JPH023383A - Sublimating dye transfer picture receiving sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To strengthen a picture receiving surface, and to elevate the density and uniformity of a picture by coating the upper section of a sheet surface with an organic high molecular pigment and a resin material for bonding at a specific rate and forming an intermediate layer having special specific gravity. CONSTITUTION:A sublimating dye transfer picture receiving sheet contains a sheet-shaped substrate, an intermediate layer, which is shaped onto at least one surface of the sheet-shaped substrate, mainly comprises the mixture of a 30-88wt.% organic high molecular pigment and a 12-70wt.% resin material for bonding and has the weight of 10-80g/m<2>, and a sublimating dye transfer picture receiving layer being shaped onto the intermediate layer and including a sublimating dye receiving polymer material. The organic high molecular pigment includes a white or colorless organic high molecular pigment such as a urea-formaldehyde resin, polystyrene, etc. The specific gravity of the pigment is smaller than 2, heat-insulating properties are increased, and the shape and grain size of the pigment are equalized, thus easily attaining the uniformity of a coated surface and the uniformity of the picture receptivity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a sublimation dye transfer image receiving sheet used in a printer that forms an image by heat sublimation transfer of a sublimation dye. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel sublimation dye transfer image-receiving sheet that has high strength, clear and uniform images, high resolution, high image density, and excellent image recording properties.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, high-quality color hard copy technology using a thermal transfer recording method has been rapidly progressing.

In particular, dye transfer printers have the advantages of being able to obtain high-quality recorded images with simple operations, being highly reliable, and being relatively inexpensive. , which is why it is developing rapidly.

In dye transfer type printers, the amount of dye transferred from the ink sheet to the image receiving sheet is continuously controlled by controlling the amount of heat applied from the thermal head in accordance with the image.

The sublimation temperature of the dye is TS, and the peak temperature of the image receiving layer is Tp.
, the heating time is 1S, the relationship between these requirements and the obtained image density is modeled by the following equation.

D= (ts (Tp −Ts))”” +D
p (DD is the color density of the paper) Therefore, 3 colors (Y, M, C) or 4 colors (Y.

Continuous density gradation is possible in the transferred image depending on the amount of each dye transferred from the M, C, B) ink sheet to the receiving sheet in accordance with the heating time.

Therefore, in order to obtain a high-quality recorded image, an intermediate layer mainly composed of a mixture of a pigment and an adhesive resin material is used so that the density of the transferred dye is high and the uniformity of the image is good. A recording sheet provided between a sublimation dye transfer image-receiving layer and a sheet-like support has been proposed.

Further, JP-A No. 61-248791 discloses that an image-receiving layer containing a pigment having an average oil absorption of 35 to 140 rd/g and a particle size of 2 to 20 μm is provided on a support.

However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques were not necessarily fully satisfactory in terms of uniformity, image quality, etc. of the obtained images.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional sheets for sublimation dye transfer printers have been applied directly or onto paper made mainly of natural pulp, films made mainly of polyolefin resin, synthetic paper, etc. An image-receiving layer was provided through an undercoat layer. In general, those using polyolefin synthetic paper as a support can produce full-color, high-quality images, but they have the problem of deformation due to heat during recording, while those using natural pulp paper as a support However, there are problems in that image uniformity cannot be obtained and image density is low, and a recording sheet that satisfactorily satisfies both of these conditions has not been provided.

The present invention has good sublimation dye transfer recording suitability, that is, the dye density transferred to the surface of the recording sheet, that is, the density of the image, is high, the uniformity is good, the price of the recording sheet itself is low,
Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a sublimation dye transfer image-receiving sheet that has good processability, is free from deformation such as curling due to heat during recording, and has an excellent natural appearance.

[Means to solve the problem]

As a result of various studies to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present inventors have developed polymer microspheres, called organic polymer pigments, whose glass transition point is above room temperature, into adhesive resin materials. When an intermediate layer is formed by coating the intermediate layer on the sheet surface, the sublimation dye image-receiving layer provided thereon has good image receptivity, that is, the dye concentration transferred to the recording sheet surface, that is, the image density is high, and the image quality is high. A sublimation dye transfer image-receiving sheet that has good uniformity and therefore provides a high-quality image, is free from deformation such as curling due to heat during recording, has good processability, and has an excellent natural look. I discovered that. That is, the sublimation dye transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention comprises a sheet-like support, 30 to 88% by weight of an organic polymer pigment, and 12 to 70% by weight of an organic polymer pigment formed on at least one surface of the sheet-like support. Contains as a main component a mixture with an adhesive resin material of 10 to 80 g/m
and a sublimation dye transfer image-receiving layer formed on the intermediate layer and comprising a sublimation dye-receptive polymeric material.

The organic polymer pigment used in the present invention includes white or colorless organic polymer pigments such as urea-formalin resin, polystyrene, and polymethyl methacrylate, and the particle shape is spherical, and the surface is The particles may be porous or non-porous, and may have pores inside the particles, or may have no pores. Good too. In addition, two of the above characteristics
It may be a combination of the above. The organic polymer pigment used in the present invention differs from ordinary inorganic pigments in that its specific gravity is less than 2 and has high heat insulation properties, which improves thermal efficiency during transfer and allows the pigment to have a uniform shape and particle size. Therefore, uniformity of the coated surface and uniformity of its image receptivity can be easily achieved, and furthermore, lipophilicity can be imparted to it.

In the intermediate layer of the present invention, pigments other than organic polymer pigments,
For example, it is preferable to use a white inorganic pigment, which is generally used for coated paper, in combination with an organic polymer pigment. Such inorganic pigments are preferably selected from talc, heavy and light calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin, kaolin, silica, and the like.

Although inorganic pigments are inferior to organic polymer pigments in terms of heat insulation, particle shape, particle size uniformity, etc., they have good heat resistance and solvent resistance, so they do not reduce the transfer receptivity of the image-receiving layer. Therefore, mixing them within a range that does not adversely affect image quality is effective in improving the heat resistance, solvent resistance, etc. of the intermediate layer.

In order to improve the adhesion between the transfer ink sheet and the surface of the image-receiving layer, the adhesive resin material used in the intermediate layer of the present invention has a Tg (glass transition point) of 0°C or less. SBR latex, which forms a relatively soft film.
It is preferable to use an acrylic ester copolymer or the like alone or in combination with other adhesives.

As other adhesive resin materials, various water-soluble, solvent-soluble or water-dispersible resin materials such as polyvinyl alcohol can be used. If the amount of the adhesive resin + A material used is 70% by weight or more of the intermediate layer, the receptivity of the image-receiving layer will decrease and the resolution of the image will decrease. Therefore, the total amount of adhesive resin material is 12 to 70% by weight of the solid weight of the intermediate layer, preferably 50% by weight or less. However, if the amount of the adhesive resin material is less than 2% by weight, the adhesive force will generally be insufficient and therefore the mechanical strength of the intermediate layer will be insufficient.

Generally speaking, the weight of the intermediate layer is between 10 and 80 g/m, preferably between 10 and 40 g/m.

If the weight of the intermediate layer is less than 10 g/m, the density and sensitivity of the image will decrease, and the uniformity of the image will deteriorate.

Moreover, when it exceeds 80 g/rrt, the effect is saturated and not only is it uneconomical, but also the mechanical strength of the intermediate layer is reduced.

As the sheet-like support, in addition to paper, synthetic paper and various plastic films can be used depending on the purpose.
In particular, high-quality paper with a sizing degree of 10 seconds or more and a smoothness of 30 seconds or more is preferred as the sheet-like support of the present invention because it is inexpensive and has excellent heat resistance.

The thickness of the sheet-like support used in the present invention is 10 to 20
It is preferable that the weight is 0 μmo and the basis weight is 10 to 200 g/I. As the sheet-like support, it is possible to use paper containing pulp, especially natural pulp as the main raw material, or multilayer synthetic paper containing inorganic pigments, such as l'PG150.
(manufactured by Tamago Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.), etc. can be used.

As sublimation dyes for conventional sublimation dye image transfer printers, dyes for dyeing textiles used in the textile industry have been used. However, in existing dyes,
Those with a low sublimation temperature have poor fixing properties and light resistance, while those with good fixing properties and light resistance have problems such as a high sublimation temperature and the need for a large amount of energy. Therefore, special sublimation dyes for sublimation dye transfer color printers are currently being developed.

The sublimation dye image-receiving layer is made of a resin to which sublimation dyes are easily fixed, such as polyester resin, a sensitizer, a release agent,
A mixture of white pigment and the like is used as required. Sublimation dye-receptive polymer materials include polyester resins, polymers of terephthalic acid and polyhydric alcohols, including polyethylene terephthalate resins,
Alternatively, a copolymer or the like can be used.

The image-receiving sheet of the present invention comprises a sheet-like support, on one or both sides of which a dye for forming an intermediate layer is coated and dried to form an intermediate layer, and a paint containing a sublimation dye-receptive polymer material is further applied thereon. It is manufactured by coating and drying to form an image-receiving layer.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples. In addition, in the examples, "1 part" indicates part by weight of solid content,
In addition, the sheet before coating with the intermediate layer is simply referred to as a support, the sheet coated with only the intermediate layer is referred to as a recording sheet base material, and the sheet on which an image-receiving layer of sublimable dye is provided is referred to as a recording sheet. I will write it as a sheet.

Next] 1st Tsujigami Intermediate layer forming paint-1 having the following composition was prepared.

Organic pigment, styrene-butadiene copolymer pigment (
L8801 Asahi Kasei) 100 parts Adhesive resin material, acrylic ester-styrene copolymer <Trademark: Movinyl 7
67, manufactured by Hoechst Gosei Co., Ltd.) 50 parts Adhesive resin material, 10 parts of starch (trademark Nitamago Ace B, manufactured by Tamago Cornstarch Co., Ltd.) The above components were mixed, and the concentration was 40.
% by weight of paint-1 was prepared, and 30% of the paint-1 was placed on high-quality paper (basis weight 64 g/rrf) used as a support.
g/rd, and dried, and the coated surface was smoothed using a super calender, and the coated surface had a Henk smoothness (Ouken method) of 7000 seconds, and the opposite surface had a smoothness of 5.
A recording sheet base material for 0 seconds was obtained.

A polyester paint (trademark: Hiron 200, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) was applied as a sublimation dye dyeing layer to the surface of the intermediate layer of this recording sheet base material at a solid content of 10 g/n (weight),
The performance of the obtained recording sheet on which the sublimation dye transfer receiving layer was formed was evaluated using a commercially available sublimation transfer printer (Hitachi VY-5).
0) was used to evaluate the print.

The evaluation items for print performance were color density, uniformity, color clarity, and thermal curl. Further, the surface strength of the image-receiving layer was evaluated by an adhesive tape test method.

The evaluation results are shown in Table 1 on a 5-grade scale.

Color density was measured using a Macbeth densitometer.

Color clarity, image uniformity, and thermal curl after printing were evaluated on a five-point scale based on sensory evaluation.

jR1 hill value 5...Excellent.

4...Good.

3...It's about average.

2... or \ is defective (there is a practical problem.) 1
...It is defective (there is a serious defect). The test results are shown in Table 1.

The same operation as in Example 1 was performed. However, the paint for the intermediate layer is
The paint had the composition shown below in paint-2.
Trademark: L8801, manufactured by Asahi Kasei Co., Ltd.) 80 parts additional pigment, baked resin (trademark: Ancilesox, manufactured by Engelhardt Co., Ltd.) 2 (1) Adhesive resin material, acrylic styrene copolymer emulsion (trademark: Movinyl 7)
311 (manufactured by Hoechst Synthesis) 50 parts adhesive resin material, polyvinyl alcohol (trademark: NL, 05
, manufactured by Nippon Gosei Kagaku Co., Ltd.) 10-part powder, polyacrylic acid soda (trademark Nearon T40,
0.5 parts of Paint-2 (manufactured by Toagosei Kagaku Co., Ltd.) was applied to high-quality paper (basis weight 64 g/m) used as a support at a solid content of 30
g/rd, and dried, and the surface of the obtained intermediate layer was smoothed with a super calender, and the coated surface was 7.
A recording sheet base material having a smoothness of 2000 seconds and a smoothness of 50 seconds on the opposite side was obtained.

Table 1 shows the performance test results of a recording sheet obtained from this sheet base material in the same manner as in Example 1.

Implementation ① The same operations as in Main Example 1 were performed. However, the paint for forming the intermediate layer had the composition of Paint-3 below.

1. Organic pigment, benzoguanamine resin (trademark: Epostor S
, manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.) 100 parts adhesive resin material, 50 parts of acrylic copolymer (trademark: Valaloid B82, manufactured by Rohm & Haas Co., Ltd.), paint-3, and high-quality paper used as a support (basis weight 64
g/m) at a solid weight of 30 g/rd,
After drying, the surface of the resulting intermediate layer was smoothed using a supercalender. The Bekk smoothness of the surface of the obtained intermediate layer was 1500 seconds, and the smoothness of the opposite surface was 50 seconds. Using the obtained recording sheet 1-substrate, a recording sheet was formed in the same manner as in Example 1, and its performance test was conducted. The results are shown in Table 1.

The same operation as in Example 1 was performed. However, the intermediate layer was formed by undercoating the surface of the support with coating material 1 described in Example and then overcoating coating material 4 having the following composition.

Paint 2↓ Pigment, clay (trademark: HG clay, manufactured by Engelhard) 100 parts Adhesive resin material: styrene-butadiene copolymer latex (trademark: JSRO6)
42, manufactured by Nippon Gosei Rubber Co., Ltd.) 50 parts and polyvinyl alcohol (trademark: N L O5, manufactured by Nippon Gosei Kagaku Co., Ltd.) 10 parts Dispersant, polyacrylic acid soda (trademark: Nearon T40, manufactured by Toagosei Kagaku Co., Ltd.) 1
Part 2 On the same support as in Example 1, a coating layer of 20 g/m of paint 1 and a coating layer of 20 g/m of paints 4 to 4 having a concentration of 50% by weight were laminated to form an intermediate layer. Then, the surface of this intermediate layer was smoothed with a super calender, and the surface of the intermediate layer had a flatness of 500 seconds, and the opposite side had a smoothness of 6.
A sheet substrate for recording at 0 seconds was manufactured.

An image-receiving layer similar to that in Example 1 was formed on this sheet base material, and a performance test was conducted on the resulting recording sheet. The results are shown in Table 1.

Support material: high-quality paper (basis weight (64 g)
/n() with a solid content of 3 Q g/rl and dried, and the surface of the obtained intermediate layer was smoothed with a super calendar to achieve a smoothness of 4000.
A recording sheet base material with a smoothness of 50 seconds on the opposite side was obtained. Table 1 shows the test results of the obtained recording sheet, in which the same image-receiving layer as in Example I was formed on this sheet substrate.

Comparative Example 2 As a recording sheet base material, a multi-layer grooved synthetic paper Yubo FPG150 (thickness 150, manufactured by Tamago Yuka Synthetic Co., Ltd.) containing an inorganic pigment was used. An image receiving layer similar to that in Example 1 was formed on the sheet base material. The test results of the recording sheet obtained are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 [Effects of the Invention] The sublimation dye transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention has a strong image-receiving surface, good uniformity of the obtained image, high color density of the image, and heat resistance of the sheet after printing. It has less curl, the sheet price is low, and the image has excellent vividness and natural feel, eliminating the drawbacks of conventional sheets and enabling high-resolution sublimation dye transfer printing.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. a sheet-like support; and 3. formed on at least one surface of the sheet-like support;
0-88% by weight organic polymer pigment and 12-70% by weight
an intermediate layer containing as a main component a mixture with an adhesive resin material and having a weight of 10 to 80 g/m^2; and a sublimation dye formed on the intermediate layer and containing a sublimation dye-receptive polymer material. A sublimation dye transfer image receiving sheet comprising a transfer image receiving layer.