JPH04286695A - Substrate for id card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent any curling from occurrence even by heating to be applied by a method wherein a support consisting of ABS resin and an image receiving layer having vinyl chloride resin and/or polyester resin which is formed on said surface as a binder, are provided. CONSTITUTION:A substrate for ID card is composed of a support 2, an image receiving layer 1 formed on a surface of the support, and a descriptive layer 3 formed on a side opposed to the image receiving layer 1 of the support 2. The image receiving layer 1 having vinyl chloride resin and/or polyester resin as a binder is laminated on the support 2 formed by using ABS resin as a binder. Thereby, the substrate is never denatured by deterioration by heating when an image is formed on an image receiving layer 1. Furthre, durability is provided, and the image can be clearly formed on the image receiving layer 1.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a substrate for ID cards, and more particularly to a substrate for ID cards that is resistant to heat when an image is formed by thermal transfer.

0002

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In recent years, various ID cards such as driver's licenses, identification cards, photo membership cards, authentication identification cards, photo business cards, etc. have become popular. became.

[0003] These ID cards often have a facial image formed on their surface for identification purposes. Since this face image has gradations, it is also called an image containing gradation information. Note that an image containing gradation information is not limited to a face image, and is referred to as an image containing gradation information as long as it includes an image having gradations. Furthermore, these ID cards have information regarding the ID card holder and other necessary information formed using characters, figures, symbols, and the like. These characters, figures, symbols, etc. usually have no gradation and are formed in one color. Therefore, images of these characters, figures, symbols, etc. are called images containing character information.

Conventionally, in an ID card having an image containing text information and an image containing gradation information, the image containing gradation information is formed by silver salt photography, and the image containing text information is formed by a heat-melting type thermal transfer recording method or a gradation information-containing image. It is formed using a printing method.

However, forming an image containing gradation information by silver salt photography requires complicated steps such as exposure, development, fixing, bleaching, and water washing. Therefore, in a field where ID cards are produced in large quantities and quickly, the method of forming an image containing gradation information using silver halide photography is not necessarily an appropriate method.

Under these circumstances, the present inventors have conducted extensive research into mass and rapid production of ID cards with beautiful images, and as a result, they have found that ID cards with an image-receiving layer on a support, An image containing gradation information is formed on the image-receiving layer by a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method, an image containing character information describing necessary information is formed, for example, by a heat-melting type thermal transfer recording method, and furthermore, an image containing gradation information is formed on the image receiving layer by a heat-melting type thermal transfer recording method. We have developed a method for manufacturing ID cards that involves laminating a protective layer on the surface, then applying an ultraviolet curable resin over the entire surface of the card, and irradiating it with ultraviolet rays to form a cured protective film.

[0007] However, as a result of continuous research by the present inventors, the following problems were discovered regarding this ID card manufacturing method.

That is, when forming an image by a thermal transfer method, the image receiving layer is heated by a thermal head or the like,
An ultraviolet curable resin is applied and cured,
At that time, there was a problem in that the support partially expanded or contracted, causing curling or the like on the support.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a base material for an ID card that is durable against heat applied when forming an image containing gradation information or an image containing character information by a thermal transfer method and that does not cause curling. It's about doing.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a support made of ABS resin and an image receiving layer formed on the surface of the support made of vinyl chloride resin and/or polyester resin as a binder. An ID card base material comprising:

[0011]

[Operation] Since the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, when an image is formed on the image-receiving layer, curling does not occur even when heat is applied. Further, the support and the image-receiving layer do not peel off even when heated during image formation.

0012

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below.

An example of the ID card base material of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 conceptually shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the ID card base material, and the ID card base material according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

(1) Base material for ID cards As shown in FIG. 1, the base material for ID cards of the present invention includes a support 2, an image receiving layer 1 formed on the surface of the support 2, and It is composed of an image receiving layer 1 and a writing layer 3 formed on the opposite side.

-Support- The support in the present invention is formed using ABS resin. This support can be formed of an ABS resin sheet, or an ABS resin composition made by blending or modifying ABS resin with another resin to increase physical strength or heat resistance. It can also be formed from a sheet. In addition, ABS resin or the above-mentioned AB
It can also be formed by a laminate formed by laminating sheets of S resin composition. Among these various forms of support, a support made of an ABS resin sheet is preferred.

Other resins that can be used in the ABS resin composition to increase physical strength include chlorinated polyethylene, polybutadiene, neoprene, isoprene polymer, methyl methacrylate/butadiene, etc.
Examples include styrene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, and the like. Polymers containing α-methylstyrene, vinylcarbazole, and acenaphthylene are effective for improving heat resistance. For example, replacing the styrene part of ABS resin with α-methylstyrene improves heat resistance.

The support of the present invention can be used to view a reflected image.
A white pigment may be added to the support, or a white reflective layer may be provided on or in place of the support. As a white pigment, JP-A-59-224844, P4
Examples include titanium white, magnesium carbonate, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, silica, talc, clay, and calcium carbonate described in lines 6 and 9 to 12.

In any case, the thickness of the support is usually 20
~1000 μm, preferably 20-800 μm.

-Image-receiving layer- This image-receiving layer contains a vinyl chloride resin and/or a polyester resin as a binder. In a preferred embodiment, the image-receiving layer can be formed from a vinyl chloride resin or a polyester resin as a binder and various additives.

[0020] As the polyester resin, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6
A modified polyester resin synthesized using a phenyl group-containing polyol component as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3-7971 is preferred. Further, when using a polyester resin, crosslinking with a compound containing an isocyanate group is also preferable in order to prevent fusion with the ink sheet.

[0021] Examples of the vinyl chloride resin include polyvinyl chloride resins and vinyl chloride copolymers. Examples of the vinyl chloride copolymer include copolymers of vinyl chloride and other comonomers containing vinyl chloride as a monomer unit in a proportion of 50 mol % or more.

Examples of the other comonomers include vinyl acetate, vinyl propylate, vinyl esters of fatty acids such as vinyl acetate and vinyl tallow, acrylic acid,
Acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and its alkyl esters such as methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, maleic acid, maleic acid Examples include maleic acid and its alkyl alkyl esters such as diethyl, dibutyl maleate, and dioctyl maleate, and alkyl vinyl ethers such as methyl vinyl ether, 2-ethylhexyl vinyl ether, lauryl vinyl ether, palmityl vinyl ether, and stearyl vinyl ether. Furthermore, the comonomers include ethylene, propylene, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, styrene, chlorostyrene, itaconic acid and its alkyl esters, crotonic acid and its alkyl esters, dichloroethylene, trifluoroethylene, and other halogenated olefins, cyclopentene, etc. Examples include cycloolefins such as, aconitic acid esters, vinyl benzoate, benzoyl vinyl ether, and the like.

The vinyl chloride copolymer may be a block copolymer, a graft copolymer, an alternating copolymer, or a random copolymer. Further, in some cases, it may be a copolymer with a material having a peeling function such as a silicon compound.

[0024] In addition to the vinyl chloride resin and/or polyester resin, polycarbonate resins, heat-resistant resins, etc. can also be suitably used as a binder, as long as they do not impede the object of the present invention.

In this case, the content of the resin components other than the vinyl chloride resin is 100 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the vinyl chloride resin when the polyester resin is not used. When not used, the amount is 100 parts by weight or less per 100 parts by weight of the polyester resin.

[0026] As the polyester resin, JP-A-58-188695 and JP-A-62-244696 are used.
Compounds described in the above publication can be mentioned. Further, as the polycarbonate resin, for example, various compounds described in JP-A-62-169694 can be used.

Next, the heat-resistant resin is not a resin having an extremely low softening point or glass transition point (Tg),
Various known heat-resistant resins can be used as long as they are suitably compatible with the vinyl chloride resin, are substantially colorless, and have good heat resistance. The term "heat resistance" used here refers to the fact that the resin itself does not undergo discoloration such as yellowing when stored under heat, and its physical strength does not deteriorate significantly.

[0028] The heat-resistant resin has a softening point of 50 to 200°C.
In particular, it is preferable that Tg is 80 to 150°C.

[0029] If the softening point is less than 50°C, the ink sheet and the image-receiving layer may fuse together when transferring the heat-diffusible dye, which is not preferable. If the softening point exceeds 200° C., the sensitivity of the image-receiving layer decreases, which is undesirable.

[0030] Examples of heat-resistant resins satisfying the above conditions include phenol resins, melamine resins, urea resins, and ketone resins, among which urea aldehyde resins and ketone resins are particularly preferred.

Urea aldehyde resins are obtained by condensation of urea and aldehydes (mainly formaldehyde), and ketone resins are obtained by condensation reaction of ketones and formaldehyde. Various resins are known depending on the raw material ketone, and any of them can be used in the present invention.

Examples of the above raw material ketones include methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetophenone, cyclohexanone, and methyl cyclohexanone.

Easily available urea aldehyde resins include Laropar A81 and Laropar A101 (manufactured by BASF), and ketone resins include Laropar K80 (manufactured by BASF).

Furthermore, additives such as a release agent, an antioxidant, a UV absorber, a light stabilizer, a filler (inorganic fine particles, organic resin particles), and a pigment may be added to the image-receiving layer. Furthermore, a plasticizer, a hot solvent, etc. may be added as a sensitizer.

[0035] The release agent can improve the releasability between the sublimation type heat-sensitive transfer ink sheet and the image-receiving layer, which will be described later.

Such release agents include silicone oil (including what is called silicone resin); solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon powder; fluorine-based and phosphoric acid ester-based surfactants; Among them, silicone oil is preferred.

[0037] There are two types of silicone oil: a type in which it is simply added (simple addition type) and a type in which it is cured or reacted (curing reaction type).

In the case of the simple addition type, it is preferable to use modified silicone oil in order to improve compatibility with the binder.

Examples of the modified silicone oil include polyester modified silicone resin (or silicone modified polyester resin), acrylic modified silicone resin (or
silicone-modified acrylic resin), urethane-modified silicone resin (or silicone-modified urethane resin), cellulose-modified silicone resin (or silicone-modified cellulose resin), alkyd-modified silicone resin (or silicone-modified alkyd resin), epoxy-modified silicone resin ( or silicone-modified epoxy resin).

Specifically, polyester-modified silicone resin containing polysiloxane resin in the main chain and copolymerized with polyester in block form, silicone-modified polyester resin having dimethylpolysiloxane moieties as side chains bonded to the polyester main chain. , block copolymers, alternating copolymers, graft copolymers, random copolymers, etc. of dimethylpolysiloxane and polyester can also be used as the modified silicone oil or resin.

In particular, in the present invention, the image-receiving layer is prepared by taking into consideration the transferability of the heat-melting ink, the transferability of the protective layer, and the coatability of the coating liquid containing the ultraviolet curable resin for forming the cured protective layer. It is desirable to add a release agent that has good compatibility with the binder used. For example, if a vinyl chloride resin is used as a binder, a polyester-modified silicone resin is preferred as a combination.

Typical polyester-modified silicone resins include, for example, a copolymer of diol and dibasic acid, or a block copolymer of polyester, which is a ring-opening polymer of caprolactone, and dimethylpolysiloxane (both dimethylpolysiloxane and dimethylpolysiloxane). (Contains a copolymer in which the terminal or one terminal is blocked with the above polyester moiety, or conversely, the above polyester is blocked with dimethylpolysiloxane), or the above polyester is the main chain and the side chain is (dimethyl)polysiloxane. A copolymer formed by bonding siloxane can be mentioned.

[0043] The amount of these simple addition type silicone oils cannot be uniformly determined because it may vary depending on the type of silicone oil, but generally speaking, the amount of the binder in the image-receiving layer 0.5-5 for
0% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight.

[0044] As curing reaction type silicone oil,
Examples include reaction curing type, photo curing type, catalyst curing type, and the like.

[0045] As a reaction-curing silicone oil, there is one obtained by reaction-curing an amino-modified silicone oil and an epoxy-modified silicone oil.

[0046] Catalytic curing type or photo curing type silicone oils include KS-705F-PS and KS-70.
5F-PS-1, KS-770-PL-3 [both catalytic curing silicone oils: manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.],
Examples include KS-720 and KS-774-PL-3 [both photocurable silicone oils: manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.].

The amount of these curable silicone oils added is preferably 0.5 to 30% by weight of the binder for the image-receiving layer.

Note that a release agent layer can also be provided by dissolving or dispersing the above-mentioned release agent in a suitable solvent and applying the solution to a part of the surface of the image-receiving layer, followed by drying.

[0049] Next, as the above-mentioned antioxidant,
No.-182785, No. 60-130735, JP-A-1
Antioxidants described in Japanese Patent No. 127387 and the like, and compounds known to improve image durability in photographs and other image recording materials can be mentioned.

[0050] The UV absorber and light stabilizer include:
JP-A-59-158287, JP-A No. 63-74686,
No. 63-145089, No. 59-196292, No. 62-229594, No. 63-122596, No. 61
Examples include compounds described in publications such as No. 283595 and JP-A No. 1-204788, and compounds known to improve image durability in photographs and other image recording materials.

[0051] Examples of the filler include inorganic fine particles and organic resin particles. Examples of the inorganic fine particles include silica gel, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, acid clay, activated clay, alumina, etc., and examples of the organic fine particles include resin particles such as fluororesin particles, guanamine resin particles, acrylic resin particles, and silicone resin particles. can be mentioned. These inorganic/organic resin particles vary depending on their specific gravity, but are preferably added in an amount of 0.1 to 70% by weight.

Typical examples of the pigment include titanium white, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, silica, talc, clay, kaolin, activated clay, and acid clay.

[0053] As the plasticizer, phthalate esters (
For example, dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, didecyl phthalate, etc.), trimellitic acid esters (for example, octyl trimellitate,
trimellitic acid isononyl ester, trimellitic acid isodesol ester, etc.), pyromellitic acid esters such as pyromellitic acid octyl ester, adipate esters (dioctyl adipate, methyl lauryl adipate, di-2-adipate) ethylhexyl, ethyl lauryl adipate, etc.), other oleic acid esters,
Succinic acid esters, maleic acid esters, sebacic acid esters, citric acid esters, epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxy stearate, as well as esters such as triphenyl phosphate and tricresyl phosphate. Phosphite esters, phosphorous esters such as triphenyl phosphite, tris tridecyl phosphite, dibutyl hydrogen phosphite, glycol esters such as ethyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate, butylphthalyl butyl glycolate, etc. can be mentioned. Incidentally, since excessive addition of plasticizer deteriorates the storage stability of images, the amount of plasticizer added is usually in the range of 0.1 to 30% by weight based on the binder in the image-receiving layer.

-Writing layer- In the ID card base material of the present invention, a writing layer is usually formed on the surface of the support opposite to the surface on which the image-receiving layer is formed. Use this base material for ID cards to create ID cards such as car licenses.
When creating a D card, it is particularly preferable to provide a writing layer. This is because it is convenient to form a writing layer so that various information can be written on the ID card.

[0055] The above writing layer is explained in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-2
The detailed description thereof will be omitted and will be replaced with the explanation regarding the "writing layer" described from line 14 in the upper right column on page 4 to line 2 in the lower right column on page 4 of Publication No. 05155.

-Production of ID card base material- The ID card base material of the present invention has an image receiving layer formed on the surface of the support.

As a method for forming an image-receiving layer on the surface of a support, a coating solution for the image-receiving layer is prepared by dispersing or dissolving components for forming the image-receiving layer in a solvent, and the coating solution for the image-receiving layer is applied to the support. It can also be formed by a coating method in which it is applied to the surface of a body and dried, or it can also be formed by a lamination method, etc. in which a mixture containing the components that form the image-receiving layer is melt-extruded and laminated on the surface of a support. can.

The thickness of the image-receiving layer formed on the surface of the support is generally about 2 to 50 μm, preferably about 3 to 20 μm.

In addition, in the base material for ID cards, in order to more effectively prevent fusion with the ink layer of the ink sheet for thermal transfer recording, a release agent (the above-mentioned silicone resin, modified silicone resin) is added to the surface of the image-receiving layer. , a silicone oil film or a cured product thereof) may be further laminated.

The thickness of this release layer is usually 0.03 to 2.
It is 0 μm.

[0061] Furthermore, in the ID card base material of the present invention, a cushion layer or a barrier layer may be provided between the support and the image-receiving layer.

[0062] By providing a cushion layer, noise is reduced and an image corresponding to image information can be transferred and recorded with good reproducibility.

Examples of the material constituting the cushion layer include urethane resin, acrylic resin, ethylene resin, butadiene rubber, and epoxy resin.

[0064] The thickness of the cushion layer is usually 1 to 50 μm.
, preferably 3 to 30 um.

[0065] Providing a barrier layer can prevent the sublimable dye from diffusing into the support, and can prevent the dye from bleeding within the support. Examples of materials constituting the barrier layer include hydrophilic binders such as gelatin and casein, and Tg.
Examples include polymers with high

In the ID card base material of the present invention, an image containing gradation information is formed on the image receiving layer using an ink sheet for sublimation type thermal transfer recording, and a protective layer is provided on the surface of the image receiving layer having the image containing gradation information. is formed, and an image containing text information is formed on the surface of the support on which the image-receiving layer is not formed, using a heat-melting type thermal transfer recording ink sheet.

(2) Ink sheet for sublimation type thermal transfer recording The ink sheet for sublimation type thermal transfer recording can be composed of a support and an ink layer containing a sublimable dye formed thereon.

-Support- The support is not particularly limited as long as it has good dimensional stability and can withstand the heat during recording with a thermal head, and any conventionally known support can be used.

- Ink layer containing sublimable dye - The above-mentioned ink layer containing sublimable dye basically contains a sublimable dye and a binder. Examples of the sublimable dyes include cyan dyes, magenta dyes, and yellow dyes.

[0070] As the cyan dye, JP-A-59-7
No. 8896, No. 59-227948, No. 60
-24966 publication, 60-53563 publication, 60-53563 publication
No. 0-130735, No. 60-131292, No. 60-239289, No. 61-19396, No. 61-22993, No. 61-31292
No. 61-31467, No. 61-3599
Publication No. 4, Publication No. 61-49893, Publication No. 61-148
No. 269, No. 62-191191, No. 63-
No. 91288, No. 63-91287, No. 63
Examples include naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, azomethine dyes, etc., which are described in JP-A-290793.

[0071] As the magenta dye, JP-A-59-
No. 78896, No. 60-30392, No. 60
-30394 publication, 60-253595 publication, 61-262190 publication, 63-5992 publication,
Publication No. 63-205288, No. 64-159, No. 6
Examples include anthraquinone dyes, azo dyes, azomethine dyes, etc., which are described in various publications such as No. 4-63194.

[0072] As a yellow dye, JP-A-59-78
No. 896, No. 60-27594, No. 60-3
No. 1560, No. 60-53565, No. 61-
Examples include methine dyes, azo dyes, quinophthalone dyes, and anthrisothiazole dyes described in publications such as No. 12394 and No. 63-122594.

Particularly preferred as the sublimable dye is a compound having an open-chain or closed-chain active methylene group formed by a coupling reaction with an oxidized product of a p-phenylenediamine derivative or an oxidized product of a p-aminophenol derivative. It is an indoaniline dye obtained by a coupling reaction between the obtained azomethine dye and an oxidized product of a phenol or naphthol derivative, a p-phenylenediamine derivative, or an oxidized product of a p-aminophenol derivative.

The sublimable dye contained in the sublimable dye-containing ink layer may be any of yellow dye, magenta dye, and cyan dye, as long as the image to be formed is monochromatic. Depending on the tone of the desired image, it may contain two or more of the above three types of dyes or other sublimable dyes. The amount of the sublimable dye used is usually 0.1 to 20 g per m2 of support.
Preferably it is 0.2 to 5 g.

The binder for the ink layer is not particularly limited, and conventionally known binders can be used. Furthermore, various conventionally known additives can be appropriately added to the ink layer.

[0076] The ink sheet for sublimation type thermal transfer recording is prepared by preparing a coating liquid for forming an ink layer by dispersing or dissolving the various components forming the ink layer in a solvent, and coating this on the surface of a support. It can be manufactured by processing and drying. The thickness of the ink layer thus formed is usually
0.2 to 10 μm, preferably 0.3 to 3 μm
It is.

(3) Formation of ID card To form an image containing gradation information, the ink layer of the sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the ID card base material are superimposed, and the ink layer and image receiving layer are overlapped. Apply thermal energy imagewise to the interface with the layer. Then, the sublimable dye in the ink layer vaporizes or sublimates in an amount corresponding to the applied thermal energy, and is transferred to and received by the image-receiving layer, thereby forming an image on the image-receiving layer.

[0078] As the heat source for providing the thermal energy,
A thermal head is commonly used, but other conventionally known devices such as a laser beam, an infrared flash, a thermal pen, etc. can also be used. Thermal energy can be applied from the ink sheet side for sublimation type thermal transfer recording.
It may be carried out from the ID card substrate side or from both sides, but if priority is given to effective use of thermal energy, it is desirable to carry out from the sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet side.

[0079] By the above thermal transfer recording method, an image containing gradation information can be formed on the image receiving layer of the base material for an ID card.

[0080] Character information can also be obtained by heating a conventionally known heat-melting type heat-sensitive transfer recording ink sheet having a heat-melting ink layer on a support in an image-wise manner using a laser or a heat-sensitive head. It can be formed by melt-transferring a color ink onto the surface of a support on which an image-receiving layer of an ID card substrate is not formed.

By the way, due to the nature of the ID card, it is preferable to protect the surface of the image-receiving layer having the gradation information-containing image by some method and to prevent forgery or alteration of the ID card.

[0082] In order to protect the image containing gradation information formed on the ID card and prevent its forgery and alteration, there is a method of laminating a transparent sheet on the surface of the ID card (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 180391/1999). , and curable resin I
There is a method of forming a curable film obtained by coating the surface of a D card and then curing a curable resin (see JP-A-57-90789).

[0083]

Effects of the Invention The base material for ID cards of the present invention is formed by laminating an image-receiving layer containing a vinyl chloride resin and/or a polyester resin as a binder on a support formed using an ABS resin as a binder. Therefore, the base material is not deteriorated or denatured by heating when forming an image on the image-receiving layer, has durability, and can form a clear image on the image-receiving layer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of an ID card of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 Image-receiving layer 2 Support 3. Writing layer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A base material for an ID card, comprising a support made of an ABS resin and an image receiving layer formed on the surface of the support made of a vinyl chloride resin and/or a polyester resin as a binder.