JPH02229086A - Thermal transfer recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a high-quality printing image by a method wherein a second heat softening layer is provided on a substrate through a first heat softening layer, which contains a hot melt substance, and the second heat softening layer contains an alkyl ester of poly(metha)acrylic acid series. CONSTITUTION:A first heat softening layer at least containing a hot melt substance is provided between a substrate and a second heat softening layer. The first heat softening layer is rapidly released from the substrate, thereby improving high-speed printing properties. The second heat softening layer at least containing an alkyl ester of poly(metha)acrylic acid series is provided on the first heat softening layer directly or through an intermediate layer or other layers. In this manner, a high-quality printing image having a high adhesion even on a low-surface smoothness transfer medium, such as rough paper, can be formed with superior fixing properties after printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a thermal transfer recording medium. More specifically, it has excellent resolution, sufficient adhesion even to transfer media with low surface smoothness, excellent fixation after printing, and heat softening properties even when performing high-speed printing. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording medium in which a transparent layer is quickly transferred from a support to a transfer medium to achieve high print quality.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In recent years, with the spread of thermal transfer devices such as word processors, thermal transfer recording media consisting of a heat-softening layer laminated on a support have come into wide use. There is.

However, with conventional thermal transfer recording media, print quality is easily affected by the surface smoothness of the transfer medium (transfer paper, etc.), and it also depends on the fixation of the printed image after printing, and also increases the printing speed. However, there is a problem in that the print quality is significantly deteriorated.

Therefore, with the aim of improving the fixation of the printed image after printing, various attempts have been made to make the heat-softening layer of the thermal transfer recording medium have a multilayer structure, or to add various additives to the heat-softening layer. ing.

For example, the heat-softening layer may have a two-layer structure consisting of an intermediate layer and a heat-fusible ink layer, and the melting point of the intermediate layer near the support may be lower than the melting point of the heat-fusible ink layer outside the intermediate layer. A heat-sensitive transfer recording medium with a low temperature has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 80-189492).

In this heat-sensitive transfer recording medium, the peelability from the support can be compensated by the intermediate layer, so the melting point of the heat-fusible ink layer can be lowered compared to a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium that does not have such an intermediate layer. It is possible to relatively improve the fixing properties of printed images.

However, even with this thermal transfer recording medium, it cannot be said that the adhesion to the transfer medium is sufficient, especially when printing is performed on a transfer medium with low surface smoothness or when printing is performed at high speed. In some cases, there is a problem in that background smudges and trailing are likely to occur, resulting in deterioration in print quality.

This invention has been made based on the above circumstances.

That is, an object of the present invention is to have excellent resolution, sufficient adhesion even to transfer media with low surface smoothness, excellent fixing properties after printing, and, moreover, a material that can be used for high-speed printing. Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium in which a heat-softening layer can be quickly transferred from a support to a transfer medium to obtain a high-quality printed image.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the problems described above, as a result of extensive studies, the inventor has developed a method in which a specific first heat-softening layer and a second heat-softening layer are formed on a support. The thermal transfer recording medium has excellent resolving power, has sufficient adhesion to transfer media with low surface smoothness, and has excellent fixing properties after printing, and is suitable for high-speed printing. The inventors have also discovered that a heat-softening layer can be rapidly transferred from a support to a transfer medium to achieve high print quality, and have thus arrived at the present invention.

That is, the structure of the present invention is that in a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium in which a second heat-softening layer is provided on a support through a first heat-softening layer, the first heat-softening layer is made of a heat-melting material. , and the second heat-softening layer contains a poly(meth)acrylic acid-based alkyl ester.

The heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the present invention is formed by laminating at least a first heat-softening layer and a second heat-softening layer in this order on a support. Note that the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention may have other layers within a range that does not impair its characteristics. For example, the first thermosoftening layer may be laminated on the support with another layer such as a release layer interposed therebetween, or an intermediate layer or the like may be laminated below the second thermosoftening layer. good.

Next, the structure of the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the present invention will be explained in the order of the support, the first heat-softening layer, and the second heat-softening layer.

Support The support in the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention preferably has good heat resistance strength and high dimensional stability.

The materials include, for example, papers such as plain paper, condenser paper, laminated paper, and coated paper; resin films such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyimide; composites of paper and resin films; and aluminum foil. All metal sheets such as the above are preferably used.

The thickness of the support is usually 30 JLm or less, preferably 2
~30 gm. Support thickness is 30JLm
Exceeding this may result in deterioration of thermal conductivity and deterioration of printing quality.

In the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention, the structure on the back side of the support may be arbitrary, and for example, a backing layer such as an anti-sticking layer may be provided.

A first heat-softening layer, which will be described in detail below, is laminated on the support adjacent thereto or via, for example, a conventionally known release layer or anchor layer.

- Second heat-softening layer - One of the important points in this invention is that a first heat-softening layer containing at least a heat-melting substance is provided between the support and the second heat-softening layer, which will be described in detail next. The purpose is to provide a softening layer.

The first heat-softening layer in this invention is quickly peeled off from the support, and the high-speed printing properties of the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of this invention are improved.

Such properties of the first heat-softening layer are mainly brought about by the heat-melting substance contained in the first heat-softening layer.

Specific examples of the heat-melting substances include vegetable waxes such as carnauba wax, wood wax, auriculie wax, and Nispar wax; animal waxes such as beeswax, insect wax 1, serrata wax, and spermaceti wax; paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, and polyethylene wax. , petroleum waxes such as ester waxes and acid waxes; and mineral waxes such as montan wax, osichelite and ceresin; and in addition to these waxes, palmitic acid, stearic acid, margaric acid, etc. and higher fatty acids such as behenic acid: higher alcohols such as palmityl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, marganyl alcohol, myricyl alcohol, and eicosanol: higher fatty acids such as cetyl palmitate, myricyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, and myricyl stearate Esters; amides such as acetamide, propionic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, stearic acid amide and amide wax; and higher amines such as stearylamine, behenylamine and valmitylamine.

These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Among these, preferred is a wax whose melting point is within the range of 50 to 100°C as measured using a purlin MJP-2 type.

The content rate of the thermofusible substance in the first thermosoftening layer is:
Generally, 5 to 8
Within the range of 5% by weight, preferably 50-90% by weight
It is more preferably within the range of 60 to 80% by weight.

The first heat-softening layer may contain a thermoplastic resin together with the heat-melting substance.

The thermoplastic resins include ethylene copolymers, polyamide resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, acrylic resins, vinyl chloride resins, cellulose resins, rosin resins, ionomer resins, and petroleum resins. resins such as natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, imprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, and diene copolymers; rosin derivatives such as ester gum, rosin maleic resin, rosin phenolic resin, and hydrogenated rosin; and Examples include polymeric compounds having a softening point of 50 to 150°C, such as phenol resins, terpene resins, cyclopentadiene resins, and aromatic hydrocarbon resins.

Among the various thermoplastic resins, acrylic resins, diene copolymers, and ethylene copolymers are preferred. This is because by using these, it is possible to obtain a thermal transfer recording medium with particularly good high-speed printing quality.

Preferred thermoplastic resins will be explained below.

Examples of the acrylic resin include acrylic resins obtained by polymerizing monobasic carboxylic acids such as (meth)acrylic acid or esters thereof, and at least one type of compound that can be copolymerized with these. Can be done.

Examples of the carboxylic acid or its ester include (
(meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid methyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid ethyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid isopropyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid butyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid isobutyl ester, (
meth)acrylic acid amyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid hexyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid octyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid decyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid dodecyl ester, Examples include (meth)acrylic acid hydroxyethyl ester and (meth)acrylic acid hydroxyethyl ester.

Further, examples of the above-mentioned copolymerizable compounds include vinyl acetate, expanded vinyl, vinylidene chloride, maleic anhydride,
Fumaric anhydride, styrene, 2-methylstyrene, chlorostyrene, acrylonitrile, vinyltoluene, N-methylol (meth)acrylamide, N-butoxymethyl (
Examples include meth)acrylamide, vinylpyridine and N-vinylpyrrolidone.

Examples of the diene copolymer include butadiene-styrene copolymer, butadiene-styrene-vinylpyridine copolymer, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, chloroprene-styrene copolymer, and chloroprene-acrylonitrile copolymer. .

Examples of the ethylene copolymer include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-isobutyl acrylate copolymer, and ethylene-acrylic acid. Examples include copolymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymers, and ethylene-acrylic acid metal salt copolymers.

These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The content rate of the thermoplastic resin in the first thermosoftening layer is:
Usually within the range of 0.5 to 30% by weight, preferably within the range of 1 to 20% by weight, more preferably 2% by weight.
-15% by weight.

The first heat-softening coloring material layer may contain, in addition to the above-mentioned components, a surfactant such as a polyoxyethylene chain-containing compound in order to adjust releasability.

Furthermore, inorganic or organic fine particles (metal powder, silica gel, etc.) or oils (linseed oil, mineral oil, etc.) can also be added.

In the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the present invention, the first heat-softening layer may contain a coloring material.

Examples of the coloring material include pigments such as inorganic pigments and organic pigments, and dyes.

Examples of the inorganic pigments include titanium dioxide, carbon black, zinc oxide, Prussian blue, cadmium sulfide, iron oxide, and chromates of lead, zinc, barium, and calcium.

Examples of the organic pigments include azo, thioindigo, anthraquinone, anthanthrone, and triphenedioxazine pigments, vat dye pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, such as copper phthalocyanine and its derivatives, and quinacridone pigments.

Examples of the dye include acid dyes, direct dyes, disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes, and metal-containing oil-soluble dyes.

When the first heat-softening layer contains the coloring material, the content of the coloring material in the first heat-softening layer is usually in the range of 5 to 30% by weight, preferably 10 to 25% by weight. is within the range of

The first heat-softening layer can be formed by hot-melt coating method, water-based coating method,
Coating can be done using a coating method using an organic solvent.

The layer thickness of the first heat-softening layer coated on the support by such a coating method is usually within the range of 0.8 to 8.0 gm, preferably 1.0 to 5.0 gm. ．． It is within the range of m.

On the first heat-softening layer thus formed, a second heat-softening layer, which will be described in detail below, is laminated, for example, via an intermediate layer or directly.

Second heat-softening layer One of the important points in this invention is that at least the poly(meth)acrylic Acid-based alkyl ester [Hereinafter, the poly(meth)acrylic acid-based alkyl ester may be referred to as resin (A). ) is provided.

The second heat-softening layer in this invention has high adhesion even to transfer media with low surface smoothness, such as so-called rough paper, and has excellent fixing properties after printing, resulting in high-quality printed images. It is formed.

Such properties of the second heat-softening layer are mainly brought about by the resin (A) contained in the second heat-softening layer. That is,
The resin (A) has a property of softening the second heat-softening layer when heated by, for example, a thermal head of a printer, thereby improving adhesive strength to the transfer medium.

The resin (A) is obtained by polymerizing an acrylic acid alkyl ester and/or a methacrylic acid alkyl ester.

The acrylic acid alkyl esters include acrylic acid methyl ester, acrylic acid ethyl ester, acrylic acid isopropyl ester, acrylic acid butyl ester,
Acrylic acid isobutyl ester, acrylic acid amyl ester, acrylic acid hexyl ester, acrylic acid octyl ester, acrylic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester, acrylic acid decyl ester, acrylic acid dodecyl ester, acrylic acid hydroxyethyl ester, acrylic acid hydroxyethyl ester, Examples include polyethylene glycol diacrylate and trimethylolpropane triacrylate.

The methacrylic acid alkyl esters include methacrylic acid methyl ester, methacrylic acid ethyl ester, methacrylic acid inpropyl ester, methacrylic acid butyl ester, methacrylic acid isobutyl ester, amyl methacrylate ester, hegycyl methacrylate ester,
methacrylic acid octyl ester, methacrylic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester, methacrylic acid decyl ester,
Examples include dodecyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate.

In addition, the resin (A) may contain other monomers in addition to the acrylic acid alkyl ester and the methacrylic acid alkyl ester in order to add other properties, for example, to improve the dispersibility of the coloring material. It may also be a polymerized one.

Other monomers include monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and maleic anhydride.

The resin (A) has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 200
．． It is preferable that it is 000 or more.

The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the resin (A) is 200.0
When it is 00 or more, the effects of the present invention can be exhibited even more.

The content of the resin (A) in the second thermosoftening layer is usually in the range of 1 to 90% by weight, preferably 5 to 8% by weight.
It is within the range of 0% by weight.

It is preferable that the second heat-softening layer further contains a heat-softening resin having a softening point of 60 to 100°C.

When the second heat-softening layer contains a heat-softening resin having a softening point of BO to 100°C, the effects of the present invention can be further exhibited.

The thermoplastic resin is preferably at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polyester resin, phenol resin, polystyrene resin, styrene-acrylic resin, ketone resin, and rosin-modified resin.

The second heat-softening layer is made of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or a derivative thereof [hereinafter referred to as the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or its derivative] having a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight or more, preferably 35% by weight or more. The derivative is mixed with resin (B
) may be said. ] It is preferable to contain.

Further, the second heat-softening layer is made of an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer or a derivative thereof having an ethyl acrylate content of 28% by weight or more, preferably 35% by weight or more.
Hereinafter, the ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer or its derivative may be referred to as resin (C). ] It is preferable to contain.

The second heat-softening layer may be made of an ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer or a derivative thereof [hereinafter referred to as the ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer] having a methyl methacrylate content of 28% by weight or more, preferably 35% by weight or more. The copolymer or its derivative is sometimes referred to as resin (D).

] It is preferable to contain.

The second thermosoftening layer contains at least one of resin (B), resin (C), and resin CD,
The second heat-softening layer is softened, and the adhesion to the transfer medium is further improved, making it possible to achieve higher fixability of the printed image after printing.

In the present invention, the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or its derivative that can be suitably used is not particularly limited as long as it has a vinyl acetate content of 28% by weight or more; for example, organic peroxide or oxygen It may be an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) obtained by reacting ethylene and vinyl acetate in the presence of
It may also be a graft-modified terpolymer obtained by adding a catalyst, an alcohol, and an unsaturated carboxylic acid to the raw material EVA and causing the mixture to react.

In this invention, the ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer or its derivative that can be suitably used is not particularly limited as long as the content of ethyl acrylate is 28% by weight or more; for example, ethylene and acrylate Ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer resin (EEA resin) obtained by a polymerization reaction with ethyl or a derivative thereof can be suitably used.

Similarly, there are no particular restrictions on the ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer or its derivatives as long as the methyl methacrylate content is 28% by weight or more; for example, it can be obtained by a polymerization reaction of ethylene and methyl methacrylate. Ethylene methyl methacrylate copolymer resin (E
MMA resin) or a derivative thereof can be suitably used.

The second heat-softening layer preferably contains the heat-softening resin, resin (B), resin (C), and resin (D) in addition to the resin (A). It may also contain meltable substances, other thermoplastic resins, surfactants such as polyoxyethylene chain-containing compounds, and the like.

Any of these materials that can be used in the first thermosoftening layer described above can be suitably used.

Furthermore, the second thermosoftening layer may contain a coloring material.

However, when the second heat-softening layer contains a coloring material, if the content becomes high, the adhesion of the second heat-softening layer to the transfer medium may decrease. When high-speed printing is performed using a recording medium, the fixing properties after printing may deteriorate.

Therefore, when the second heat-softening layer contains a coloring material, the content of the coloring material in the second heat-softening layer is usually 1, 30
It is preferably at most 25% by weight, preferably at most 25% by weight.

Note that the coloring material that can be contained in the second heat-softening layer is the same as the coloring material that can be contained in the first heat-softening layer.

The second heat-softening layer is usually applied directly or on top of the first heat-softening layer by employing a coating method similar to that which can be applied to the first heat-softening layer. Although the coating can be applied through another intermediate layer, a coating method using an organic solvent can be particularly preferably employed.

The layer thickness of the second heat-softening layer coated in this way is usually within the range of 0.1 to 3 gm, preferably 0.1 to 3 gm.
It is within the range of 3 to 2 JLm.

- In addition, in the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention, a conventionally known release layer or anchor layer may be provided between the support and the first heat-softening layer, or a conventionally known release layer or anchor layer may be provided between the support and the first heat-softening layer. An intermediate layer may be provided between the second thermosoftening layer.

Moreover, an overcoat layer can also be laminated on the second thermosoftening layer.

As the overcoat layer, for example, a wax layer or a polymer layer that does not contain a coloring material is suitable.

After each layer is coated in this manner, it is optionally subjected to a drying process, a surface smoothing process, etc., and then cut into a desired shape to obtain the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention.

The heat-sensitive transfer recording medium thus obtained can be used, for example, in the form of a tape or a typewriter ribbon.

The heat-sensitive transfer method using this heat-sensitive transfer recording medium is not different from a normal heat-sensitive transfer recording method, but will be explained using an example in which the most typical thermal head is used as a heat source.

First, the heat-softening layer of the thermal transfer recording medium and the medium to be transferred, such as transfer paper, are brought into close contact with each other, and if necessary, heat pulses are further applied from the back side of the transfer paper using a platen, and a heat pulse is applied using a thermal head. The heat-softening layer corresponding to the desired print or transfer pattern is locally heated.

The temperature of the heated portion of the thermosoftening layer increases, and the heated portion is quickly softened and transferred onto the transfer medium.

At this time, since the first heat-softening layer contains the above-mentioned heat-melting substance, it is quickly peeled off from the support even when printing is performed at high speed, and the second heat-softening layer contains the above-mentioned resin (A).
, it is possible to form a high-quality printed image that exhibits high adhesion even to a transfer medium with a low surface smoothness and has good fixability after printing.

[Example] Next, Examples and Comparative Examples of the present invention will be shown to further specifically explain the present invention.

(Example 1) The following first heat-softening layer composition was applied on a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 3.51 Lm to a dry film thickness of 2.5 Lm. O
A first heat-softening layer was formed by coating to give a pLm.

The coating was carried out using a hot melt method using a wire bar.

- Heat-softening heat-softening stratified carbon blur 2...15% by weight paraffin wax [melting point (layer p); 70°C]...Fist...
70% by weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer [vinyl acetate content: 20% by weight]...15% by weight Next, a second heat-softening footwear composition described below was applied on the first heat-softening layer. A second heat-softening layer was formed by coating to a dry film thickness of 1.5 pLm to produce a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the present invention.

The coating was carried out using a coating method using an organic solvent (MEK, 35° C.).

Second heat-softening footwear composition polyacrylic acid stearyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 180,000] 80% by weight Carbon black 20% by weight Thermal transfer recording medium obtained A commercially available high-speed printer (24-dot serial head, applied energy: 25 mJ hat)
, and transfer (print) the alphabet onto copy paper and Lancaster paper (Beck smoothness: 2 seconds).
High-speed printing performance on rough paper was evaluated.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Note that high-speed printing performance was evaluated as follows.

High-speed printing: Under the condition of a high-speed printer with a platen pressure of 350 g, printing was performed while changing the printing speed as shown in Table 1, and the printing quality of the resulting printed image was visually evaluated, and the adhesive tape A peel test was conducted using ["Post-It Tape" manufactured by Sumitomo 3M ■] to evaluate the fixation of the printed image.

In Table 1, the meanings of the symbols are as follows.

Print quality: ○・・・・・・・・・No voids or blurring, and excellent edge sharpness.

O: There are no voids or stains.

Δ...--There are some voids.

×・・・・・・There are many voids and the characters are difficult to read.

After being placed in place ■... After peeling off the tape, there is no change in the printing at all.

O: There is almost no change in the printing after the tape is peeled off.

Δ: Ink peels off slightly.

×・・・・・・・−Printing peels off.

(Example 2) In Example 1, the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used instead of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1. It was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 above.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second thermosetting footwear composition polymethacrylic acid ethyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 85,000]...85% by weight
Carbon black: 15% by weight (Example 3) In Example 1, in place of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1, the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used. The test was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a heat-softening footwear composition was used.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition polymethacrylic acid butyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 360,000] φ・
40% by weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer [vinyl acetate content 35% by weight] ---40% by weight carbon black --- 1III.2o% by weight (Example 4) In the above-mentioned Example 1, the above-mentioned Example Example 1 was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used in place of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition polymethacrylic acid butyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 380,000]...
330 wt% rosin modified resin softening point (sp) 90°C]...50 wt% carbon black...Contest--20 wt% result first
Shown in the table.

(Example 5) In Example 1, the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used in place of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1, and the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used. The thickness of the thermosoftening layer is 1
．． 0.5 meters from the end. Example 1 above except that it was changed to full m
It was carried out in the same manner.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition Polyacrylic acid stearyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 300.000] 30% by weight ketone resin [softening point (sp) 90°C] 50% by weight carbon black e11 ...20% by weight (Example 6) In Example 1, the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was substituted for the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1. The experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the same material was used.

Second heat-softening footwear composition polymethacrylic acid butyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 3B0,000] --
30% by weight ethyl 1/-vinyl acetate copolymer [vinyl acetate content 35% by weight] φ・20% by weight Rosin modified resin [softening point (sp) 90°C] ・・φ・・・50% by weight
(Example 7) In Example 1, the following second heat-softening footwear composition was used instead of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1. , carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 above.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition polymethacrylic acid ethyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 480,000]...
20% by weight ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer [ethyl acrylate content 35% by weight]...
40% by weight Ketone resin [softening point (sp) 90°C]...20% by weight Carbon black fist eφ...111120% by weight (Example 8) In the above Example 1, the second heat used in the above Example 1 The experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used instead of the softening footwear composition.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition polybutyl methacrylate ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 230,000] 30% by weight ethylene-methacrylic methyl copolymer, methyl methacrylate content 38% by weight]・φ・Sha・20% by weight Alkylphenol resin [Softening point (SP) 75°C]・・・・・30% by weight Carbon black board・Bot・#e・20% by weight (Example 9
) In Example 1, the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used in place of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1. It was carried out in the same manner.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition polymethacrylic acid butyl ester [average molecular weight (Mw); 3B0,000] --
225 wt% ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer Vinyl acetate content 40 wt%]...20 wt% rosin modified resin [softening point (sp) 80°C]...30 wt% polystyrene resin [softening point (sp) 80℃ ・・・・・Fist 25% by weight
(Comparative Example 1) In Example 1, the following second heat-softening footwear composition was used instead of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1. A thermal transfer recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, and the resulting thermal transfer recording medium was evaluated for high-speed printing performance on rough paper.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer [vinyl acetate content 40% by weight]...40% by weight Rosin modified resin [softening point (sp) 80°C]...40 Weight% carbon black・Φ...20% by weight Composition for second heat-softening layer Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer [vinyl acetate content 40% by weight]...80% by weight Carbon black... 20% by weight (Comparative Example 2) In Example 1, the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used in place of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1. A thermal transfer recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the composition was used, and the resulting thermal transfer recording medium was evaluated for high-speed printing performance on rough paper.

The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 3) In Example 1, the second heat-softening footwear composition shown below was used instead of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 1. A thermal transfer recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, and the resulting thermal transfer recording medium was evaluated for high-speed printing performance on rough paper.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Second heat-softening footwear composition Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer [vinyl acetate content 40% by weight] - φ20% by weight ketone resin [softening point (sp) 90°C] 30% by weight Polystyrene resin [softening point (sp) 80°C] ...Fist・e・30% by weight
Carbon black...Φ...020% by weight (this page, the following margins) (Evaluation) As is clear from Table 1, the thermal transfer recording medium of this invention has a low surface smoothness like Lancaster paper. It was confirmed that even when printing was performed on a transfer medium at high speed, excellent fixing properties were exhibited and there was little deterioration in the good print quality.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the support has at least a first heat-softening layer and a second heat-softening layer, and (1) the first heat-softening layer has at least a heat-melting layer. (2) The second heat-softening layer has at least Contains poly(meth)acrylic acid-based alkyl ester, so it exhibits sufficient adhesion even to transfer media with low surface smoothness, and produces high-quality printed images with excellent fixation properties after printing. To provide a thermal transfer recording medium which has the following advantages: (3) Even when the printing speed is increased, there is little deterioration in printing quality and it is highly adaptable to high-speed printing. be able to.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium in which a second heat-softening layer is provided on a support via a first heat-softening layer, the first heat-softening layer contains a heat-melting substance; A heat-sensitive transfer recording medium characterized in that the second heat-softening layer contains a poly(meth)acrylic acid-based alkyl ester.