the colored layer 13 is composed mainly of wax and pigment, and the anti-stain layer 14 is composed mainly of wax and filler. An activator or the like can be added.
[0037]
The thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention can be produced by a conventional coating method. For example, a heat-resistant layer forming ink is applied and dried by a gravure method on one of a base material such as a polyester film to form a heat-resistant layer. Then, on the other side of the substrate, the release layer ink is applied and dried by a gravure method to form a release layer, and further, the colored layer ink is applied and dried by a gravure method to form a colored layer, Furthermore, it can be manufactured by coating and drying the antifouling layer ink by a gravure method.
[0038]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples.
On one side of a transparent polyethylene terephthalate film (K430; manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Polyester) having a thickness of 4.5 μm, an acrylic / silicone copolymer (US-350; manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.) is 0.5 μm thick using a gravure coater. A heat-resistant layer was formed by coating at 100 ° C. and drying at 100 ° C.
[0039]
Next, the materials shown in Table 1 shown below are combined, and a release layer, a colored layer, and an ink for forming an antifouling layer are prepared in the configuration shown in Table 2, and the dry coating thickness is sequentially changed using a gravure coater. A thermal transfer recording medium having the following constitution was prepared by coating the coating layer so as to have a thickness of 0.0 μm, a colored layer of 2.0 μm, and an anti-stain layer of 0.5 μm and drying.
[0040]
Example 1 Comparative Example 1 of Thermal Transfer Recording Medium Constructed According to the Present Invention Comparative Example 2 without Release Layer and No Soil-preventing Layer Comparative Example 3 Resin Addition to Colored Layer Without Release Layer and Anti-stain Layer 3 No Anti-stain Layer Comparative Example 4 Antifouling Layer No Filler Comparative Example 5 Exfoliation Layer Excessive Resin Comparison Example 6 Colored Layer Excessive Pigment Comparison Example 7 Excessive Filler Amount of Filler Comparative Example 8 When the Wax is Paraffin Wax
Reference Example 1 When the release layer is water-dispersed ink
Reference Example 2 When the colored layer is solvent-dispersed ink
Reference Example 3 When the background stain prevention layer is water-dispersed ink
Reference Example 4 When the drying temperature of the antifouling layer is lower than the melting point of the wax
Reference Example 5 When the drying temperature of each layer is equal to or higher than the melting point of the wax
Reference Example 6 When the drying temperature of the antifouling layer is 10 ° C. higher than the melting point and the ambient temperature is higher than the melting point.
[Table 1]

[0042]
[Table 2]

[0043]
A thermal transfer recording medium having the above-described configuration is used with a transfer target X (quality paper: made by Oji Paper) and a transfer target Y (cast coated paper: made by Oji Paper), and a thermal transfer printer (M4800RV: manufactured by SATO). The barcode pattern was thermally transferred at a printing speed of 6 inches / sec to obtain a printed image.
[0044]
The obtained transfer image was visually evaluated, and further, as a confirmation of the quality of the obtained image, the print quality based on the ANSI standard was evaluated with a barcode inspection machine (manufactured by L4000 Izumi Data Logic).
[0045]
[Table 3]

[0046]
As can be seen from Table 3, when the thermal transfer recording medium obtained from Example 1 is used, it is possible to print on high-quality paper better than Comparative Examples 1 to 8, and to have high smoothness like cast-coated paper. Good printing is possible on the transfer medium, and there is little background smearing. Among them, the printed material of Example 1 and Comparative Example 8 using paraffin wax instead of carnauba wax was reciprocated 200 times with a cotton cloth (gold No. 3) with a load of 500 g using a Gakushin abrasion tester. No. 1 was less disturbed in the printed image.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
When the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention is used, the present invention can perform good printing on high-quality paper and lightweight coated paper, and can also print on a smooth transfer medium such as film, synthetic paper, and cast coated paper. Thus, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer recording medium which is excellent in print quality and scratch resistance and less scumming than the wax type thermal transfer recording medium.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Base material 11 ... Heat-resistant slipping layer 12 ... Release layer 13 ... Colored layer 14 ... Anti-stain layer

Claims (2)

A method for producing a thermal transfer recording medium, comprising a heat-resistant layer on one side of a substrate, and a thermal transfer recording medium comprising a release layer, a colored layer, and an antifouling layer laminated in this order on the other side of the substrate In
The release layer is composed mainly of wax and resin, the colored layer is composed of wax and pigment, and the antifouling layer is composed mainly of wax and filler. The component of each of these layers has a resin content of 15% or less. The pigment content of the colored layer is 35% or less, and the filler content of the antifouling layer is 35% or less, and the wax is carnauba wax,
The release layer, the colored layer, and the antifouling layer are sequentially laminated by applying an ink composition containing a resin, a pigment, and a filler to a dispersion in which wax is dispersed in an organic solvent or water, respectively, and drying. Formed by
At that time, in the case of the release layer and the colored layer, each is dried at a temperature not higher than the melting point of the wax, and in the case of the antifouling layer, the atmospheric temperature is not higher than the melting point, and the surface of the antifouling layer has the surface. A method for producing a thermal transfer recording medium, characterized by blowing air having a temperature 1 to 10 ° C. higher than the melting point of the wax. Each of the release layer and the anti-stain layer is an ink composition dispersed and dissolved in an organic solvent, and the colored layer is formed by using an ink composition dispersed in water to form each layer. The method for producing a thermal transfer recording medium according to claim 1, wherein:

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