JPH0542776A - Preparation of thermal transfer recording material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prepare a thermal transfer recording material requiring no special printer and markedly improved, in image preservability such as fixing properties or light stability. CONSTITUTION:In the preparation of a thermal transfer recording material, an ink sheet wherein a resin layer containing a sublimable dye is provided on a support is superposed on an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording wherein a release layer is provided on support and at least an image receiving layer is provided thereon and imagewise heated from the rear of the image receiving sheet using a thermal head to form an image to the image receiving layer and this image receiving sheet is opposed to other card base material having an adhesive surface to thermally transfer the image receiving layer. An ultraviolet absorber is pref. added to the release layer and/or the image receiving layer in an amount of 0.05-5.0g/m<2>.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium, and more particularly to a method for producing a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium such as a photographic image-containing card which is remarkably improved in image storability such as fixing property and light stability. Regarding

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, color recording techniques such as ink jet, electrophotography, and thermal transfer have been studied as a method for obtaining a color hard copy. Of these, the thermal transfer system has various advantages such as easy operation and maintenance, downsizing of the apparatus, and cost reduction. This thermal transfer method is a method in which a transfer sheet having a meltable ink layer on a support is imagewise heated by a laser or a thermal head to melt transfer the meltable ink layer onto a transfer target sheet. A thermal diffusion transfer method (sublimation transfer method) in which only the thermal diffusible dye is diffuse-transferred to a transfer target sheet by using a transfer sheet having an ink layer containing a thermal diffusible dye (for example, a sublimable dye) on a support. There are two types.

In the latter thermal diffusion transfer system, the gradation of an image can be controlled by changing the transfer amount of the thermal diffusion dye according to the change in thermal energy of the thermal head.

Therefore, the thermal diffusion transfer method has recently attracted attention as a method capable of transferring and recording a color image having a continuous change in color tone by performing overlapping recording of cyan, magenta and yellow. There is.

[0005]

However, the thermal transfer image recorded with the sublimable dye has a problem in fixing property because it is localized near the surface of the image receiving layer.

[0006] Generally, the dye is an ultraviolet light (UV light).
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a protective layer containing an ultraviolet absorber (UV absorber) in order to improve the image storability.

Further, in order to make a card containing a photographic image by using this thermal transfer system, a special printing device such as an end face head is required to directly print on the image receiving layer on the card support having high rigidity. I was there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a thermal transfer recording medium which does not require a special printing device and has remarkably improved image storability such as fixing property and light stability.

[0009]

The inventors of the present invention have made extensive studies in order to achieve the above object, and as a result, have reached the present invention. The method for producing a thermal transfer recording material according to the present invention provides a support. A release layer is provided on the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having at least an image-receiving layer thereon, and an ink sheet provided with a resin layer having a sublimable dye on a support is faced to the back surface of the image-receiving sheet. After forming an image on the image receiving layer by heating imagewise using a thermal head,
The image receiving sheet is faced to another card substrate having an adhesive surface to thermally transfer the image receiving layer.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the release layer and / or the image receiving layer contains an ultraviolet absorber in an amount of 0.05.
˜5.0 g / m ^{2 is} contained.

Further, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gradation information containing image by a sublimation type thermal transfer system and a non-gradation information containing image by a fusion type thermal transfer system or a sublimation type thermal transfer system are both formed. is there.

[0012]

[Specific Structure of the Invention]

(Heat-sensitive transfer recording image-receiving sheet) The heat-sensitive transfer recording image-receiving sheet used in the present invention has a release layer provided on a support and having at least an image-receiving layer thereon.

Examples of the support include paper, coated paper,
And various types of paper such as synthetic paper (polypropylene, polystyrene or composite materials obtained by laminating them with paper),
White vinyl chloride resin sheet, white polyethylene terephthalate base film, transparent polyethylene terephthalate base film, polyethylene naphthalate, ABS base film, AS base film, polypropylene base film, polystyrene base film and other various plastic films or sheets, various Examples thereof include a film or sheet formed of the above metal, a film or sheet formed of various ceramics, and the like.

The thickness is preferably 2 to 20 μm, more preferably 3 to 10 μm.

The release layer constituting the image-receiving sheet of the present invention preferably contains a wax or a silicon compound. As waxes, carnauba wax,
Examples thereof include montan wax, beeswax, rice wax, candelilla wax, lanolin wax, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, polyethylene wax, sazol wax, oxidation wax, amide wax, and silicone wax. As the silicone compound, silicone resin, modified silicone resin, silicone oil or the like is used. Further, the release layer may contain a thermoplastic resin or an additive in addition to waxes or silicon compounds.

Examples of the thermoplastic resin include polyester such as linear saturated polyester, vinyl chloride resin such as polyvinyl chloride and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polyacrylic acid, and 2-methoxyethyl polyacrylate. , Polymethyl acrylate, poly (2-naphthyl acrylate), isobornyl polyacrylate, polymethacrylomethyl, polyacrylonitrile, polymethylchloroacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylmethacrylate, polytert-butylmethacrylate, Acrylic resins such as polyisobutyl methacrylate, polyphenyl methacrylate, copolymer resins of methyl methacrylate and alkyl methacrylate (where the carbon number of the alkyl group is 2 to 6), polystyrene, polydivinylbenzene, polyvinylbenzene, Len - and the like butadiene copolymer resins, vinyl resins such as copolymer resins of styrene and alkyl methacrylate (wherein 1 to 6 carbon atoms alkyl group).

The thickness of this release layer is 0.03 to 2.0 μm.
A range of m is preferred.

The adhesive strength between the image-receiving layer and the support is so strong that the image-receiving layer is not heat-fused and transferred to the ink sheet side when an image is formed by superposing ink sheets having a sublimable dye, and After peeling the support after transferring the image-receiving layer by thermocompression bonding the sheet to the card substrate, it is required that the image-receiving layer has a peeling property such that the image-receiving layer is easily peeled off.

Needless to say, the peeling layer is a layer for adjusting the adhesive force between the image receiving layer to be transferred and the support. When the adhesiveness between the image receiving layer and the support is strong, the peeling layer has a composition that enhances the releasability.
On the contrary, when the adhesiveness is weak, the composition is set to enhance the adhesiveness.

The image-receiving layer provided on the release layer can be formed of a binder, various additives which are added as necessary, and a metal ion-containing compound. Further, in some cases, the image receiving layer can be formed only from the binder.

As the binder for the image-receiving layer, a conventionally known binder for sublimation type thermal transfer recording can be appropriately used. As the main binder, various binders such as vinyl chloride resin, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin and various heat resistant resins can be used.

However, if the image formed by the present invention has practical requirements (for example, the issued ID card is required to have a predetermined heat resistance),
It is necessary to consider the type or combination of binders so as to satisfy such requirements. Taking heat resistance of an image as an example, if heat resistance of 60 ° C. or higher is required, it is preferable to use a binder having a Tg of 60 ° C. or higher in consideration of bleeding of the heat diffusible dye.

The choice of binder type is arbitrary,
A vinyl chloride resin is preferable in terms of image storability.

Examples of the vinyl chloride resin include polyvinyl chloride resin and vinyl chloride copolymer. Examples of the vinyl chloride copolymer include a copolymer of vinyl chloride containing vinyl chloride as a monomer unit in a proportion of 50 mol% or more and another comonomer.

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

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

In addition to the vinyl chloride resin, a polyester resin can be preferably used as an image receiving layer for sublimation type thermal transfer.

Polyester resins that can be used in the present invention include those disclosed in JP-A-58-188695.
The compounds described in JP-A-62-244696 can be mentioned. Further, a polycarbonate resin can also be used as a binder, for example,
Various compounds described in JP-A-62-169694 can be used.

A peeling agent, an antioxidant, a UV absorber, a light stabilizer, a filler (inorganic fine particles, organic resin particles) and a pigment may be added to the image receiving layer. Further, a plasticizer, a heat solvent, etc. may be added as a sensitizer.

The release agent can improve the releasability between the thermal transfer ink sheet and the image receiving layer described later.

Examples of such release agents include silicone oils (including those called silicone resins); solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax and Teflon powder; fluorine-based and phosphoric ester-based surface active agents. Examples of the agent include modified silicone polymers.

As the modified silicone polymer, polyester modified silicone resin (or silicone modified polyester resin), acrylic modified silicone resin (or silicone modified acrylic resin), urethane modified silicone resin (or silicone modified urethane resin), cellulose modified Examples thereof include silicone resin (or silicone modified cellulose resin), alkyd modified silicone resin (or silicon modified alkyd resin), epoxy modified silicone resin (or silicon modified epoxy resin) and the like.

A release agent layer may be provided on a part of the surface of the image receiving layer by dissolving or dispersing the release agent in an appropriate solvent and applying the solution, followed by drying.

Considering the adhesiveness to the protective layer, it is preferable not to use a releasing agent such as silicone at all, or to add it in a small amount as much as possible.

Next, as the above-mentioned antioxidant, JP-A-59 is used.
-182785, 60-130735, JP-A-1
Examples include antioxidants described in JP-A-127387 and compounds known to improve the image durability of photographs and other image recording materials.

As the UV absorber and the light stabilizer,
JP-A-59-158287, JP-A-63-74686,
63-145089, 59-196292, 62-229594, 63-122596, 6
Examples thereof include compounds described in JP-A No. 1-283595 and JP-A No. 1-204788, 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 and the like, and organic resin particles include fluororesin particles, guanamine resin particles,
Resin particles such as acrylic resin particles and silicone resin particles can be mentioned. These inorganic / organic resin particles differ depending on the specific gravity, but it is preferably added in an amount of 0.1 to 70% by weight.

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

Examples of the plasticizer include phthalic acid esters (for example, dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, didecyl phthalate, etc.), trimellitic acid esters (for example, octyl trimellitic acid ester, isononyl trimellitic acid). Ester, trimellitic acid isodesol ester, etc., pyromellitic acid octyl ester and other pyromellitic acid esters, adipate esters (dioctyl adipate, methyllauryl adipate, di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, ethyl adipate) Lauryl etc.), other oleic acid esters, succinic acid esters, maleic acid esters, sebacic acid esters, citric acid esters, epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxy stearic acid epoxies, and Acid triphenyl, orthophosphoric acid esters such as tricresyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphite, tris-tridecyl phosphite, dibutyl
Examples thereof include phosphites such as hydrogen phosphite, glycol esters such as ethylphthalylethyl glycolate and butylphthalylbutyl glycolate. Since excessive addition of the plasticizer deteriorates the storability of the image, the addition amount of the plasticizer is usually in the range of 0.1 to 30% by weight based on the binder in the image receiving layer.

When forming the image receiving layer, if necessary, for example, a metal ion-containing compound may be contained.

Examples of 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 Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, N
i, Sn, Ti, Zn and the like are preferable, and particularly Ni, Cu,
Co, Cr, Zn and the like are preferable.

The compound containing these metal ions is preferably an inorganic or organic salt of the metal and a complex of the metal. Specific examples are Ni ²⁺ , Cu ²⁺ and Co.
A complex containing ²⁺ , Cr ²⁺ and Zn ²⁺ and represented by the following general formula is preferably used.

[0043]

[Chemical 1]

In the formula, M represents a metal ion, and Q ₁ , Q
₂ and Q ₃ each represent a coordination compound capable of coordinatively binding to a metal ion represented by M, and examples of these coordination compounds include those described in “Chelate Chemistry (5) (Nankodo)”. It can be selected from compounds. Particularly preferably, a coordination compound having at least one amino group that forms a coordinate bond with a metal can be mentioned, and more specifically,
Examples include ethylediamine and its derivatives, glycinamide and its derivatives, picolinamide and its derivatives.

L ⁻ is a counter anion capable of forming a complex, and examples thereof include inorganic compound anions such as Cl ⁻ , SO ₄ ²⁻ and ClO ₄ ⁻ and organic compound anions such as benzenesulfonic acid derivative and alkylsulfonic acid derivative. Are particularly preferably the tetraphenylboron anion and its derivatives, and the alkylbenzene sulfonate anion and its derivatives.

K represents an integer of 1, 2 or 3, m represents 1, 2 or 0, and n represents 1 or 0. These are those in which the complex represented by the above general formula is tetradentate. , Hexadentate, or the number of Q ₁ , Q ₂ , and Q ₃ ligands. p represents 1, 2 or 3.

Examples of this type of metal ion-containing compound include
Mention may be made of those exemplified in US Pat. No. 4,987,049.

When the metal ion-containing compound is added, the amount added is 0.5 to 20 g / m 2 with respect to the image receiving layer.
² is preferable and 1 to 15 g / m ² is more preferable.

For the image-receiving layer in the present invention, an image-receiving layer coating solution prepared by dispersing or dissolving the forming components in a solvent is prepared, and the image-receiving layer coating solution is applied to the surface of the support,
It can be manufactured by a coating method of drying.

It can also be produced by a laminating method in which a mixture having the components for forming the image receiving layer is melt extruded and laminated on the surface of the support.

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

On the other hand, when the image receiving layer itself is a support because the image receiving layer is self-supporting, the thickness of the image receiving layer is 60 to 200 μm, preferably about 90 to 150 μm.

Further, in the present invention, an intermediate layer such as a cushion layer or a barrier layer may be provided between the support and the image receiving layer in addition to the release layer.

When the cushion layer is provided, noise can be reduced and an image corresponding to image information can be transferred and recorded with good reproducibility.

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

The thickness of the cushion layer is usually 1 to 50 μm.
m, preferably 3 to 30 μm.

The image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet used in the present invention,
From the viewpoint of image storability, it is preferable that the release layer and other intermediate layers contain an ultraviolet absorber.

A typical example is Japanese Patent Application No. 3-1.
No. 42288, a salicylic acid-based ultraviolet absorber described on page 3,
Benzophenone-based UV absorber, benzotriazole-based UV absorber, cyanoacrylate-based UV absorber, trade name NBC (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), Irgasta
UV stabilizers such as b-2002, Tinuvin 120 (manufactured by Ciba Geigy), AM-101, AM-105 (manufactured by Nissan Ferro Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.), trade name Sanal LS
-770 (manufactured by Sankyo Co., Ltd.), Tinuvin 622L
D, Tinuvin 144, Chimassorb 94
4LD (manufactured by Ciba Geigy), MARK LA-57,
MARK LA-77, MARK LA-62, MAR
K LA-67, MARK LA-63, MARK L
A-68, MARK LA-82, MARK LA-8
7 (manufactured by Adeka Argus Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like, and hindered amine stabilizers (HALS) may be mentioned, and these may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

The addition amount is 0.05 to 5.0 g / m ² , preferably 0.1 to 4.0 g / m ² . Less discoloration preventing effect when the amount added is less than 0.05 g / m ^2, further effect can be added beyond 5.0 g / m ² was not observed, but only leads to unnecessary high cost ..

A sticking prevention layer may be provided on the back surface of the support (on the side opposite to the image receiving layer) for the purpose of preventing the thermal head from being fused to the support, sticking, or wrinkling. .. The thickness of this sticking prevention layer is usually 0.1 to 1.0 μm.

As the sticking prevention layer, known ones can be used.

(Formation of Gradation Information-Containing Image and Character Information-Containing Image) The gradation information-containing image is obtained by the sublimation-type thermal transfer method using the sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet having the heat-diffusible dye of the present invention. It can be formed in layers. For non-gradation information, for example, an image containing character information, a heat-melting type thermal transfer recording ink sheet or a sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet is used in an area where the gradation information containing image is not formed in the image receiving layer. By doing so, it can be formed as a mirror image, or can be directly formed as a normal image on the card support provided with an adhesive layer.

The sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet can be formed by a known structure.

That is, a sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet is usually formed by forming a resin layer (ink layer) containing a heat diffusible dye on a support.

The heat-diffusible dye-containing ink layer basically contains a heat-diffusible dye and a binder.

Examples of the heat diffusible dye include cyan dye, magenta dye and yellow dye.

As the cyan dye, there is disclosed in JP-A-59-7.
8896, 59-227948, 60-249.
No. 66, No. 60-53563, No. 60-130735.
No. 60, No. 60-131292, No. 60-239289.
No. 61, No. 61-19396, No. 61-22993, No. 61-31292, No. 61-31467, No. 61-
35994, 61-49893, 61-148.
No. 269, No. 62-191191, No. 63-9128.
Examples thereof include naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, azomethine dyes, and the like, which are described in each publication such as No. 8, No. 63-91287, and No. 63-290793.

As the magenta dye, JP-A-59-78 can be used.
No. 896, No. 60-30392, No. 60-30394
No. 60-253595, No. 61-262190.
No. 63-5992, No. 63-205288, No. 64-159, No. 64-63194 and the like, and anthraquinone dyes, azo dyes, azomethine dyes, and the like.

As the yellow dye, JP-A-59-78 can be used.
No. 896, No. 60-27594, No. 60-31560
No. 60-53565, No. 61-12394, No. 63-122594, and the like, and methine dyes, azo dyes, quinophthalone dyes, anthryothiazole dyes, and the like.

Further, as the heat-diffusible dye, it is particularly preferable to use a compound having an active methylene group of open-chain type or closed-type as an oxidized product of p-phenylenediamine derivative or p-
Azomethine dye obtained by coupling reaction with aminophenol derivative oxidant and indoaniline dye obtained by coupling reaction with phenol or naphthol derivative or p-phenylenediamine derivative oxidant or p-aminophenol derivative oxidant Is.

The heat diffusing dye contained in the ink layer may be any one of a yellow dye, a magenta dye and a cyan dye as long as the image to be formed is a single color.

When the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording contains a metal ion-containing compound, the sublimable dye is preferably a dye compound capable of forming a chelate with the metal ion-containing compound.

As the dye compound which forms a chelate with the metal ion-containing compound, various known compounds can be appropriately selected and used. Specifically, for example, JP-A-59-78893, JP-A-59-109349, Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2-213303, 2-214719, and 2-
Examples thereof include a cyan image forming dye (hereinafter referred to as a cyan dye), a magenta image forming dye (hereinafter referred to as a magenta dye), and a yellow image forming dye (hereinafter referred to as a yellow dye) described in No. 203742.

Among the above dyes, it is preferable to use at least a dye compound capable of forming a bidentate chelate with the above-mentioned metal ion-containing compound. Examples of such dyes include dyes represented by the following general formula.

X ₁ -N = N-X ₂ -G wherein X ₁ is an aromatic carbocycle in which at least one ring is composed of 5 to 7 atoms, or a heterocycle. At least one of adjacent carbon atoms bonded to the azo bond is a nitrogen atom or a carbon atom substituted with a chelating group. X ₂
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.

Whichever dye compound is used,
Depending on the color tone of the image to be formed, any two or more of the above three types of dyes or another sublimable dye may be contained.

The amount of the heat diffusible dye used is 1 m on the support.
^It is preferably 0.2 to 10 g per ² and more preferably 0.2.
It is in the range of 3 to 3 g.

As the binder, a cellulosic resin such as ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose butyrate; polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyester, polyvinyl acetate, Polyacrylamide, polyvinyl acetoacetal, styrene resin, styrene copolymer resin, polyacrylic acid ester, polyacrylic acid, vinyl resin such as acrylic acid copolymer, rubber resin, ionomer resin, olefin resin and the like. .. Among these resins, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetoacetal, and cellulosic resins having excellent acid resistance are preferable. The various binders may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The weight ratio of the binder to the heat diffusing dye is
The range of 1:10 to 10: 1 is preferable, and the range of 2: 8 to 8: 2 is particularly preferable.

Further, various additives may be added to the ink layer as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. As the additive, silicone resin, silicone oil (reaction hardening type is also acceptable), silicone modified resin, fluororesin, surfactant, peeling compound such as wax, fine metal powder, silica gel, metal oxide, carbon Examples thereof include fillers such as black and resin fine powder, and curing agents capable of reacting with a binder component (for example, radiation-active compounds such as isocyanates, acryls and epoxies). Furthermore, as an additive, a heat-melting substance for promoting transfer, for example, a compound described in JP-A-59-106997, such as wax or higher fatty acid ester, can be mentioned.

The sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet is not limited to a two-layer structure composed 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 of the base material to the image receiving layer and settling (blocking) of the heat diffusing dye.

Further, the support may be provided with an undercoat layer for the purpose of improving the adhesiveness with the binder and preventing transfer and dyeing of the heat diffusible dye to the support.

Further, on the back surface of the support (on the side opposite to the ink layer), an anti-setoff layer may be provided so that the dye does not set off during storage of the ink sheet.

The thickness of the above-mentioned overcoat layer and anti-setoff layer is usually 0.1 to 2 μm.

As the support for the sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet, any support can be used as long as it has good dimensional stability and can withstand the heat at the time of transfer by thermocompression bonding. The films or sheets described in JP-A-193886, page 2, lower left column, lines 12 to 18 can be used.

The thickness of the support is preferably from 2 to 40 μm, and the support has an undercoat layer for the purpose of improving the adhesiveness with the binder and preventing the dye from transferring to the support and dyeing. May be.

For the sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet, the various components forming the ink layer are dispersed or dissolved in a solvent to prepare an ink layer forming coating liquid, which is applied to the surface of a support. It can be produced by drying.

The heat-melting type thermal transfer recording ink sheet used for the formation of the image containing the character information can be formed by laminating the heat-melting ink layer on the support.
The heat-melt type thermal transfer recording ink sheet may have other layers as long as its characteristics are not impaired. For example, a release layer may be provided between the heat-fusible ink layer and the support, and an intermediate layer or the like may be laminated between the release layer and the support,
Another layer may be laminated on the heat-meltable ink layer by providing an ink protective layer on the outermost layer. Furthermore, the release layer and the heat-meltable ink layer may have a multi-layer structure, if necessary.

It is desirable that the support in the ink sheet for heat-melt type thermal transfer recording has good heat resistance and high dimensional stability.

The material thereof is, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-63.
-193886, page 2, lower left column, lines 12 to 18
The films or sheets mentioned in the rows can be used.

The thickness of the support is usually 30 μm or less, preferably 2 to 30 μm. When the thickness of the support is more than 30 μm, the thermal conductivity may be deteriorated and the print quality may be deteriorated.

In this heat-melt type thermal transfer recording ink sheet, the constitution of the back side of the support is arbitrary, and for example, a backing layer is provided for the purpose of running stability, antistatic property, heat resistance and the like. May be.

The heat-meltable ink layer is composed of a heat-meltable compound, a thermoplastic resin, a colorant and the like.

As the heat-fusible compound, those which are usually used in the heat-meltable ink layer of the heat-melting type thermal transfer recording ink sheet of this kind can be optionally used. Specifically, for example, , Low molecular weight thermoplastic resins such as polystyrene resin, acrylic resin, styrene-acrylic resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, etc.
Examples of substances can be mentioned from page 4, upper left column, line 8 to page 3, upper right column, line 12 of JP-A-3-193886.
Further, in addition to these, rosin, hydrogenated rosin, polymerized rosin, rosin-modified glycerin, rosin-modified maleic acid resin, rosin-modified polyester resin, rosin-modified phenolic resins and rosin derivatives such as ester gum, and phenolic resins, terpene resins, ketones. Resins, cyclopentadiene resins, aromatic hydrocarbon resins and the like can be mentioned.

These heat-meltable compounds have a molecular weight of usually 10,000 or less, particularly 5,000 or less,
Those having a melting point or a softening point in the range of 50 to 150 ° C. are preferable.

The heat-melting compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the thermoplastic resin used as a component of the heat-meltable ink layer, various kinds of resins such as those generally used for the heat-meltable ink layer of this type of heat-melt type thermal transfer recording ink sheet are used. Can be used, and examples thereof include the substances exemplified in JP-A-63-193886, page 4, upper right column to page 5, upper left column, line 18.

As the colorant used as a component of the heat-meltable ink layer, those used in the heat-meltable ink layer of this type of heat-melt type thermal transfer recording ink sheet are used without limitation. For example, JP-A-63-193886, page 5, upper right column, line 3 to line 1
Examples thereof include pigments such as inorganic pigments and organic pigments described in line 5, and dyes such as organic dyes.

These various coloring agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more as required.

If necessary, other additive components other than those described above may be appropriately added to the heat-meltable ink layer within the range not impairing the object of the present invention.

For example, this heat-meltable ink layer may contain a fluorine-containing surfactant. By containing the fluorine-based surfactant, the blocking phenomenon of the heat-meltable ink layer can be prevented.

It is also effective to add organic fine particles, inorganic fine particles, or an incompatible resin in order to improve the sharpness of the transferred character information-containing image, that is, the breakage of character boundaries.

The film thickness of the heat-meltable ink layer is usually
It is preferably 0.6 to 5.0 μm, and particularly preferably 1.0 to 4.0 μm.

This hot-melt ink layer is applied by dispersing or dissolving the forming components in an organic solvent (organic solvent method), or by applying a thermoplastic resin or the like in a softened or molten state by heating (hot melt). The coating may be performed by using a coating method) or the like, but it is preferable that the coating is performed using an emulsion or a solution in which the forming components are dispersed or dissolved in water or an organic solvent.

The total content of the layer-forming components in the coating liquid used for coating the heat-meltable ink layer is usually 5 to 50.
It is set within the range of weight%.

As a coating method, a usual method can be used. Examples of the coating method include a method using a wire bar, a squeeze coating method, and a gravure coating method.

The heat-meltable ink layer needs to be provided in at least one layer. For example, the type and content of the colorant, the compounding ratio of the thermoplastic resin and the heat-meltable compound, and the like. It may be configured by laminating two or more different heat-meltable ink layers.

The release layer is a layer provided on at least the release layer when heated by a heating mechanism for image transfer such as a thermal head during image formation [at least one of these layers is provided. Contains a colorant. ] Is provided for the main purpose of peeling / transferring sufficiently rapidly, and a layer in which the attribute of the heat-melting compound is dominant by containing a heat-melting compound suitable for achieving this purpose, especially It is configured as a layer having excellent peelability.

The release layer may be composed of the above-mentioned heat-meltable compound itself, but it is usually preferable to be composed of the heat-meltable compound and / or a binder resin such as a thermoplastic resin.

As the heat-melting compound used as the main component of the release layer, various compounds such as known ones may be appropriately selected and used. Specific examples thereof include, for example, JP-A-63- The exemplified substances can be used from page 4, upper left column, line 8 to upper right column, line 12 of JP-A-193886.

Specific examples of the thermoplastic resin include ethylene-based copolymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate-based resin, polyamide-based resin, polyester-based resin, polyurethane-based resin, polyolefin-based resin, acrylic resin and cellulose. Examples thereof include resins. In addition, for example, vinyl chloride resin, rosin resin,
Resins such as petroleum-based resins and ionomer resins, elastomers such as natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber and chloroprene rubber, ester gum,
Rosin maleic acid resin, rosin phenol resin and rosin derivative such as hydrogenated rosin, and phenol resin,
A terpene resin, a cyclopentadiene resin, an aromatic resin, etc. can be used depending on the case.

In the present invention, the thermoplastic resin used as a component of the release layer has a melting point or softening point of usually 50 to 50 among the various thermoplastic resins exemplified above.
Those which are in the range of 150 ° C., particularly 60 to 120 ° C., or those which fall within the range by mixing two or more kinds are preferably used.

The release layer may optionally contain a colorant.

When the release layer contains a colorant, the content thereof is usually set to 30% by weight or less, preferably 20% by weight or less, based on all the components constituting the release layer. Is appropriate.

The layer thickness of the release layer is usually 0.2 to 4
It is suitable that the thickness is in the range of μm, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 μm.

The heat-melting type thermal transfer recording ink sheet is basically a coating for forming a heat-melting ink layer in which each component forming the heat-melting ink layer is dispersed or dissolved on the surface of a support for an ink sheet. It can be formed by applying a liquid and drying.

(Formation of Image) To form an image containing gradation information, the heat-diffusible dye-containing ink layer of the sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet and the image-receiving layer of the substrate are superposed to form a heat-diffusible dye. Imagewise thermal energy is applied to the contained ink layer and the image receiving layer.

Then, the heat-diffusible dye in the heat-diffusible dye-containing ink layer is vaporized or sublimated by an amount corresponding to the heat energy applied during the image formation, and is transferred to the image receiving layer side to be received. An image containing gradation information is formed on the image receiving layer.

As a heat source for giving heat energy, a thermal head is generally used.
Known ones such as infrared flash and hot pen can be used.

When a thermal head is used as a heat source for applying heat energy, the applied heat energy can be changed continuously or in multiple steps by modulating the voltage or pulse width applied to the thermal head.

When laser light is used as a heat source for giving heat energy, the heat energy to be given can be changed by changing the light amount of the laser light or the irradiation area.

In this case, in order to easily absorb the laser light, it is preferable that a laser light absorbing material (for example, in the case of a semiconductor laser, carbon black or a near infrared absorbing material) be present in the ink layer or in the vicinity of the ink layer. ..

When laser light is used, it is advisable to bring the sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet and the image-receiving layer of the substrate into close contact with each other.

If a dot generator with a built-in acousto-optic element is used, it is possible to give thermal energy according to the size of the halftone dot.

When an infrared flash lamp is used as a heat source for giving heat energy, it is preferable to heat through a colored layer such as black as in the case of using laser light.

Alternatively, the heating may be carried out through a pattern or a halftone dot pattern in which the gradation of the image such as black is continuously expressed, or it corresponds to the negative of the above-mentioned pattern and a colored layer of one surface such as black. You may heat by combining a negative pattern.

In the present invention, it is important to apply heat energy from the side of the heat-sensitive transfer recording image-receiving sheet. If the priority is given to the effective use of heat energy, it is desirable to perform it from the sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet side, but this is not preferable because it complicates the apparatus and increases the manufacturing cost.

As a result of diligent studies by the present inventors, when heating is performed from the side of the image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording as in the present invention,
It was found that the image storability with respect to light was improved probably because the distribution state of the dye in the image receiving layer was different from that when heating was performed from the thermal transfer recording ink sheet side.

By the above thermal transfer recording, an image of one color can be recorded on the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. According to the following method, a color photographic tone color image consisting of a combination of the respective colors can be obtained. You can also

For example, when yellow, magenta, cyan, and, if necessary, black thermal transfer recording sheets are sequentially replaced and thermal transfer is performed in accordance with each color, a color image having a color photographic tone is obtained. You can also

Then, the following method is also effective.

That is, instead of using the sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet of each color as described above, the sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet having the areas formed by separately coating the respective colors is used.

Then, the yellow color-separated image is first thermally transferred using the yellow area, and then the magenta color-separated image is thermally transferred using the magenta area. , And, if necessary, a method of thermally transferring a black color-separated image in order.

Further, after forming an image by the method described above, heat treatment may be performed by the method described above for the purpose of improving the image storability. For example, heat treatment is performed over the entire image forming surface by using a portion of the ink sheet for sublimation-type thermal transfer recording which is not provided with the thermal diffusible dye-containing ink layer, or a new heat treatment such as a heat roll is performed. You may go. Further, when the near infrared ray absorbent is contained, the image forming surface may be exposed by using an infrared flash lamp.

In any case, the heating means is not limited,
Since the purpose is to further diffuse the dye inside the image receiving layer, it is effective and preferable to heat from the support side of the image receiving layer.

On the other hand, to form an image containing character information,
The heat-melt type thermal transfer recording ink sheet is used. The thermal fusion transfer method using such an ink sheet is not different from the ordinary thermal transfer recording method, but the case of using a most typical thermal head as a heat source will be described as an example.

First, the heat-melting ink layer of the heat-melting type thermal transfer recording ink sheet and the image-receiving layer surface of the substrate are brought into close contact with each other,
If necessary, a heat pulse is further applied to the heat-meltable ink layer by a thermal head to locally heat the heat-meltable ink layer corresponding to a desired printing or transfer pattern.

The heated portion of the heat-fusible ink layer rises in temperature and is quickly softened and transferred to the image receiving surface of the substrate.

The formation of the non-gradation information containing image which does not require the gradation of the characters, figures, symbols or ruled lines may be carried out prior to the formation of the above gradation information containing image, The non-gradation information containing image may be formed after the gradation information containing image is formed.

The character information-containing image can also be formed by using the sublimation-type thermal transfer recording ink sheet.

(Card Base Material) As the card base material in the present invention, at the time of producing an image recording material, at least an image containing gradation information by a sublimation type thermal transfer system and a non-level material by a fusion type thermal transfer system or a sublimation type thermal transfer system. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be formed with a key information containing image (character information containing image) and has a certain strength that can be used as a card, for example.

When used as a card, a base material formed by laminating sheets formed of the same or different materials may be used to maintain the mechanical strength.
Furthermore, it is also possible to use a base material in which information common to other cards of the same type is printed on the visible layer,
As a measure for preventing counterfeiting / alteration of the card itself, it is also possible to use a base material which has been subjected to special processing for preventing forgery that can be confirmed by physical means such as putting a watermark.

As a general constitution of the base material, a base material obtained by laminating an adhesive layer on a support can be mentioned. In this case, the adhesive layer may be provided on the entire surface of the support, or may be provided only on a desired portion.

Further, when the adhesiveness between the transfer layer including the image receiving layer transferred from the image receiving sheet and the card support is sufficient, the adhesive layer is not particularly required.

If necessary, the substrate may be provided with embossing, signature, IC memory, optical memory, magnetic recording layer, other printing and the like. These can be provided at any point in the manufacturing process of the image recording material of the present invention (for example, after forming the transparent protective layer) and further after manufacturing.

As the support of the base material, for example, paper,
Various papers such as coated paper and synthetic paper (polypropylene, polystyrene or composite materials obtained by laminating them with paper), white vinyl chloride resin sheet, white polyethylene terephthalate base film, transparent polyethylene terephthalate base film, Various plastic films or sheets such as polyethylene naphthalate, ABS base film, AS base film, polypropylene base film, polystyrene base film, etc., films or sheets made of various metals, films or sheets made of various ceramics, etc. Can be mentioned.

In the support, white pigments such as titanium white, magnesium carbonate, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, silica, talc, clay and calcium carbonate are added in order to enhance the sharpness of the image formed in the subsequent step. It is preferably added.

Further, when the image recording body is an ID card such as an automobile license, a sheet or a sheet made of a composition of a vinyl chloride resin, a polyester resin or a polyolefin resin, which has the white pigment as the support, is used. It is generally composed of a film.

The thickness of the support is usually 100 to 1,000 μm.
m is preferable, and more preferably 200 to 800 μm.

(Transfer of Image Receiving Layer) In the present invention, the image receiving layer is formed by thermal transfer on the entire surface of the card support on which the adhesive layer is formed.

The method of transferring the image-receiving layer in the present invention is carried out by heat-pressing the image-receiving sheet of the present invention and the card substrate with a heated rubber roller or a flat plate, and then peeling the substrate of the image-receiving sheet. ..

The image recording apparatus of the present invention is preferably equipped with a dust removing mechanism so as not to deteriorate the quality of the image recording body. For example, an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording,
Dust adhering to the surface of each sheet such as thermal transfer recording ink sheet and protective layer thermal transfer sheet is removed with an adhesive roller, or air or ion-containing gas is sent into the device from the air supply port It is desirable to remove the dust floating on the sheet and the dust adhering to each sheet from the exhaust port.

[0154]

EXAMPLES Next, examples of the present invention will be specifically described in detail. In the following, "part" means "part by weight".

Example 1 (1) A card-sized card substrate for thermal transfer recording was manufactured as follows.

First, a white pigment (TiO ₂ ) was applied on both sides of polyethylene terephthalate (U-100 manufactured by Diafoil Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 500 μm and a length and a width of 200 mm.
A low-density polyethylene containing 2% was extrusion-coated to a thickness of 50 μm. Both sides of a support were subjected to corona discharge treatment, and then the backside was coated with a writing layer coating liquid having the following composition, and dried to obtain a thickness of 20 μm. The writing layer was formed.

<Coating liquid for writing layer> Colloidal silica 2.5 parts Gelatin 7.0 parts Hardener (Chemical formula 2) 0.5 parts

[0158]

[Chemical 2]

Water 90.0 parts Next, an adhesive layer coating solution having the following composition was applied to the entire surface of the white polyethylene-coated sheet (the surface opposite to the writing layer) by a wire bar coating method, and dried. An adhesive layer having a thickness of 5 μm was formed.

The sheet thus obtained is 54.0 mm in length.
C. A card having a lateral size of 85.5 mm was used as a card substrate.

<Adhesive Layer Coating Liquid> Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (Vinylite VYHH (Union Carbide)) 20 parts Solvent: toluene / methyl ethyl ketone (1: 1) 80 parts

(2) Preparation of image-receiving sheet A transparent polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 6 μm was coated with the following release layer and image-receiving layer forming coating solution by a wire bar coating method and dried to a dry film thickness of 2 μm.
The peeling layer and the image receiving layer having a dry film thickness of 5 μm were formed. Then, apply 2 drops of silicone oil (X-41,403A, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) to the opposite surface, which is not corona-treated, with a dropper and spread it over the entire surface. A sheet was formed.

<Release Layer Coating Liquid> Acrylic resin (Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Dianal BR-85) 8.0 parts Benzotriazole-based UV absorber (Tinuvin320 Ciba Geigy) 2.0 parts Solvent (toluene) / N-butanol = 1: 1) 90.0 parts <Coating liquid for image receiving layer> Vinyl chloride resin (TK-300 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 9.5 parts Solvent (methyl ethyl ketone / cyclohexanone = 8/2) ) 90.0 parts Silicone resin (release agent) (X-24-8300 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.5 parts

(3) A sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet was manufactured as follows.

A corona discharge-treated surface of a polyethylene terephthalate sheet having a thickness of 6.0 μm as a support was coated with three kinds of ink layer forming coating liquids having the following compositions by a wire bar coating method to give a thickness after drying of 1 μm. As described above, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are applied so as to be separately applied along the longitudinal direction of the polyethylene terephthalate sheet, and then dried to dry the Y, M, and C colors. A recording ink sheet was obtained.

<Yellow Ink Layer Forming Coating Liquid> Yellow disperse dye (MS Yellow, manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Dye Co., Ltd.) 3.0 parts Polyvinyl butyral (polymerization degree 1700, Tg 85.5 ° C., degree of acetalization 64) Mol%, acetyl group 3 mol% or less, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., BX-1 0.4 part Polyester modified silicone (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-24-8310) 0.4 part Toluene 40 0.0 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 40.0 parts Dioxane 10.0 parts

<Coating Liquid for Forming Magenta Ink Layer> Magenta Disperse Dye (MS Magenta, manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Dye Co., Ltd.) 5.0 parts Polyvinyl butyral (polymerization degree 1700, Tg 85.5 ° C., degree of acetalization 64) Mol%, acetyl group 3 mol% or less, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., BX-1 5.0 parts Polyester modified silicone (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-24-8310) 0.4 parts Toluene 40 0.0 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 40.0 parts Dioxane 10.0 parts

<Coating Liquid for Cyan Ink Layer Formation> Cyan Disperse Dye (Kayaset Blue 136, Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) 4.0 parts Polyvinyl butyral (polymerization degree 1700, Tg 85.5 ° C., degree of acetalization 6 4 Mol%, acetyl group 3 mol% or less, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., BX-1 0.4 part Polyester modified silicone (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., X-24-8310) 0.4 part Toluene 40 0.0 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 40.0 parts Dioxane 10.0 parts

(4) A transfer sheet having a heat-meltable ink layer was manufactured as follows.

That is, the surface of a polyethylene terephthalate sheet having a thickness of 4.5 μm was coated with a coating liquid for a heat-meltable ink layer having the following composition for a release layer and a colorant layer by a wire bar method and dried. By doing so, the thickness was adjusted to 0.4 μm and 1.2 μm, respectively, and a heat-meltable ink layer having a thickness of 1.6 μm was formed as a whole.

<Heat-meltable ink layer coating liquid> -Release layer coating liquid-Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EV-210, manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.3 parts Carnauba wax 9.7 parts Solvent (methyl ethyl ketone / methyl isobutyl ketone = 1: 1) 90.0 parts-Coating liquid for coloring material layer-Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (Mitsui DuPont Chemical Co., EV-40Y) 1.0 part Carbon Black 6 0.0 parts Phenolic resin (Tamuranor 526, manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Co., Ltd.) 12.0 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 80.0 parts

(5) An image recording material was manufactured as follows.

First, the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for heat-sensitive transfer recording and the ink layer of the ink sheet for sublimation-type heat-transfer recording are superposed, and the output is 0.23 W / dot from the side of the image-receiving sheet for heat-transfer recording using a thermal head. Pulse width 0.3 ~
By heating under the conditions of 4.5 msec and a dot density of 16 dots / mm, a human face image with gradation was formed on the image receiving layer.

Next, the heat-meltable ink layer of the transfer sheet was superposed on the surface of the image-receiving layer having this human face image, and the output was 0.5 W / dot, pulse width 1.0 msec, dot density 16 using a thermal head. By heating under the condition of dots / mm, the character information was transferred as a mirror image to the image receiving layer.

Next, the card base material was superposed on the surface of the image receiving layer, and the diameter was 35 mm and the length was 70 m from the back surface of the image receiving layer.
By using a heat roller made of silicone rubber (rubber strength 80) of m, a temperature of 210 ° C., a pressure of 15 kg / cm ² , and a transfer speed of 2.5 cm / sec.
The image-receiving layer was transferred onto the entire surface of the card substrate, and after transfer, the support of the heat-sensitive transfer sheet for image-receiving layer was peeled off.

Example 2 In the image-receiving sheet of Example 1, the ultraviolet absorber added to the release layer was removed, and instead the cyanoacrylate-based ultraviolet absorber UVINUL N-35 (BAS was added in the image-receiving layer.
F Japan Co., Ltd.) was added in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 0.5 g / m ² was added to prepare a card sample.

Example 3 A card sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the amount of the ultraviolet absorber added to the image receiving layer in the image receiving sheet of Example 2 was changed to 0.05 g / m ² .

Example 4 A card sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the amount of the ultraviolet absorber added to the image receiving layer in the image receiving sheet of Example 2 was changed to 0.03 g / m ² .

Example 5 A card sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the ultraviolet absorber added to the release layer was removed from the image-receiving sheet of Example 1.

Comparative Example 1 An image receiving sheet was obtained by directly coating the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet of Example 1 on the card substrate by a wire bar coating method so that the thickness of the image receiving layer after drying was 10 μm. Then, a person image was formed directly on this card substrate by using the sublimation type thermal transfer recording ink sheet, and a character image was formed by using the heat melting ink sheet.

Comparative Example 2 After the card sample of Comparative Example 1 was prepared, 110 in a dryer.
A card sample heat-treated at 30 ° C. for 30 minutes was designated as Comparative Example 2.

Comparative Example 3 A card sample was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the back side of the ink sheet was heated by a thermal head in the step of forming a human image using the ink sheet for sublimation type thermal transfer recording of Example 1. It was made.

(Evaluation) In this way, Examples 1 to 5,
The performance of the card samples produced in Comparative Examples 1 to 3 was compared by the following evaluation methods. For Comparative Example 3,
The reflection density and the image storability were compared with those in Example 1.

[Fixability] Synthetic paper (product name "YUPO" made by Oji Yuka) was faced to the image recording surface of the card, and 40 g / c
The transfer state of the dye on the synthetic paper after storage for 48 hours under m ² and 60 ° C. was observed.

[Image storability] The prepared card sample was placed in a xenon weather meter (70,000 lux) at 7
The decrease in reflection density of the image after storage for 2 hours was measured using PDA-65 manufactured by Konica Corporation.

[Solvent resistance] The state of the image when the surface of the human image of the prepared card sample was rubbed with a cotton swab soaked in ethanol 10 times was observed.

The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0188]

[Table 1]

[0189]

[Table 2]

As is apparent from the above table, in the present invention, the fixing property of the dye and the durability against a solvent can be improved, and the forgery / alteration preventive property required for the ID card can be remarkably improved. Further, it is possible to provide an image recording body having improved image durability against light.

[0191]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for producing an image recording material in which image storability such as fixing property and light stability is remarkably improved.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Tomoki Kawamura 1st Sakura-cho, Hino City, Tokyo Konica Stock Company

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink sheet having a resin layer having a sublimable dye on a support is provided to face an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having a release layer provided on the support and at least an image receiving layer thereon. After the image is formed on the image receiving layer by imagewise heating from the back surface of the image receiving sheet using a thermal head, the image receiving sheet is made to face another card substrate having an adhesive surface to face the image receiving layer. A method for producing a heat-sensitive transfer recording material, which comprises thermally transferring 2. The method for producing a thermal transfer recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the peeling layer and / or the image receiving layer contains an ultraviolet absorber in an amount of 0.05 to 5.0 g / m ² . 3. The gradation information containing image according to the sublimation type thermal transfer system and the non-gradation information containing image according to the fusion type thermal transfer system or the sublimation type thermal transfer system are formed together. Manufacturing method of thermal transfer recording material.