JPH04336286A - Image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording which allows an image at high transfer density to be formed with high sensitivity without any void CONSTITUTION:The subject image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording consists of a porous layer and an image-receiving layer laminated in that order on a base, or an image-receiving layer and a porous layer laminated in that order on the base.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which is advantageously used for producing image-receiving sheets for various printers and various thermal transfer recording image-forming sheets such as ID cards. The present invention relates to an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which provides a high-performance transferred image with no white spots, high transfer density, high sensitivity, and excellent storage stability.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various methods have been known as image forming (printing/copying) methods. In recent years, various methods have been studied to efficiently form not only monochrome images but also high-quality full-color images. For example, inkjet,
Color recording techniques using electrophotography, thermal transfer recording, etc. are being considered. Among these, the thermal transfer recording method is particularly
Not only in the case of monochrome recording, but also in the case of color recording, there are advantages such as ease of operation and maintenance, miniaturization of the apparatus, and reduction in cost.

In the thermal transfer recording method, the ink layer surface of an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording (transfer sheet) having an ink layer on a base material and the image-receiving layer surface of an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording are superimposed, and a The ink (pigment) is transferred to the image-receiving sheet by image-wise heating using a thermal head (or a heat supply means such as a laser),
This is a method of forming a desired image. This thermal transfer recording method includes a thermal melt transfer method and a thermal diffusion transfer method. The former is a method in which an ink sheet having a heat-melting ink layer on a base material is used, and a portion of the ink layer heated by a thermal head or the like is melt-transferred onto an image-receiving sheet.
The latter method uses an ink sheet having an ink layer containing a heat-diffusible dye (for example, a sublimable dye) on a base material, and sublimates (vaporizes) the heat-diffusible dye from the ink layer by heating with a thermal head or the like. This is a method of diffusion transfer onto an image receiving sheet. Note that the thermal diffusion transfer method is also called a sublimation transfer method.

Among these, the thermal diffusion transfer method can control the gradation of an image by changing the amount of dye transferred in response to changes in thermal energy from a thermal head, etc., so it improves the tonality of photographic images, etc. Suitable for forming images. In addition, with this method, it is easy to form not only monochrome images but also full-color images. For example, by overlapping recording of three primary colors such as cyan, magenta, and yellow, multicolor images with continuous changes in color shading can be created. Color printed images can be easily formed. From this point of view, the thermal diffusion transfer method has attracted particular attention in recent years.

That is, with the development of this thermal diffusion transfer method, the thermal transfer recording method is not only capable of forming ordinary images such as character images using the thermal melt transfer method, but also multicolor gradation color images using the thermal diffusion transfer method. (For example, it can also be used to create color facial photographs, etc.). Moreover, the formation of images with these different characteristics can be carried out extremely efficiently by a simple operation of appropriately selecting an ink sheet using a simple device called a thermal transfer printer.

Because of these advantages, recently, thermal transfer recording methods using thermal diffusion transfer methods have been used, for example, in color.
Its use in producing image recording media having gradation color images such as photographic images has begun to become popular. Among them, in the case of ID cards such as membership cards and identification cards, not to mention image receiving sheets for various printers, it is important to record facial photos in addition to various information such as codes to clarify identity. Therefore, it is attracting particular attention as an application field.

However, there are still various points to be improved in image recording using such a thermal transfer recording method, and in fields where the requirements for the clarity, durability, etc. of transferred images are particularly severe, conventional thermal diffusion transfer is An image-receiving sheet for recording is sufficient, and it has been desired to develop a high-performance image-receiving sheet that satisfies such strict requirements. That is, the most important issue in this field has been the development of an image-receiving sheet capable of forming high-performance gradation color images using a thermal diffusion transfer recording method.

Conventionally, various attempts have been made to develop such an image-receiving sheet, such as selecting a resin to be used in the image-receiving layer and making the image-receiving layer multilayered. However, with these conventional image-receiving sheets, (1) the image density becomes thin overall, (2) the density of the recorded image becomes uneven (occurrence of unevenness), and (3) dot-like white spots occur. There were problems such as. In order to solve these problems, attempts have been made to provide intermediate layers made of various materials between the image-receiving layer and the support (substrate). For example, as the material for this intermediate layer, a rubber-based material (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-25
No. 8793, No. 61-270192, No. 62
-146693 publication, 62-151393 publication,
64-5885, etc.), polyolefin resins (
It has been considered to provide a heat insulating layer, a cushion layer, etc. using Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 62-21590, 64-27993, etc.). Furthermore, in order to make the effect of the intermediate layer more effective, it has been proposed to make the intermediate layer a porous layer having microvoids (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-270192
No. 63-87286, No. 63-1267
No. 88, JP-A-1-145192, JP-A-1-1-2
No. 80586, No. 2-248289, etc.). At this time, the porous layer can be formed by solvent coating, by mixing hollow particles with resin, or by bonding a resin film with microvoids to a support (substrate). Methods have been devised.

However, in image receiving sheets provided with a porous layer as an intermediate layer by these conventional methods,
Although problems such as (1) to (3) above (insufficient image density, occurrence of white spots) may be considerably improved,
(4) The surface smoothness of the porous layer becomes insufficient, making it difficult to form an image-receiving layer with excellent uniformity and smoothness due to reasons such as the method of forming the porous layer being troublesome and inappropriate. (5) The manufacturing process of the image-receiving sheet becomes extremely complicated; (6) the lamination strength of the image-receiving sheet is insufficient; (7)
) New problems arise, such as sheets often curling, and (8) Depending on the material of the support (base material) or intermediate layer, barrier properties against moisture, oxygen gas, transferred dyes, etc. may be insufficient. There were drawbacks such as. Here, above 8. For example, if the base material is paper and the intermediate layer is polyolefin, the barrier properties will be particularly inadequate, and if the base material is paper, the transferred dye will escape to the back during storage. (The so-called strike-through problem) can be noted in particular. It should be noted that the effects of improving the problems (1) to (3) above were still not sufficient in some cases.

[0010] It has also been proposed that the image-receiving layer itself be made of a microvoid porous layer instead of intentionally providing the above-mentioned intermediate layer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-295890).
Publication No.). However, in this case, the above (1)
~ (3) Although a relatively sufficient improvement effect can be obtained for the problem, since the image-receiving layer itself has a microvoid structure, the image may bleed due to the diffusion of the transferred dye during image formation and during storage after image formation. There was a new problem in that it was easy for this to occur.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to improve the above-mentioned situation. That is, the purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by a thermal diffusion transfer method,
To provide an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which can form images without white spots at high transfer density and high sensitivity, and can stably form highly durable and high-performance images. It is in.

0012

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention for solving the problems described above provides an ink sheet for heat-sensitive transfer recording that has a heat-transferable dye in its ink layer, and applies energy according to image information. In an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording that has at least an image-receiving layer on a base material and is used for thermal transfer recording in which a dye image is formed on an image-receiving surface by An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, characterized in that the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording is provided with at least one layer of the following:
In an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording that has at least an image-receiving layer on a base material and is used for thermal transfer recording that forms a dye image on an image-receiving surface by applying energy according to image information, an image-receiving sheet that is laminated on a base material This image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording is characterized in that a porous layer is provided on the outer surface of the image-receiving layer.

The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention will be explained in detail below, and then typical examples of ink sheets for thermal transfer recording that are suitably used when performing thermal transfer recording on this image-receiving sheet will be explained. Further, typical examples of thermal transfer recording methods suitably used in this case will be described in detail. A. Image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording Preferred embodiments of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to the present invention include a first embodiment in which a base material, a porous layer, and an image-receiving layer are laminated in this order; A second embodiment can be mentioned in which a material layer is laminated in this order.

-First Embodiment- The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which is the first embodiment of the present invention, is basically formed by laminating a porous layer and an image-receiving layer in this order on a base material. For example, there are no particular restrictions on the material, composition, etc. of the image-receiving layer, its formation method, or the appropriate provision of a protective layer or backing layer, and known techniques may be used as is or as appropriate within the scope of not impeding the purpose of the present invention. They can be improved and adopted according to the purpose of use, and preferred materials for forming the base material and porous layer are selected as appropriate. Below, base material,
The porous layer, image-receiving layer, and other layers will be explained in order.

(1) Substrate The substrate in the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording functions as a support for the porous layer and the image-receiving layer. There are no particular limitations on the material, layer structure, size, etc. of such a base material, and various materials, layer structure, and size can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose or intended use of the image recording medium.

[0016] Examples of the base material include various papers such as paper, coated paper, and synthetic paper (polypropylene, polystyrene, or a composite material made of paper and paper);
Single layer of vinyl chloride resin sheet, ABS resin sheet, polyethylene terephthalate base film, polybutylene terephthalate base film, polyethylene naphthalate base film, polyarylate base film, polycarbonate base film, polysulfone base film, polyimide base film, etc. Various plastic films or sheets laminated in two or more layers, films or sheets formed of various metals, films or sheets formed of various ceramics, or composite materials laminated in an appropriate combination from the above-mentioned materials, etc. can be mentioned.

These base materials are appropriately selected depending on the situation, for example, when heat resistance of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording is required, or when the print-through prevention property of the dye transferred to the image-receiving layer is required, the thermal transfer When a recording image-receiving sheet is required to have high barrier properties such as moisture resistance and oxygen impermeability, the base material is usually a resin film (in this specification, the term "film" refers to "sheet"). It is preferable to use ). In addition, by using a resin or a resin composition as the material for forming the base material, the porous layer and the base material can be formed into a laminated film by a simultaneous extrusion method (coextrusion method). A resin film is preferably used as the base material.

[0018] In order to improve the clarity of the image formed in a later step, the base material contains white pigments such as titanium white, magnesium carbonate, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, silica, talc, clay, and carbonate. Preferably, calcium or the like is added. The thickness of the base material is usually 20 to 1.0
00 μm, preferably 20 to 800 μm, and is appropriately selected from within this range.

(2) Porous Layer In the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention, a porous layer is provided on the base material as an intermediate layer between the image-receiving layer and the base material. The size of the holes in the porous layer when forming the porous layer cannot be determined unconditionally depending on the thickness of the porous layer, but in order to make the surface of the image receiving layer smooth when forming the image receiving layer, The thickness is preferably 2 μm or less, more preferably 1 μm or less. Moreover, the porosity at that time is preferably 5 to 60%, preferably 5 to 30%. The material for forming the porous layer is not particularly limited, and basically any material can be used as long as it can form a porous layer with an appropriate thickness. For example, various materials such as rubber-based materials can be used in addition to resin-based materials (resins or resin compositions), but usually resin-based materials (resins or resin compositions) are preferably used. In particular, it is preferable to use a resin or resin composition that has sufficiently low dyeability (or almost no dyeability) for the dye to be transferred.

In other words, the resin used for the image-receiving layer is as follows:
A resin with excellent dyeability is preferably used, but on the other hand, the resin used for the porous layer is a material with low dyeability that is different from that of the image-receiving layer. It is preferable to use a resin having a high barrier property against dyes. When a porous layer is formed using a resin having low dyeability in this way, it becomes possible to prevent, for example, image strike-through.

Mainly from this point of view, examples of resins used for forming the porous layer include polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC), polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinylidene chloride resin, polyvinylidene fluoride, polycarbonate resin, Polyphenylsulfone resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, polystyrene, polystyrene resin such as acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, polyacrylate resin such as polymethyl acrylate, (modified) polyphenylene oxide, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, etc. can be exemplified as particularly preferred. Note that these porous layer forming materials such as resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more as a mixture, depending on the porous layer forming method described below.

In the present invention, the resin or resin composition is made porous in the porous layer, but the method for making the porous layer is not particularly limited, and known methods for making the resin porous can be used. Although this can be done by various methods of forming porosity, it is preferable to use a method other than the coating method from the viewpoint of the environment or the complexity of manufacturing. Specifically, for example, a method using a foaming agent is suitably employed.

Examples of the blowing agent include azodicarbonamide and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN).
, dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine, p-toluenesulfonylhydrazide, p,p'-oxybis(benzenesulfonylhydrazide), commercially available organic foaming agents such as barium azodicarboxylate, inorganic foaming agents such as sodium bicarbonate, azide compounds, etc. Agents can be mentioned.

Porosification through the use of blowing agents (i.e.
Formation of a porous layer) can be performed, for example, as follows. For example, when using paper as the base material,
A method of forming a desired porous layer by using a resin or a resin composition to which a foaming agent is added as a material for forming a porous layer and coating it on the substrate by an extrusion method, or a method of forming a desired porous layer. A method of forming the forming material into a porous film by extrusion and adhering it to the base material is also preferably used.

[0025] Also, when using a resin film as a base material, the porous layer forming material containing a foaming agent is extruded and coated directly onto the base material in the same manner as in the case of paper. Alternatively, a predetermined porous layer can be formed by adhering. On the other hand, when forming the base material and the porous layer by co-extrusion, the base material forming material (resin material) or the porous layer forming material containing a foaming agent as necessary is co-extruded. By doing so, a laminated film consisting of a predetermined base material and a porous layer can be suitably obtained. At that time, it is preferable to biaxially stretch the laminated film obtained by coextrusion after the coextrusion to obtain a biaxially stretched laminated film comprising a base material and a porous layer having a desired thickness. By performing this biaxial stretching, the void size in the porous layer of the laminated film can be easily controlled to a finer one, and the surface of the porous layer on which the image receiving layer will be provided in the subsequent process. The smoothness can be further improved, and furthermore, this laminated film (and by extension, the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording)
This is because mechanical strength such as impact resistance can be further improved. Of course, after this biaxial stretching, the stretched film may be subjected to appropriate heat treatment (heat setting treatment), if necessary, in order to ensure dimensional stability such as shrinkability of the film.

[0026] When a laminated film of a base material and a porous layer is obtained by co-extrusion molding and biaxial stretching as described above, at least two or more types of materials for forming the porous layer are incompatible with each other [or are compatible with each other]. Difficult to do (same below)
] Particular preference is given to using resins. By doing so, the resins forming the porous layer can be phase-separated from each other at a microscopic level, and as a result, the porous layer can be more preferably formed into a microvoid structure during the stretching. . In addition, in this case, a method can be suitably employed in which a suitable compatibilizing agent is added to two or more types of incompatible resins to make the phase separation structure finer. This is because by making the phase separation structure finer in this way, a porous layer having a more uniform and minute porous structure can be formed on the base material.

Typical examples of combinations of resins that are difficult to miscible include, for example, polyvinyl chloride/polystyrene;
Polyvinyl chloride/polycarbonate, polystyrene/polycarbonate, polystyrene/polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide/polymethyl methacrylate, polyphenylene sulfide/polyphenylene oxide, polybutylene terephthalate/acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer/polyfluoride Examples include combinations of vinylidene chloride and the like, but the invention is not limited to these, and combinations of two or more of various resins are possible.

Typical examples of the compatibilizing agent include, for example:
Rezeta [manufactured by Toagosei Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.], Modiper A [manufactured by Toagosei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.]
Although there are commercially available products such as those manufactured by Nippon Oil & Fats Co., Ltd., the present invention is not limited to these commercially available products, and a newly synthesized product may be used. The commercially available compatibilizers exemplified above are basically resin modifiers having a graft polymer or block polymer type structure, but they do not necessarily have to have such a structure. The selection of these compatibilizers may be determined as appropriate depending on the combination of resins used. When this compatibilizing agent is included, it is usually preferably selected in a range of 0.5 to 10% by weight based on the weight of the resin used.

[0029] In addition to the resin, the blowing agent, and the compatibilizer added in the above cases, materials for forming the porous layer in any of the above cases may be used as long as they do not impede the object of the present invention. Added as needed,
Various other additives, such as inorganic or organic fillers, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, and solvents (however, in the present invention, the porous layer serving as the intermediate layer is formed by extrusion molding) Therefore, it is usually not necessary to use a solvent, and it should be noted that this has advantages such as improving the working environment. By appropriately adding such additives, various properties of the porous layer and, in turn, the performance of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording can be further improved.

[0030] The extrusion molding of the porous layer onto the base material and the co-extrusion molding can be suitably carried out using an ordinary extruder or coextruder for film forming as appropriate. For example, in the case of simultaneous extrusion, components such as a resin or resin composition for the base material and various additives are supplied to one extruder, and they are kneaded and the material for forming the base material is extruded from the extruder. , feeding components such as a resin or resin composition for the porous layer, a blowing agent, and various additives to the other extruder, kneading them, and extruding the material for forming the porous layer from the extruder; The separately extruded base material forming material and porous layer forming material are further supplied to another co-extruder, and are simultaneously extruded (co-extruded) from the extruder to form the laminated film (unstretched film). A method for obtaining , etc. can be suitably used.

The extrusion temperature in the extruder may be within a temperature range at which the resin is sufficiently melted and no undesirable reactions such as decomposition occur. The biaxial stretching can also be suitably carried out using a device and method commonly used for known resin films. At that time, it is preferable to set the stretching ratio in the range of about 2.5 to 4.0 times in both length and width. The stretching temperature may be appropriately selected depending on the composition of each forming material such as the type of resin used and the combination thereof.

[0032] The blowing agent is decomposed by heat at some point from the extruder, through the stretching process, to the heat treatment for dimensional stabilization, and a porous layer with a desired void structure is formed. In order to more appropriately decompose the foaming agent, it is also possible to perform a dedicated heat treatment. The final thickness of the porous layer is preferably selected in the range of 5 to 50 μm, more preferably 10 to 40 μm.

The porous layer may be formed as a single layer, or may be formed as a multilayer structure of two or more layers, if necessary. In the manner described above, it is possible to suitably obtain a laminated sheet having a porous layer formed by an extrusion method on the base material, which serves as the base of the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention.

By forming the porous layer on the substrate by extrusion in this way, it has excellent adhesion to the substrate without using a coating solvent, has extremely good surface smoothness, and has excellent surface smoothness for the image-receiving layer. A high-performance porous layer that is advantageous in formation and has excellent properties as an intermediate layer such as cushioning properties and heat resistance can be easily formed, and the manufacturing process of image-receiving sheets for thermal transfer recording is significantly simplified. This makes it possible to fully achieve the above objectives including these advantages. The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention basically has the following features:
The image receiving layer can be obtained by forming an image receiving layer on the surface of the porous layer thus formed by the extrusion method.

(3) Image-receiving layer The image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may have various materials, compositions, layer structures, etc. depending on the purpose of use. Can be done. For example, it may be the same as the image-receiving layer having various materials, compositions, layer structures, etc. that have been proposed for conventional image-receiving sheets for thermal transfer recording of this type, or it may be an image-receiving layer with appropriate improvements. Good too.

Needless to say, when the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention is used for recording gradation color images such as color photographic images of ID cards such as identification cards, at least thermal diffusion transfer is necessary. According to this method, an image-receiving layer is provided so that a clear color image can be easily formed. In such a case, the image-receiving layer is formed of a material that has sufficient dyeability for at least the heat-diffusible dye (sublimable dye) transferred from the ink sheet, and usually contains a suitable resin as the main component. used.

Examples of such resins include polyvinyl chloride resins, copolymer resins of vinyl chloride and other monomers (eg, alkyl vinyl ether, allyl glycidyl ether, vinyl propionate, etc.), polyvinylidene chloride resins, polyester resin, acrylic ester,
Methacrylic acid ester, epoxy resin, phenoxy resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyarylate, polyparabanic acid, cellulose triacetate, styrene acrylate resin, vinyltoluene acrylate resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, urea resin, polycaprolactone Examples include resins, styrene-maleic anhydride resins, polyacrylonitrile resins, and the like. Note that these resins can be used alone or in combination, such as by mixing two or more types.

The above various resins may be newly synthesized and used, but commercially available products may also be used. In addition, when forming the image-receiving layer, the various resins mentioned above utilize their reactive active sites (if there are no reactive active sites, give them to the resin), and crosslink with radiation, heat, moisture, catalysts, etc. Alternatively, it may be cured. In that case, a radiation active monomer such as epoxy or acrylic or a crosslinking agent such as isocyanate can be used.

[0039] Furthermore, when the thermally diffusible dye undergoes a chelation reaction with metal ions, the resin may contain, for example, a metal ion-containing compound, if necessary. Examples of the metal ions constituting the metal ion-containing compound include divalent and polyvalent metals belonging to Groups I to VIII of the periodic table, among which Co, Cr, Cu,
Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sn, Ti, Zn, etc. are preferred, and Ni, Cu, Co, Cr, Zn, etc. are particularly preferred.

As compounds containing these metal ions, inorganic or organic salts of the metals and complexes of the metals are preferred. To give specific examples, Ni2+, Cu2+,
A complex represented by the following general formula containing Co2+, Cr2+ and Zn2+ is preferably used. [M(Q1)k(Q2)m(Q3)n]p
+・p(L-) However, in the formula, M represents a metal ion,
Q1, Q2, and Q3 each represent a coordination compound capable of forming a coordination bond with the metal ion represented by M, and these coordination compounds include, for example, the coordination compounds described in "Chelate Kagaku (5) (Nankodo)". can be selected from position compounds. Particularly preferred are coordination compounds having at least one amino group that coordinates with a metal, and more specific examples include ethylenediamine and its derivatives, glycinamide and its derivatives, picolinamide and its derivatives. It will be done.

L is a counteranion capable of forming a complex,
Examples include inorganic compound anions such as Cr, SO4, ClO4, and organic compound anions such as benzenesulfonic acid derivatives and alkylsulfonic acid derivatives, but particularly preferred are tetraphenylboron anions and their derivatives, and alkylbenzenesulfonic acid anions and their derivatives. be. k represents an integer of 1, 2 or 3, m represents 1, 2 or 0, and n represents 1 or 0, which means that the complex represented by the above general formula is tetradentate or hexadentate. determined by the coordination, or Q1, Q2, Q
3 is determined by the number of ligands. p represents 1, 2 or 3.

[0042] This kind of metal ion-containing compounds include:
Examples include those illustrated in US Pat. No. 4,987,049. When adding the metal ion-containing compound, the amount added is 0.5 to
20 g/m2 is preferable, and 1 to 15 g/m2 is more preferable.

[0043] The image-receiving layer may optionally contain a release agent,
Additives such as antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilizers, fillers (inorganic fine particles, organic resin particles), and pigments may be added. Furthermore, a plasticizer, a heat-melting substance, etc. may be added as a sensitizer. The release agent is used to improve the releasability between the ink sheet for thermal transfer recording and the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, and in the case of the present invention, it is preferably contained in the outermost layer.

Such release agents include silicone oil (including those called silicone resins); 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. 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 (for example, polyester modified silicone resin, urethane modified silicone resin, acrylic modified silicone resin, etc.) in order to improve the compatibility with the resin. . The amount of these simple addition type silicone oils cannot be uniformly determined as it may vary depending on the type of silicone oil, but generally speaking, it is usually 0.1 to 50% by weight,
Preferably it is 0.5 to 20% by weight.

[0046] As curing reaction type silicone oil,
Examples include reaction curing type (for example, reaction curing of amino-modified silicone oil and epoxy-modified silicone oil), photo-curing type, catalyst curing type, and the like. The amount of these curable silicone oils added is 0.5 to 0.5 of the resin for the image-receiving layer.
30% by weight is preferred. In addition, on a part of the surface of the image-receiving layer,
A release agent layer can also be provided by dissolving or dispersing the above-mentioned release agent in an appropriate solvent, applying the solution, and then drying it.

[0047] Next, as the antioxidant, JP-A-59
-182785, 60-130735, JP-A-1-1
Antioxidants such as those described in No. 27387, and compounds known to improve image durability in photographs and other image recording materials can be mentioned.

[0048] As the UV absorber and light stabilizer,
JP-A No. 59-158287, No. 63-74686, No. 6
3-145089, 59-196292, 62-2
29594, 63-122596, 61-28359
5, JP-A-1-204788, etc., and compounds known to improve image durability in photographs and other image recording materials. 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 fluororesin particles, guanamine resin particles, acrylic resin particles, silicone resin particles, etc. The following resin particles can be mentioned. These inorganic/organic resin particles vary depending on the specific gravity, but are between 0 and 3.
Addition of 0% by weight is preferred.

Typical examples of the pigment include titanium white, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, silica, talc, clay, kaolin, activated clay, and acid clay. The plasticizers include phthalate esters, trimellitate esters, adipate esters, other saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, citric acid esters, epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxy stearate, etc. esters, orthophosphoric acid esters, phosphorous acid esters, glycol esters, and the like.

The heat-melting substances include alcohols such as terpineol, menthol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, and phenol, amides such as acetamide and benzamide, esters such as coumarin and benzyl cinnamate, diphenyl ether, and crown. Ethers such as ether, ketones such as camphor and p-methylacetophenone, aldehydes such as vanillin and dimethoxybenzaldehyde, hydrocarbons such as norbornene and stilbene, higher fatty acids such as margaric acid, higher alcohols such as eicosanol, and palmitic acid. Monomolecular compounds represented by higher fatty acid esters such as cetyl, higher fatty acid amides such as stearic acid amide, higher amines such as behenylamine, waxes such as carnauba wax, beeswax, paraffin wax, ester wax, montan wax, and amide wax. , ester gum, rosin derivatives such as rosin maleic acid resin, rosin phenolic resin, phenolic resin, ketone resin, epoxy resin, diallyl phthalate resin, terpene resin, aliphatic hydrocarbon resin, cyclopentadiene resin, polyolefin resin, polyethylene glycol , and polymer compounds typified by polyolefin oxides such as polypropylene glycol.

[0052] In the present invention, it is preferable that the above-mentioned heat-melting substance has a melting point or softening point of 10 to 150°C.

In the present invention, the total amount of additives added is preferably selected in the range of 0.1 to 30% by weight based on the resin for the image-receiving layer. Note that the thickness of the image-receiving layer is normally selected within the range of 3 to 30 μm, preferably 5 to 20 μm. Further, the image-receiving layer may be a single layer, or, if necessary, may be provided as a multilayer structure of two or more layers having the same or different compositions.

[0054] The method of forming the image receiving layer is not particularly limited, and it can be formed by various methods such as known methods. For example, the image-receiving layer can be prepared by dispersing or dissolving its forming components in a solvent to prepare a coating solution for forming an image-receiving layer, and then coating the coating solution for forming an image-receiving layer on the surface of the porous layer on the base material. It can be formed by a coating method in which the image-receiving layer is dried, or a lamination method in which a mixture containing the components for forming the image-receiving layer is melt-extruded and laminated on the surface of the porous layer.

Examples of solvents used in the above coating method include water, alcohols (eg, ethanol, propanol, etc.), cellosolves (eg, methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, etc.), and aromatics (eg, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, etc.). , ketones (e.g., acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.), ester solvents (e.g., ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, etc.), ethers (e.g., tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, etc.), chlorinated solvents (e.g., methylene chloride, chloroform, trichlorethylene, etc.), etc. Can be mentioned.

[0056] For the coating, conventionally known coating methods using a gravure roll, extrusion coating method, wire bar coating method, roll coating method, etc. can be employed. After this coating, an image-receiving layer having a predetermined dry thickness is formed by appropriately drying. Note that the image-receiving layer is not limited to a single-layer structure, but can also have a structure of two or more layers. Further, the image-receiving layer may be formed over the entire surface of the porous layer on the base material, or may be formed on a part of the surface as necessary.

(4) Other Layers In addition to the base material, porous layer, and image-receiving layer, the image-receiving sheet of the present invention may optionally contain adhesive between the image-receiving layer and the porous layer. An intermediate layer (undercoat layer) may be provided for the purpose of imparting properties such as. Further, an overcoat layer may be laminated on the surface of the image-receiving layer for the purpose of preventing fusion between the ink sheet for thermal transfer recording and the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. When providing the above-mentioned intermediate layer (intermediate layer other than the above-mentioned porous layer) or overcoat layer, it is preferable that the thickness of each layer is usually selected in the range of 0.1 to 20 μm.

[0058] Furthermore, a backing layer such as an anti-static layer, a writing layer, an anti-curl layer, etc. may be provided on the back surface of the image-receiving sheet of the present invention (the surface of the base opposite to the porous layer), if necessary. It's okay. There are no particular restrictions on the material, structure, formation method, etc. of this backing layer, and it may be formed as the same as the backing layer used in known image-receiving sheets of this type, or may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose etc. You can also do that. Note that the backing layer is not limited to a single layer structure, but can also have a structure of two or more layers. Further, the backing layer is usually formed over the entire back surface of the base material, but depending on the case, it may be formed on a part of the surface. This backing layer may be formed at any point in the manufacturing process of the image-receiving sheet of the present invention. Of course, the image-receiving sheet of the present invention may be manufactured using a base material having a predetermined backing layer in advance, or may be formed after the image-receiving layer is formed.

-Second embodiment of image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording-
The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the second embodiment basically comprises an image-receiving layer and the porous layer laminated in this order on a base material. The important point here is that at least one porous layer is provided on the image-receiving layer, and other points, such as the materials and compositions of the base material and the image-receiving layer, the formation method thereof, and the intermediate layer as appropriate. There are no particular restrictions on the provision of a protective layer or a backing layer.

(1) Substrate Since the substrate is the same as the substrate in the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the first embodiment, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. (2) Image-receiving layer The image-receiving layer has the same contents as the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the first embodiment, so detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

(3) Porous layer In the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of this second embodiment,
The porous layer is provided on the surface of the image receiving layer provided on the base material. The size of the holes in the porous layer when forming the porous layer of this second embodiment cannot be determined unconditionally depending on the thickness of the porous layer, but it is preferable in order to have a smooth surface. is preferably 1 μm or less, more preferably 0.5 μm or less. In addition, the porosity at that time is 5 to 50%, preferably 5
~30% is preferred. The material for forming the porous layer is not particularly limited, and basically any material can be used as long as it can form a porous layer of at least an appropriate thickness.

[0062] In this second embodiment, the resin forming the porous layer is preferably formed of a resin that is easily dyed by the dye to be transferred. As such a resin, those that have been proposed as conventional resins that can be used in this type of image-receiving layer can be used. Specifically, for example, polyolefin resins, vinyl chloride resins (for example, polychlorinated vinyl, vinyl chloride-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer, vinyl chloride-benzyl methacrylate copolymer, vinyl chloride-alkyl vinyl ether copolymer, etc.), polyester resin, urethane resin (e.g. polyurethane), polyamide resin, Examples include caprolactone, polyvinylpyrrolide, cellulose triacetate, acrylic (polyacrylate, polymethacrylate) resins, styrene resins, and epoxy resins.

Among these, polyolefin resins,
Vinyl chloride resin, urethane resin, acrylic resin,
Styrenic resins and epoxy resins are more preferred. Incidentally, these resins may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in combination as a mixture or resin blend.

[0064] The method for forming the porous layer structure in the porous layer is not particularly limited, and various methods such as known methods can be used. Specifically, for example, the melt extrusion method described in the first embodiment, the method of applying a coating liquid for forming a porous layer containing the resin on the image-receiving layer, and the method of applying a porous film to the base (image-receiving layer) surface There are methods such as bonding them together.

Methods for forming the porous layer on the surface of the image-receiving layer using this coating method include, for example, (1) applying a coating solution for forming a porous layer containing sufficient air bubbles by mechanical stirring and drying; (2) A method of applying a coating liquid for forming a porous layer containing a foaming agent and foaming it by heating; (3) A method of forming a porous layer by applying a coating liquid for forming a porous layer containing a foaming agent; Less likely to evaporate than solvents,
A mixture of a poor solvent (including one containing water as a main component) that is compatible with the organic solvent and has extremely low (or no) solubility for the resin is added to the image-receiving layer. A method of forming a microporous layer by coating on top and drying it to form a microscopic agglomerated coating film,
etc. are preferably adopted. Among these, the method (3) is particularly preferably used because a more uniform and finer porous structure can be stably formed.

In the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention, the thickness of the porous layer formed on the image-receiving layer is as follows:
Usually, it is suitable to select the thickness to be 5 μm or less, preferably 2 μm or less. By setting the thickness of this porous layer to 2 μm or less, blurring of images can be significantly effectively prevented. Note that although it is usually sufficient to provide one porous layer, two or more layers may be provided as necessary. (4) The explanation regarding other layers and other layers is as follows in the first aspect.
Replaced with explanation of "Other layers".

B. Ink sheet for thermal transfer recording An ink sheet for thermal transfer recording is basically formed by laminating ink layers on a support. Ink sheets for heat-sensitive transfer recording include those with a meltable ink layer used in the heat-melt recording method (heat-melt transfer ink sheets) and those with a heat-diffusible dye-containing ink layer used in the heat-diffusion transfer method (thermal-diffusible ink sheets). transfer ink sheets), etc. Gradation images on an image recording medium can be formed using an ink sheet for thermal diffusion transfer, and images that do not require gradation, such as characters, figures, symbols, ruled lines, etc., can be formed using an ink sheet for thermal melt transfer or thermal diffusion transfer. It can be formed using an ink sheet.

- Ink sheet for thermal diffusion transfer - (1) Support for ink sheet Any support for this ink sheet may be used as long as it has good dimensional stability and can withstand the heat during recording with a thermal head. , condenser paper, thin paper such as glassine paper,
Heat resistant plastic films such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyamide, polyimide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyvinyl alcohol cellophane, polystyrene can be used. The thickness of the ink sheet support is 2 to 1
0 μm is preferable. There is no particular restriction on the shape of the ink sheet support, and it may have any shape, such as a wide sheet or film, or a narrow tape or card.

(2) Ink layer The above ink layer contains a heat-diffusible dye and a binder as essential components when transferred to an image-receiving sheet for heat-sensitive transfer recording by a heat-diffusion transfer method. <Thermodiffusible dye> Examples of 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-
78896, JP 60-30392, JP 60-30394, JP 60-25359
5, JP-A-61-262190, JP-A-6
Anthraquinone dyes described in publications such as JP-A No. 3-5992, JP-A-63-205288, JP-A-64-159, and JP-A-64-63194;
Examples include azo dyes and azomethine dyes.

[0072] As a yellow dye, JP-A-59-78
896, JP 60-27594, JP 60-31560, JP 60-53565, JP 61-12394, JP 63-12
Examples include methine dyes, azo dyes, quinophthalone dyes, and anthrisothiazole dyes described in various publications such as No. 2594.

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.

[0074] If the sublimable dye contained in the sublimable dye-containing ink layer is a monochromatic image,
It may be any of yellow dye, magenta dye, and cyan dye. When a metal ion-containing compound is contained in the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, the sublimable dye is preferably a dye compound that can form a chelate with the metal ion-containing compound.

As the dye compound that forms a chelate with the metal ion-containing compound, various known compounds can be appropriately selected and used. Specifically, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-78893, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 59-109349, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-213303, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-214719, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-214719,
Examples include cyan image-forming dye (hereinafter referred to as cyan dye), magenta image-forming dye (hereinafter referred to as magenta dye), and yellow image-forming dye (hereinafter referred to as yellow dye) described in Japanese Patent Application No. 203742. Among the above dyes, it is preferable to use a dye compound that can form a bidentate chelate with at least the metal ion-containing compound described above. As such a dye,
For example, dyes represented by the following general formula can be mentioned.

[0076]

[Chemical formula 1]

However, in the formula, X1 represents a group of atoms necessary to complete an aromatic carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring in which at least one ring is composed of 5 to 7 atoms, and represents an azo bond. At least one adjacent position of the carbon atom to be bonded is a nitrogen atom or a carbon atom substituted with a chelating group. X2 represents an aromatic heterocycle or an aromatic carbocycle in which at least one ring is composed of 5 to 7 atoms. G represents a chelating group.

Regardless of which dye compound is used,
Depending on the tone of the image to be formed, it may contain two or more of the three types of dyes or other sublimable dyes. The amount of the sublimable dye used is usually 0.1 to 20 g, preferably 0.2 to 5 g per m2 of support.
It is g.

<Binder> As a binder for the ink layer, cellulose resins such as cellulose addition compounds, cellulose esters, and cellulose ethers; polyvinyl acetal resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl acetoacetal, and polyvinyl butyral; polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and polyvinyl acetal resins; Vinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, styrene resin, poly(meth)acrylic ester, poly(meth)acrylic acid, (meth)
Vinyl resins such as acrylic acid copolymers, rubber resins,
Examples include ionomer resins, olefin resins, polyester resins, and the like.

Among these resins, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetoacetal or cellulose resins, which have excellent storage stability, are preferred. The above-mentioned various binders can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The weight ratio of the binder to the heat-diffusible dye is preferably 1:10 to 10:1, particularly preferably 2:8 to 7:3.

<Other Optional Components> Furthermore, various additives may be appropriately added to the ink layer. The additives include silicone resin, silicone oil (reactive curing type is also available), silicone modified resin, fluororesin,
Surfactants, peeling compounds such as waxes, fine metal powders, silica gel, metal oxides, carbon black,
and fillers such as fine resin powders, and curing agents that can react with binder components (for example, radiation active compounds such as isocyanates, acrylics, and epoxies).

Furthermore, examples of additives include heat-melting substances for promoting transfer, such as waxes and higher fatty acid esters, which are described in JP-A-59-106997.

(3) Other layers The ink sheet for thermal transfer recording is not limited to a two-layer structure consisting of a support and an ink layer, and other layers may be formed. For example, an overcoat layer may be provided on the surface of the ink layer for the purpose of preventing fusion with the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording and setting-off (blocking) of the heat-diffusible dye.

The support may also have a subbing layer for the purpose of improving adhesion to the binder and preventing transfer and dyeing of the dye to the support. Furthermore, the back side of the support (the side opposite to the ink layer) has properties such as running stability, dimensional stability, heat resistance,
A backing layer may be provided for the purpose of preventing static electricity. The thickness of the above-mentioned overcoat layer, subbing layer and backing layer is usually 0.1 to 1 μm.

(4) Production of ink sheet for thermal diffusion transfer The ink sheet for thermal transfer recording is produced by preparing a coating liquid for forming an ink layer by dispersing or dissolving the various components forming the ink layer in a solvent. , coat this on the surface of the support,
It can be manufactured by drying. Note that one or more of the binders are used by dissolving them in a solvent or dispersing them in a latex form.

Examples of the solvent include water, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, xylene, chloroform, dioxane, acetone, cyclohexane, n-butyl acetate, and the like. For the above-mentioned coating, conventional methods such as a sequential coating method using a gravure roll, an extrusion coating method, a wire bar coating method, a roll coating method, etc. can be employed.

The ink layer may be formed as a layer containing a single color heat-diffusible dye on the entire surface or a part of the surface of the support, or may be formed as a layer containing a monochromatic heat-diffusible dye, or a yellow ink layer containing a binder and a yellow dye. A magenta ink layer containing a binder and a magenta dye and a cyan ink layer containing a binder and a cyan dye are formed on the entire surface or a part of the surface of the support in a constant repetition along the plane direction. You can leave it there.

[0088] In addition to the three ink layers arranged in the plane direction, a black ink layer containing a black image forming substance may be interposed. Note that with regard to the black ink layer, clear images can be obtained with either the diffusion transfer type or the melt transfer type. The thickness of the ink layer thus formed is usually 0.2 to 10 μm, preferably 0.3 to 3 μm.
It is m. Incidentally, it is also possible to improve convenience in use by forming perforations on the ink sheet for thermal transfer recording, or providing detection marks for detecting the positions of areas with different hues.

C. Formation of an image - Formation of a gradation image - (1) When using the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the first embodiment - To form a gradation image, in the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the first embodiment, The ink layer of the ink sheet for thermal diffusion transfer and the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording are overlapped, and thermal energy is applied imagewise to the ink layer and the image-receiving layer. Then, the heat-diffusible dye in the ink layer vaporizes or sublimates in an amount corresponding to the thermal energy applied during image formation, and is transferred to and received by the image-receiving layer, resulting in the formation of a dye image on the image-receiving layer. Ru.

When using an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording that has an image-receiving layer to which the metal ion-containing compound is added, the heat-diffusible dye and the metal ion-containing compound form a chelate, resulting in good fixing properties. A unique image is formed. A thermal head is generally used as a heat source for providing thermal energy, but other known sources such as a laser beam, an infrared flash, and a thermal pen can also be used.

When a thermal head is used as a heat source for applying thermal energy, the applied thermal energy can be varied continuously or in multiple stages by modulating the voltage or pulse width applied to the thermal head. When a laser beam is used as a heat source for providing thermal energy, the amount of thermal energy provided can be changed by changing the amount of laser light or the irradiation area. In this case, in order to easily absorb laser light, a laser light absorbing material (for example, in the case of a semiconductor laser, carbon black or a near-infrared absorbing substance) is added to the ink layer.
Alternatively, it may be made to exist near the ink layer. When using a laser beam, it is preferable to bring the ink sheet for sublimation type thermal transfer recording and the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording into close contact with each other.

If a dot generator incorporating an acousto-optic element is used, thermal energy can be applied depending on the size of the halftone dot. When an infrared flash lamp is used as a heat source for providing thermal energy, heating is preferably performed through a colored layer such as black, as in the case of using laser light. Alternatively, heating may be performed through a pattern or halftone dot pattern that continuously expresses the shading of an image, such as black, or a colored layer such as black and a negative pattern corresponding to the negative of the above pattern. Heating may be performed in combination. Thermal energy can be applied from the ink sheet side for sublimation type thermal transfer recording, from the image receiving sheet side for thermal transfer recording, or from both sides, but if priority is given to effective use of thermal energy, It is desirable to perform this from the ink sheet side for sublimation type thermal transfer recording.

[0093] By the above thermal transfer recording, a one-color image can be recorded on the image-receiving layer of an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, but according to the method described below, it is possible to obtain a color photo-like color image consisting of a combination of various colors. You can also do it. For example, by sequentially replacing yellow, magenta, cyan, and, if necessary, black thermal transfer recording sheets and performing thermal transfer for each color, it is possible to obtain a color photo-like color image consisting of a combination of each color. .

The following method is also effective. That is, instead of using ink sheets for sublimation type thermal transfer recording of each color as described above, an ink sheet for sublimation type thermal transfer recording having areas pre-painted in each color is used. Then, first, the yellow area is used to thermally transfer the yellow color separation image, then the magenta area is used to thermally transfer the magenta color separation image, and then the process is repeated sequentially to create yellow, magenta, cyan, and the necessary A method is adopted in which the image is thermally transferred in order with the black separated color image.

[0095] Although it is possible to obtain a color photographic-like color image with this method as well, a further advantage of this method is that it is not necessary to replace the heat-sensitive sheet for heat-sensitive transfer recording as described above. There is. Furthermore, after forming an image using the method described above, for the purpose of improving image storage stability,
Heat treatment may be performed using the method described above. for example,
Heat treatment may be performed over the entire image forming surface using a thermal head using a portion of the ink sheet where the ink layer is not provided, or additional heat treatment using a heat roll or the like may be performed. Furthermore, when a near-infrared absorber is contained, the image forming surface may be exposed using an infrared flash lamp. In either case, the heating means does not matter, but since the purpose is to further diffuse the dye into the image-receiving layer, it is effective and preferable to heat from the support side of the image-receiving layer.

When a gradation image is formed using the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which is the first embodiment, the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording has a porous layer and an image-receiving layer laminated in this order on a base material. Because it has excellent heat insulation and cushioning properties, it not only provides images with high sensitivity and high density, but also provides good transferred images without white spots due to the small surface irregularities of the porous layer. .

(2) When using the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the second embodiment - Even when using the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the second embodiment, basically the thermal transfer recording of the first embodiment is used. A gradation image can be formed in the same manner as when using an image-receiving sheet. However, in the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the second embodiment, since a porous layer is formed on the surface of the image-receiving layer, the surface of the porous layer and the ink layer of the ink sheet for thermal diffusion transfer are brought into close contact. , which will give thermal energy to imagewise.

At this time, since a porous layer is laminated on the surface of the image-receiving layer, there is little loss of heat in the depth direction, so the heat is efficiently used for the diffusion of the thermodiffusible dye, and sufficient heat is is transmitted to the surface of the porous layer, so even if the surface smoothness is somewhat inferior, a transferred image with high sensitivity and high density without white spots can be obtained.

In addition, if you want to further improve the surface smoothness and image storage stability, after forming the gradation image,
The surface of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording may be subjected to heating and pressure treatment. Examples of the heat-pressing treatment include a process in which an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having a gradation image is passed through a calendar roll or a heat roll, or a process in which the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording is sandwiched between hot plates. can. In any case, the heat treatment temperature is usually 70~
200°C, preferably in the range of 100 to 150°C,
The pressure in pressure treatment is usually 0.05 to 20K.
g/cm2, preferably 0.5 to 5 Kg/cm2.

[0100]

[Examples] The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples below, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples. Note that in the following, "parts" represent "parts by weight." (Example 1) - Production of an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording - A coating for forming an ink layer having the following composition was applied to the corona-treated surface of a 6 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate film [Lumirror F53N, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.] as a support. The coating solution was applied to a dry thickness of 1 μm using the wire bar coating method, dried, and a silicone resin [Dialomer SP-712, manufactured by Dainichiseika Kagyo Co., Ltd.] was applied to the back surface that had not been corona-treated. A nitrocellulose solution containing 50% by weight was coated by a wire bar coating method so that the thickness after drying was 0.5 μm, dried, and a back treatment coat was performed to obtain an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording.

<Coating liquid for forming ink layer> Heat-diffusible dye・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...2.5 parts [manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Dye Co., Ltd., MS
Magenta VP] Thermodiffusible dye・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・・・・1.5 parts [manufactured by Bayern AG,
Macrolex Red Violet R] Polyvinyl butyral 4.
0 parts [Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., S-LEC BX-1
] Methyl ethyl ketone・・・・・・・・・・・・
...82.0 parts cyclohexanone...
・・・・・・・・・10.0 copies.

-Manufacture of image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording-
<Porous layer forming composition> Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...75 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TK300]
Plasticizer・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...15 parts [Daihachi Kagaku Co., Ltd., DOP] Organic blowing agent
...10 parts [manufactured by Otsuka Chemical Industries, Ltd., azocarbonamide].

[0103] After melting and kneading the powdery composition for forming a porous layer having the above composition, a film having a thickness of 500 μm was formed using a T-die molding machine at a die temperature of 180°C, and then heated to 120°C. A thickness of 30 mm was obtained by passing the film between rolls that were
After making it into a μm sheet, it was heated to 200° C. to foam the foaming agent to create a porous sheet. When observed with an electron microscope at a magnification of 10,000 times, the obtained porous sheet had a porous pore diameter of 1.5 μm and a porosity of 30%.

[0104] Next, synthetic paper [trade name: YUPO FPG] was used as a base material.
-150; Manufactured by Oji Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.; Thickness 150 μm]
The above-mentioned porous sheet was thermocompression bonded to the surface of the base material to form a porous layer on the base material. Next, on the surface of the porous layer provided on the above-mentioned base material, a coating liquid for forming an image receiving layer having the following composition is applied to a dry film thickness of 10 μm, and dried to form a porous layer. An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having an image-receiving layer thereon was prepared.

<Coating liquid for forming image-receiving layer> Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...4.5 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TK30]
0] Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・
...5.0 parts [Manufactured by BASF, Laroflex MP25] Polyester modified silicone resin...
・・・・・・・・・0.5 parts [Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.]
Ltd., X-24-8300] Methyl ethyl ketone...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・70.0 parts Cyclohexanone・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・20.0
Department.

-Image Formation- The above-mentioned image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording is supplied so that its image-receiving surface is in contact with the ink layer surface of the above-mentioned ink sheet for thermal transfer recording, and the ink sheet for thermal transfer recording is supported. An image was formed by applying a thermal head from the body side under the following conditions, the ink sheet for thermal transfer recording and the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording were peeled off, and the gradation image was transferred onto the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. .

<Image forming conditions> Line density of main scanning and sub-scanning: 8 dots/mm Recording power
: 0.6W/dot Heating time of thermal head: 20msec (applied energy approx. 1
The heating time was adjusted stepwise between 1.2 x 10 -3 J) and 2 msec (applied energy of about 1.12 x 10 -3 J).

Regarding the surface smoothness of the image receiving surface of the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording before and after image formation, the transfer sensitivity of the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording during image formation, the transferred dye density, the occurrence of white spots, the surface smoothness of the outermost layer (The image-receiving layer surface in embodiment 1 and the porous layer surface in embodiment 2) were evaluated based on the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1. Transfer sensitivity: A relative comparison was made of the energy applied to give a reflection density of 1.0 using an optical densitometer. ○: Provides a reflection density of 1.0 at low energy when compared in relative terms. △・・・Medium in relative comparison. ×: Required high energy when compared relatively.

Transferred dye density: The maximum reflection density OD value was measured using an optical densitometer. ◎・・・OD value is 2.0 or more. 〇...OD value is 2.0 to 2.5. Δ...OD value is 1.7 to 2.0. ×...OD value is 1.7 or less.

[0110] Presence or absence of white spots: Determine whether or not there are white spots that are not printed in the printed image by visual inspection. ○...No white spots are observed. △... Some white spots were observed. x: Many white spots were observed.

[0111] Surface smoothness: Judgment was made based on the measured value of the surface measured with a 60 degree incident and reflected light using a gloss meter. ○...The measured value is 80 degrees or more. △...The measured value is 65 degrees or more and less than 80 degrees. ×...The measured value is less than 65 degrees.

(Example 2) - Production of an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording - An ink layer having the following composition was applied to the corona-treated surface of a 6 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate film [Lumirror F53N, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.] as a support. The forming coating solution was applied using the wire bar coating method to a dry thickness of 1 μm, and then dried, and a silicone resin [Dialomer SP- manufactured by Dainichiseika Kagyo Co., Ltd.] was applied to the back surface that had not been corona-treated. A nitrocellulose solution containing 50 wt. Ta.

<Coating liquid for forming ink layer:> Heat-diffusible dye・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・3 parts [Compound represented by chemical formula 2]

[0114]

[Case 2]

[0115] Polyvinyl butyral・・・・・・・・・・・・
...3 parts [Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., S-LEC BX-1] Methyl ethyl ketone ...
・・・・・・・・・・・・44 parts Dioxane...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・40 copies
Cyclohexanone・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...10 copies.

-Manufacture of an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording-The following composition was used as a composition for forming a porous layer, and
As a base material, a white polyethylene terephthalate film with a thickness of 125 μm [manufactured by Diafoil Co., Ltd., W400, #
A laminated film was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 125] was used.

The porous sheet obtained has a pore diameter of 1
．． It was 0 μm, and the porosity was 25%. Note that the adhesion between the base material and the porous layer was better in Example 2, in which a polyethylene terephthalate film was used as the base material, than in Example 1, in which synthetic paper was used as the base material. It was also confirmed that

<Porous layer forming composition> Polystyrene・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...75 parts [Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TOPOLEX 830] Organic blowing agent...
......15 parts [manufactured by Otsuka Chemical Industries, Ltd., azocarbonamide].

Next, on the surface of the porous layer provided on the above-mentioned base material, a coating solution for forming an image receiving layer having the following composition was applied to a dry film thickness of 10 μm and dried. An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having an image-receiving layer on a porous layer was prepared. <Coating liquid for image-receiving layer formation> Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...2.0 parts [Manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TK
300] Vinyl chloride-mono-2-ethylhexyl maleate copolymer
・・・・・・
...3.5 parts [vinyl chloride content: 85.1
%, Tg: 75°C, degree of polymerization: 500] Metal ion-containing compound 4.0
part [[Ni(C2 H5 NHCH2 CH2 N
H2)]2+[(C6H5)4B]2−]
Polyester modified silicone resin・・・・・・・・・・
...0.5 part [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-24]
-8300] Methyl ethyl ketone...
・・・・・・・・・・・・80.0 parts Cyclohexanone・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・10.0 parts.

-Image Formation- Using the ink sheet for thermal transfer recording and the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording obtained as described above, Example 1 was prepared.
An image was formed in the same manner as above and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 3) As a base material, an average particle size of 0.5
Polyethylene terephthalate containing 17% of the weight of the polymer as a filler of titanium oxide in the form of finely pulverized particles of μm was sufficiently kneaded and stirred at 270°C and put into the first extruder. A composition was prepared by thoroughly kneading and stirring 90% by weight of polyvinyl chloride resin [TK300, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.] and 10% by weight of polycarbonate resin [Panlite K1300, manufactured by Teijin Chemicals Ltd.] at 180°C. The mixture was put into a second extruder, and each material (base material forming material and porous layer forming material) was extruded from the respective extruder.

[0122] The respective extruded material streams are fed into a co-extruder (co-extruder) and co-extruded through a film-forming die to form a laminated film, which is then placed in a tender oven in 3. After stretching in the machine direction with a tensile tension of 2:1, it was stretched in the transverse direction with a tensile tension of 3.5:1. Next, this biaxially stretched laminated film was heat set in a tender oven heated to 170°C.

The thus obtained laminated sheet has a thickness of 15
It had a 10 μm thick polyvinyl chloride-polymer polycarbonate porous layer on one side of a 0 μm filler-containing polyethylene terephthalate layer. In addition, the obtained porous sheet has a porous pore diameter of 0.8 μm,
The porosity was 20%. Next, the same image-receiving layer forming coating solution as in Example 1 was applied to the surface of the porous layer of this laminate sheet to form an image-receiving layer, thereby producing an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. Regarding the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording,
An image was formed using the same ink sheet as in Example 1,
Evaluation was made in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 4) A simultaneously biaxially stretched laminated film was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a composition having the following composition was used as the material for forming the porous layer. The thus obtained laminated sheet has a thickness of 340μ
It had a polyvinyl chloride/polycarbonate based porous layer with a thickness of 20 μm on one side of a filler-containing polyethylene terephthalate layer of m. In addition, the porous sheet obtained has a porous pore diameter of 0.3 μm and a porosity of 25
%Met. Next, the same image-receiving layer forming coating solution as in Example 2 was applied to the surface of the porous layer of this laminate sheet to form an image-receiving layer, thereby producing an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. An image was formed on the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording using the same ink sheet as in Example 2, and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1. <Porous layer forming composition> Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...70 copies [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TK1000]
] Polystyrene・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...25 parts [Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TOPOLEX 830] Synthetic resin modifier ......
......5 copies [manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd., Rezeta GP300].

(Example 5) A simultaneously biaxially stretched laminated film was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a composition having the following composition was used as the material for forming the porous layer. The laminated sheet thus obtained has a thickness of 180μ
It had a polystyrene/polycarbonate porous layer with a thickness of 20 μm on one side of a filler-containing polyethylene terephthalate layer of 20 μm. The porous sheet obtained has a pore diameter of 0.4 μm and a porosity of 20%.
Met. Next, on the surface of the porous layer of this laminated sheet,
An image-receiving layer was formed by applying the same image-receiving layer forming coating solution as in Example 1 to prepare an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. An image was formed on the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording using the same ink sheet as in Example 1, and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

<Composition for forming porous layer> Polystyrene・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...75 parts [Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TOPOLEX 830] Polycarbonate...
......22 parts [Manufactured by Teijin Kasei Ltd., Panlite K1300] Synthetic resin modifier ......
・・・・・・・・・・・・3 parts [manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.,
Rezeta GP500].

(Example 6) A simultaneously biaxially stretched laminated film was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a composition having the following composition was used as the material for forming the porous layer. The laminated sheet thus obtained has a thickness of 125μ
It had a polyphenylene sulfide/polymethyl methacrylate porous layer with a thickness of 10 μm on one side of the filler-containing polyethylene terephthalate layer. In addition,
The obtained porous sheet had a porous pore diameter of 0.3 μm and a porosity of 25%. Next, the same image-receiving layer forming coating solution as in Example 2 was applied to the surface of the porous layer of this laminate sheet to form an image-receiving layer, thereby producing an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. An image was formed on the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording using the same ink sheet as in Example 2, and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

<Porous layer forming composition> Polyphenylene sulfide・・・・・・・・・・・・
...35 copies [manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd., NR-04]
Polymethyl methacrylate・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
60 copies [Manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumipec-B M
H] Synthetic resin modifier・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...5 parts [manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd., Rezeta GP3
00].

(Example 7) A simultaneously biaxially stretched laminated film was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a composition having the following composition was used as the material for forming the porous layer. The laminated sheet thus obtained has a thickness of 500μ
It had a polystyrene/acrylonitrile styrene copolymer porous layer with a thickness of 30 μm on one side of a filler-containing polyethylene terephthalate layer of 30 μm. In addition,
The obtained porous sheet had a porous pore diameter of 0.2 μm and a porosity of 25%. Next, the same image-receiving layer forming coating solution as in Example 1 was applied to the surface of the porous layer of this laminate sheet to form an image-receiving layer, thereby producing an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. An image was formed on the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording using the same ink sheet as in Example 1, and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

<Porous layer forming composition> Polystyrene・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...35 parts [manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TOPOLEX 570] Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer.
......60 parts [Sumipec-B MH, manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.] Synthetic resin modifier ......
......5 parts [manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd., Rezeta GP200].

(Comparative Example 1) An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a porous layer-forming composition containing no foaming agent was used. Image formation and evaluation were performed using the following methods. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0132]

[Table 1]

(Example 8) - Production of ink sheet for thermal transfer recording - The ink sheet for thermal transfer recording prepared in Example 1 above was used.

-Manufacture of image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording-
<Coating liquid for image-receiving layer formation> Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...5.0 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TK60]
0] Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・
...5.0 parts [BASF, Raroflex MP25] Methyl ethyl ketone ...
・・・・・・70.0 parts Cyclohexanone...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・20.0 copies.

<Porous layer forming composition> Polystyrene・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...18.0 parts [manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TOPOLEX 500-51] Polyester modified silicone resin 1.0 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone Co., Ltd., X-24-8300] AIBN (foaming agent) 1.0 part
Methyl ethyl ketone・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
・79.0 parts cyclohexanone・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・・・・1.0 copy.

[0136] The base material was white polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 125 μm [manufactured by Diafoil Co., Ltd., W400]
#125], the above-mentioned coating liquid for forming an image-receiving layer is applied to the surface of the image-receiving layer so that the thickness of the image-receiving layer becomes 10 μm, and this is dried to form an image-receiving layer on the substrate. The above composition for forming a porous layer was applied to a thickness of 1.5 μm and heated to 120° C. for 15 minutes to form a porous layer. The porous sheet obtained had a pore diameter of 1.5 μm and a porosity of 30%. An image was formed using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording in the same manner as in Example 1, and the images were evaluated for transfer density, sensitivity, white spots, and surface gloss in the same manner as in Example 1. evaluated. In addition, "bleeding" was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 2. Pigment bleeding prevention property: The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording on which an image was recorded was left to stand at 60° C. for 24 hours, and then the degree of bleeding was visually judged. ○: Almost no bleeding is observed. ×: Bleeding was observed.

(Example 9) - Production of ink sheet for thermal transfer recording - The ink sheet for thermal transfer recording prepared in Example 2 above was used. -Manufacture of image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording- After applying an image-receiving layer forming coating liquid and a porous layer forming composition having the following compositions to the same thickness on the substrate used in Example 9 above. Further, by heating at 120° C. for 120 minutes, an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was obtained. Note that the obtained porous sheet had a porous pore diameter of 1.0 μm and a porosity of 25%. Using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, an image was formed in the same manner as in Example 2, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 8. The results are shown in Table 2.

<Image-receiving layer forming coating liquid> Epoxy resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...6.0 parts [manufactured by Toto Kasei Co., Ltd., Epotote]
YD-014] Metal ion-containing compound...
・・・・・・・・・・・・4.0 parts [[Ni(NH2
COCH2 NH2 )]2+[(C6 H5 )4
B]2-] Methyl ethyl ketone...
・・・・・・・・・80.0 parts cyclohexanone・
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・10.0 copies.

<Porous layer forming composition> Polyvinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...9.5 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TK-3]
00] Polyester modified silicone resin...
...0.5 part [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone Co., Ltd.]
X-24-8300] Methyl ethyl ketone...
・・・・・・・・・・・・70.0 parts Acetone...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・70.0 copies
water·······················
・50.0 copies.

(Example 10) A composition for forming a porous layer having the following composition was dispersed using a sand grinder, and coated on the surface of the image receiving layer in Example 8 to a thickness of 1.5 μm, and heated at 100°C. By heating for 120 minutes, an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was obtained. The porous sheet obtained has a pore diameter of 1.0 μm and a porosity of 1.
It was 5%. Using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, an image was formed using the ink sheet used in Example 1, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 8. The results are shown in Table 2.

<Porous formation composition> Polypropylene resin・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...9.3 parts [manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd., UBE Polypro J105G] Polyester modified silicone resin ...0.5 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-24] -8300] Dispersant...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・0.2 parts Heptane・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・15
0.0 part water・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・40.0 copies.

(Example 11) A composition for forming a porous layer having the following composition was applied to the surface of the image receiving layer in Example 9 to a thickness of 1.
．． An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was obtained by coating to a thickness of 5 μm and heating at 120° C. for 120 minutes. Note that the porous sheet obtained has a pore diameter of 1.5 μm.
m, and the porosity was 30%. Using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, an image was formed using the ink sheet used in Example 2, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 8. The results are shown in Table 2.

<Porous layer forming composition> Acrylic resin emulsion...
...18.0 parts [manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd., A-1015]
] Polyester modified silicone resin...
...2.0 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-2]
4-8300] Ethyl alcohol...
・・・・・・・・・40.0 copies Water・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・40.0 copies.

(Example 12) A composition for forming an image receiving layer having the following composition was coated on the substrate in Example 8 to a dry film thickness of 15 μm.
A porous layer forming composition similar to that of Example 11 was applied to the surface of the image receiving layer to a thickness of 1.5 μm, and heated to 120° C. for 120 minutes. An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was obtained. The porous sheet obtained had a pore diameter of 1.5 μm and a porosity of 30%. Using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, an image was formed using the ink sheet used in Example 1, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 8. The results are shown in Table 2.

<Coating liquid for forming image-receiving layer> Vinyl chloride latex...
...25.0 copies [Geon1 manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.]
50×15] Acrylic latex...
・・・・・・・・・15.0 parts [manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd., Nipol LX857] Water・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・60.0 copies.

(Example 13) In Example 8, after forming the image, the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was passed through a heat roll (heating temperature: 130°C) at a conveyance speed of 0.5 m.
Heat treatment was performed from the support side at m/sec. The results are shown in Table 2. (Example 14) In Example 9, after forming the image, the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was subjected to heating and pressure treatment using a hot stamp (heating temperature: 140°C, pressure: 1.5 kg/cm2, heating time: 5 seconds). did. The results are shown in Table 2. (Comparative Example 2) An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was prepared in the same manner as in Example 8, except that the following coating solution for forming an image-receiving layer was used and no porous layer was formed.

<Coating liquid for forming image-receiving layer> Polyvinyl chloride・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...5.0 parts [manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., TK-6]
00] Vinyl chloride resin・・・・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・4.5 parts [Manufactured by BASF, Laroflex MP25] Polyester modified silicone resin...
......0.5 part [Shin-Etsu Silicone (
Co., Ltd., X-24-8300] Methyl ethyl ketone 70.0 parts Cyclohexanone 20
．． 0 copies.

Using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, an image was formed using the ink sheet used in Example 1, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 8. Table 2 shows the results.
Shown below.

(Comparative Example 3) A composition for forming pores similar to the composition for forming pores in Example 8 was prepared in Example 8 above, except that it did not contain a blowing agent. An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was prepared in the same manner as in Example 8 using the composition. Using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, an image was formed using the ink sheet used in Example 1, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 8. The results are shown in Table 2.

(Comparative Example 4) A composition similar to Example 9 was prepared except that the water portion in the porous layer forming composition of Example 9 was replaced with acetone, and this composition was used. Otherwise, an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording was prepared in the same manner as in Example 9. In this image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, since a composition containing no water was used as described above, the layer formed on the surface of the image-receiving layer was not porous. Using the obtained image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, an image was formed using the ink sheet used in Example 2, and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 9. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0151]

[Table 2]

[0152]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording that can form images with high transfer density and no white spots with high sensitivity.

[0153] In particular, in an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording in which a porous layer and an image-receiving layer are laminated in this order on a base material, it is also possible to form the image-receiving layer by applying a coating liquid for forming the image-receiving layer. Regardless, it does not cause curls. Furthermore, even after image formation, an excellent effect is achieved in that the image does not bleed through to the substrate side during storage.

[0154] In particular, in an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording which is formed by laminating an image-receiving layer and a porous layer in this order on a base material, the porous layer is interposed between the image-receiving layer and the ink layer during image formation. Therefore, the image-receiving layer has excellent cushioning properties, and even though the surface of the image-receiving layer has some irregularities, white spots do not occur, and the formed image does not bleed.

Claims (7)

[Claims] [Claim 1] Used for thermal transfer recording in which a dye image is formed on an image receiving surface by applying energy according to image information to an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording that has a thermally transferable dye in the ink layer. An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording comprising at least an image-receiving layer on a base material, characterized in that at least one porous layer is provided between the base material and the image-receiving layer. sheet. 2. The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to claim 1, wherein the base material is a resin film or paper. 3. The thermal transfer recording according to claim 1, wherein the base material is a resin film, the porous layer is formed of resin, and the base material and the porous layer are laminated by coextrusion. image receiving sheet. 4. The resin forming the porous layer contains two or more kinds of resins, and at least one of the resins is a resin that is not uniformly miscible with at least one other resin. The image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to claim 3. 5. Used in thermal transfer recording in which a dye image is formed on an image receiving surface by applying energy according to image information to an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording that has a thermally transferable dye in the ink layer. An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having at least an image-receiving layer on a base material, characterized in that a porous layer is provided on the outer surface of the image-receiving layer laminated on the base material. Image receiving sheet. 6. The resin forming the porous layer is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins, vinyl chloride resins, urethane resins, acrylic resins, styrene resins, and epoxy resins. The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to claim 5, which is a resin. 7. The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to claim 5, wherein the porous layer has a thickness of 2 μm or less.