JPH04197790A - Composite thermal transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a composite thermal transfer sheet which enables formation of a high-quality color image by providing a dye layer consisting of a mold lubricant component. CONSTITUTION:A composite thermal transfer sheet is composed of single color or multi-color dye layers 2 and a single or a plurality of peel-off dye receptive layers sequentially provided on one surface of a long base film 1. In addition, a transferable protecting layer 4 is formed, if necessary. The base film is such as glassine paper, capacitor paper as thin paper, and polyester, polypropyrene as plastics. Further, the dye layer is a layer where dye is borne by a binder resin, and the recommended binder resins are cellulose and acetal resins. Sublimable dye, binder resin and other optional components are added to a solvent, and dissolved or dispersed to prepare an ink for dye layer formation. This ink is applied, in sequential surface order, on the base film, and dried. A mold lubricant is added to the ink. Consequently, it is possible to obtain a composite thermal transfer sheet by which a high-quality color image is formed, with excellent properties such as transferability of an image-receptive layer, foil cutting, peeling-off during image formation and adhesiveness of a protecting layer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a composite thermal transfer sheet, and more particularly to a composite thermal transfer sheet capable of forming high-quality color images by a thermal transfer method.

(Prior art and its problems) Conventionally, various thermal transfer methods are known, but among them, thermal transfer is carried out by using a sublimable dye as a recording agent and supporting it on a base film such as paper or Plus Dec film. As a sheet,
Various methods have been proposed for forming full-color images on image-receiving sheets such as paper and plastic films provided with dye-receiving layers.

In this case, the printer's thermal head is used as a heating means, and by heating in an extremely short time, three or four colors can be printed.
A large number of colored dots are transferred to an image receiving sheet, and a full-color image of an original is reproduced using the multicolored colored dots.

Image-receiving sheets on which images can be formed using the above method are limited to plastic sheets that can be dyed or paper that has a dye-receiving layer in advance, and there is a problem that images cannot be directly formed on ordinary plain paper. There is. To solve these problems, when trying to form an image on a ready-made image-receiving sheet such as plain paper, a receptor layer transfer sheet is a method to easily form a dye-receiving layer only in the necessary areas. This is known (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-264994). Furthermore, as a method to simplify the operation, yellow, cyan, magenta, and, if necessary, black dye layers are sequentially formed on the surface of a long base film, and a transfer receiving layer is further formed on the same base film surface. A composite thermal transfer sheet has also been proposed in which a receiving layer is first transferred to an image-receiving sheet, and then dyes of each color are transferred to the receiving layer to form a full-color image. In this case, a release agent is added to the receptor layer in order to prevent adhesion between the receptor layer and the dye layer when forming an image after transferring the receptor layer.

However, as a result of the addition of a release agent to the receptor layer, adhesion to the material to be transferred and foil tearability may be insufficient during transfer of the receptor layer.

Furthermore, after forming an image on the transfer-receiving layer, it is sometimes required to provide a protective layer on the image surface, but in this case, the adhesion of the protective layer is insufficient and good image protection cannot be achieved. There's a problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite thermal transfer sheet which has excellent transferability of a receptor layer, foil tearability, peelability during image formation, adhesion of a protective layer, etc., and is capable of forming high-quality color images.

(Means for solving problems) The above objects are achieved by the present invention as described below.

That is, the present invention provides a composite thermal transfer sheet in which a dye layer of one or more colors and one or more removable dye-receiving layers are sequentially provided on one side of a long base film, The present invention is a composite thermal transfer sheet characterized in that the dye layer has a release agent component.

(Function) By incorporating a release agent component into the dye layer, it is possible to form high-quality color images with excellent transferability of the receptor layer, foil tearability, peelability during image formation, adhesion of the protective layer, etc. A composite thermal transfer sheet is provided that can be used to

(Preferred Embodiments) Next, the present invention will be described in more detail by citing preferred embodiments.

As the cross section of the composite thermal transfer sheet of the present invention is schematically shown in FIG. Dye layers of magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (not shown) if necessary, and one or more peelable dye-receiving layers 3 are provided in sequence, and further transferred if necessary. A protective layer 4 is formed.

As the base film used in the present invention, the same base film used for conventional thermal transfer sheets can be used as is, and other base films can also be used, and there are no particular restrictions. Preferred base films Specific examples include thin paper such as glassine paper, capacitor paper, paraffin paper, polyester, polypropylene, cellophane, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, nylon, polyimide, polyvinylidene chloride, ionomer, etc. Examples include a base film made of plastic or a composite of these and the paper.

The thickness of this base film can be changed as appropriate depending on the material so that its strength, heat resistance, etc. are appropriate, but the thickness is preferably 3 to 100 μm.

The dye layer formed on the surface of the base film as described above is a layer in which a dye is supported by an arbitrary binder resin. The dye to be used is not particularly limited, as any dye used in conventionally known thermal transfer sheets can be used in the present invention. For example, some preferred dyes include red dyes, MS Red G, Macro
lex Red Violet R1 Ceres Re
d7B, Samaron Red HBSL, Re5o
lin RedF3BS, etc., and yellow dyes include Holon Brilliant Yellow 6GL, PT
Y-52, Macrolex Yellow 6G, etc.
Examples of the blue dye include Kayacet Blue 14, Waxolin Blue AP-FW, Holon Brilliant Blue S-R, and MS Blue 100.

As the binder resin for supporting the above-described dye, any conventionally known binder resin can be used, and preferred examples include ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxy cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate,
Examples include cellulose resins such as cellulose acetate butyrate, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and polyacrylamide, and polyesters. , butyral type, polyester type, etc. are preferable from the viewpoint of heat resistance, dye migration property, etc.

Furthermore, the dye layer may also contain various other conventionally known additives as required.

Preferably, such a dye layer is prepared by adding the above-mentioned sublimable dye, binder resin, and other optional components in a suitable solvent, dissolving or dispersing each component, and preparing a paint or ink for forming the dye layer. is formed by sequentially coating and drying on the above base film.

The dye layer formed in this way is 0.2 to 5.0 LLm,
The thickness is preferably about 0.4 to 2.0 μm, and the sublimable dye in the dye layer is 5 to 90% by weight of the weight of the dye layer.
, preferably in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight.

In one example of the present invention, a release agent is added to the ink for forming the dye layer when forming the dye layer. In another example, a release agent layer may be formed on the surface of the dye layer after it is formed. Examples of these mold release agents include silicone oil, phosphate ester surfactants, and fluorine surfactants, with silicone oil being preferred. As the silicone oil, modified silicone oils such as epoxy-modified, alkyl-modified, amine-modified, carboxyl-modified, alcohol-modified, fluorine-modified, alkylaralkyl polyether-modified, epoxy-polyether-modified, and polyether-modified silicone oils are desirable.

One or more types of mold release agents may be used. When adding this mold release agent to the dye layer, it is preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the dye layer forming resin. If the amount added does not satisfy this range, problems such as fusion between the thermal transfer sheet and the dye-receiving layer or a decrease in printing sensitivity may occur. By adding such a release agent to the dye layer, the release agent bleeds out to the surface of the dye layer after transfer, forming a release layer.

Moreover, instead of using the above-mentioned mold release agent, a binder modified with a mold release segment such as a silicone compound, a fluorine compound, or a long-chain aliphatic compound can also be used as the resin used to form the dye layer.

The dye-receiving layer formed on the surface of the base film is for receiving the sublimable dye transferred from the thermal transfer sheet after being transferred to an arbitrary image-receiving sheet and maintaining the formed image.

The dye-receiving layer is provided in plane order with respect to the dye layer. The relationship with the dye layer is not particularly limited, but for example, the receptor layer =>
Y = 3M -3C-b Bk receptive layer order, receptive layer in receptive layer -> Y -> M) C) Bk) receptive layer) receptive layer order, receptive layer = OY ep in receptive layer Examples include the following order: M (receptive layer), (C) receptive layer < 13 k => receptive layer, etc.

It is preferable to form a release layer on the surface of the base film prior to forming the receptor layer. Such a peeling layer is made of wax,
It is formed from a release agent such as silicone wax, silicone resin, fluororesin, acrylic resin, water-soluble resin, polyamide, polyester, or polyurethane. The formation method may be the same as the method for forming the receiving layer described later, and the thickness thereof is 0.01 to 5.
A thickness of approximately μm is sufficient. In addition, if a matte receiving layer is desired after transfer, the surface can be made matte by incorporating various particles into the release layer or by using a base film whose surface on the release layer side has been treated with matte treatment. Of course, you can also
When the base film as described above has appropriate releasability, it is not necessary to form a release layer.

Examples of the resin for forming the dye-receiving layer include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated polymers such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl acetate and polyacrylic ester,
Polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymer resins of olefins such as ethylene and propylene and other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulose resins such as cellulose diacetate, polycarbonates, etc. Among them, vinyl resins and polyester resins are particularly preferred.

The receiving layer is made by dispersing a dispersion of the above-mentioned resin with necessary additives dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent or dispersed in an organic solvent or water on one side of the base film.
For example, it is formed by coating and drying using a forming method such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, or a reverse roll coating method using a gravure plate.

The dye-receiving layer formed as described above may have any thickness, but the thickness between the shells is 0.5 to 10 lz m. Although such a dye-receiving layer is preferably a continuous coating, it may also be formed as a discontinuous coating using a resin emulsion or a resin fraction.

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive adhesive layer can be provided on the surface of the above-mentioned receptor layer in order to improve the transferability of these layers. These heat-sensitive adhesive layers are made by coating a solution of a resin with good heat adhesion, such as acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polyester resin, etc. By drying, it is preferably formed to a thickness of about 0.1 to 10 μm.

In addition, this layer may contain a cushioning agent such as a foaming agent to provide cushioning properties to the transferred receiving layer, and additives such as titanium oxide or calcium carbonate to improve hiding performance and whiteness. You can also do it.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the protective layer 4 can be provided in sequential order following the dye layer.

The protective layer 4 is made of various resins having excellent abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, transparency, hardness, etc., such as polyester resins, polystyrene resins, acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, acrylic urethane resins, silicone-modified resins of these resins, and Mixtures of these resins, etc. may be mentioned. Further, additives such as fillers, waxes, ultraviolet absorbers, infrared absorbers, fluorescent whitening agents, etc. can be added to the protective layer for the purpose of preventing surface scratches. The thickness of the protective layer 4 is preferably 0.1
It is about 20 μm.

Furthermore, a heat-sensitive adhesive layer similar to that described above may be provided on the surface of the above-mentioned protective layer in order to improve the transferability of these layers.

The image-receiving sheet to which the receptive layer is transferred using the above-mentioned receptive layer transfer sheet is not particularly limited, and may be any sheet such as plain paper, high-quality paper, tracing paper, plastic film, etc. In terms of shape, it may be of any type, such as cards, postcards, passports, stationery, report paper, notebooks, catalogs, etc., and is particularly applicable to plain paper and rough paper with rough surfaces.

The receiving layer or protective layer can be transferred using a general printer equipped with a thermal head for thermal transfer, a potstamper 1 heat roll for transfer foil, etc., which can be heated to a temperature that activates the receiving layer or adhesive layer. Any heating and pressurizing means may be used.

In addition, any conventionally known means can be used as a method for forming an image. For example, by controlling the recording time with a recording device such as a thermal printer (for example, Hitachi Seisaku Kaisha, Video Printer VY-100), 5~100mJ/mrr? By applying a certain amount of thermal energy, the intended purpose can be fully achieved.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. In the text, parts or percentages are based on weight unless otherwise specified.

Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Example 1 On the surface of a polyethylene terephthalate film (manufactured by Toshi) with a thickness of 4.5 μm and having a heat-resistant slipping layer formed on the back side, a film with a width of 30 cm and an interval of 30 cm was applied according to Table 1 below. 120c
A coating solution for the receiving layer having the following composition was applied using a bar coater at a drying rate of 3.0 g/rd, and after temporary drying with a dryer, it was dried in an oven at 100°C for 30 minutes to form a receptive layer coating solution. .

! ■1ri coating armpit plate 100 parts of reduced vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer resin (#1000A, manufactured by Denki Kagaku ■) 500 parts of methyl ethyl ketone/toluene (weight ratio 1/1) Next, prepare an ink for the dye layer with the following composition. Then, the composite thermal transfer sheets of the present invention and comparative examples were coated on each side of the base film on which the receiving layer was not formed using a gravure coater so that the dry coating amount was 1.0 g/I to a width of 30 cm. I got it.

Tosha 1ri no Eri: Fractional dye (Kaya Set Blue 14, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku ■) 5
, 5 parts polyvinyl butyral resin (S-LEC BX-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical) 4.5 parts mold release agent (KF-9
6. Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.5 part methyl ethyl ketone/toluene (weight ratio 1./1) 89
．． Similarly, a yellow thermal transfer sheet was dyed with a yellow disperse dye (Macrolex Yellow 6G, manufactured by Bayer AG, C, 1, Disperse Yellow).
201) and a magenta thermal transfer sheet with a magenta disperse dye (C,I).

Disperse Red60).

Next, apply the following coating solution to a width of 30 mm at a solid content of 3.07 d.
A transferable protective layer was formed by coating and drying the transferable protective layer.

11 ■ Cup ヱヱ Rules or Acrylic resin (BR-83, made by Mitsubishi Rayon ■)
20 parts polyethylene wax
1 part methyl ethyl ketone/toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 80 parts The receiving layer surface of the composite thermal transfer sheet and plain paper were superimposed, and using a thermal head, output IW/dot and pulse width 0. 3-0. The receiving layer was transferred over the entire surface at a dot density of 45m5ec, 3 dots/mm, and then a yellow signal obtained by color separation of the original was printed on the surface of the receiving layer, and a yellow dye was applied. The layers were stacked to form a yellow image. Further, a magenta dye was similarly transferred to the image area obtained above using a magenta signal, and a cyan dye was further transferred using a similar cyan signal to form a full-color image, and a protective layer was further transferred onto the surface thereof.

Examples 2 to 5 Images were formed in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the release agents shown in Table 1 below were used in place of the release agents in Example 1.

Comparative Example 1 An image was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that no release agent was added to the dye layer in Example 1 and the following release agent was added to the ink for the receptor layer. did.

Epoxy-modified silicone (KF-393, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 3 parts Amino-modified silicone (X-22-343, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 3 parts Comparative Example 2 Release agent in the ink for the dye layer in Example 1 An image was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that .

The results obtained in the above Examples and Comparative Examples are shown in Table 2 below.

(Effects) According to the present invention as described above, by incorporating a mold release agent component into the dye layer, the transferability of the receiving layer, the foil tearability, the peelability during image formation, the adhesion of the protective layer, etc. are excellent. A composite thermal transfer sheet capable of forming high quality color images is provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of the composite thermal transfer sheet of the present invention. 1: Base film 2/Dye layer 3: Dye-receiving layer 4: Transferable protective layer Agent: Yoshi, Patent Attorney 1) Katsuhiro, and 1 other person: Ihi Hi.

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) In a composite thermal transfer sheet in which a dye layer of one or more colors and one or more releasable dye-receiving layers are provided in a plane-sequential manner on one side of a long base film, the dye layer A composite thermal transfer sheet characterized in that it has a release agent component. (2) Claim 1 in which the receptor layer does not substantially contain a release agent component.
The composite thermal transfer sheet described in . (3) Claim 1, wherein the mold release agent component is contained in the dye layer.
The composite thermal transfer sheet described in . (4) Claim 1, wherein a release agent layer is formed on the surface of the dye layer.
The composite thermal transfer sheet described in . (5) The composite thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the binder of the dye layer has a releasable segment. (6) The composite thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the dye layer consists of at least three colors: yellow, magenta, and cyan. (7) The composite thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, further comprising a transferable protective layer.