JPH09142046A - Thermal transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely adjust the glossiness of a recording image without improving a thermal receiving sheet. SOLUTION: Respective color transfer layers 4 containing dyes or pigments and a binder, a laminate wherein a glossiness adjusting layer 3 composed of a mixture consisting of a synthetic resin and an ultraviolet absorber is formed on a release layer 2 and a thermal adhesive layer 5 is formed on the glossiness adjusting layer 3 are successively and continuously formed on the single surface of a long plastic film support 1 to obtain a thermal transfer sheet 6. The pencil hardness of the glossiness adjusting layer 3 is H-3H and the absorbancy at a wavelength of 360nm thereof is 2.0 or more.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet, and more particularly to a thermal transfer sheet capable of freely adjusting the glossiness of a recorded image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a long thermal transfer sheet is selectively heated by a thermal head or the like according to image information, and a dye in a thermal transfer layer held on the thermal transfer sheet is thermally transferred by thermal diffusion such as sublimation. A sublimation type thermal transfer recording method of transferring to a sheet to form an image on the thermal transfer sheet or a fusion type thermal transfer recording method of transferring the thermal transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the thermal transfer sheet by thermal melting to form an image on the thermal transfer sheet is widely known. ing. When forming an image on a thermal transfer sheet, a long thermal transfer sheet on which dyes of a predetermined color are sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction is moved in the longitudinal direction with respect to the thermal transfer sheet for forming an image. The images corresponding to the image information are formed on the heat-transferable sheet by sequentially transferring the dyes of a predetermined color of the heat-transfer sheet to the heat-transferable sheet so as to be superposed on the heat-transferable sheet. In particular, the sublimation type thermal transfer recording system has been attracting attention as it provides a color hard copy having excellent gradation reproducibility and close to a color photograph.

For example, as a thermal transfer sheet in a conventional sublimation type thermal transfer recording material, a foam sheet made of polyester resin or polypropylene resin is laminated on both sides of a base paper by a dry lamination method, and a dye receiving layer is provided on one side thereof. Some have been formed.

In this laminated type heat transfer sheet, by using a foamed sheet as an intermediate layer, the heat of the thermal head at the time of image recording is accumulated in the voids of the intermediate layer so that the image recording can be performed in a state where the thermal efficiency is improved. Since it is designed, a recorded image with high image density can be obtained. However, since the temperature of the thermal head is around 300 to 400 ° C, even if the thermal transfer sheet is used, the heat transfer target sheet will be about 100
Exposed to a high temperature of ℃ or more, even if it is the above-mentioned intermediate layer, it cannot withstand the heat and the surface smoothness of the dye receiving layer surface decreases due to thermal deformation, and the dye of the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer sheet during image recording Due to the decrease in surface property due to fusion with the receiving layer surface,
The image glossiness of the recorded image becomes poor. According to our research results, the image glossiness at an incident angle of 60 degrees is about 45%, which is considerably inferior to the printed matter with high surface glossiness (60 to 90%). In addition, there is a problem that the recorded image has light resistance to natural light (especially large yellow color fading) and scratches are easily formed on the surface of the recorded image, resulting in poor scratch resistance.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem of the image glossiness of a recorded image and makes it possible to freely adjust the image glossiness of a recorded image without improving the thermal transfer sheet. It is intended to provide.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have found that a long plastic film support contains a dye or pigment and a binder on one side. A laminate comprising a thermal transfer layer of each color to be formed, a gloss adjusting layer made of a mixture of a synthetic resin and an ultraviolet absorber on the release layer, and a heat sensitive adhesive layer formed on the gloss adjusting layer. Is a thermal transfer sheet sequentially formed in the longitudinal direction, and the gloss adjusting layer has a pencil hardness of H to 3H and an absorbance of 2.0 at a wavelength of 360 nm.
It has been clarified that the above problems can be solved by using the above coating layer, and the present invention has been completed. Further, it is preferable that the release layer is a coating layer composed of a synthetic resin alone or an arbitrary mixing ratio of the synthetic resin and a pigment, so that the adhesiveness to the plastic film support and the releasability from the gloss adjusting layer and the desired The inventors have found that a recorded image having a glossiness that satisfies the requirement can be satisfactorily obtained, which is preferable.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional explanatory view partially showing the constitution of one embodiment of the thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention. The thermal transfer sheet 6 according to the present invention comprises a thermal transfer layer 4 of each color (yellow, red, blue) containing a dye or a pigment and a binder, and a release layer 2 on one surface of a long plastic film support 1. Is formed with a glossiness adjusting layer 3 made of a mixture of a synthetic resin and an ultraviolet absorber, and a heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5 is further formed on the glossiness adjusting layer 3. It is formed in.

As the long plastic film support 1 used in the present invention, known plastic films such as polyester film, polysulfone film, polyimide film, polypropylene film and cellulose triacetate film are suitable. Further, when selecting the long plastic film support 1, a polyester film is preferable from the viewpoint of price, strength, heat resistance, dimensional stability, surface smoothness, and the like. The thickness is
Judging from the viewpoint of thermal conductivity, thin ones are better, 3-25μ
m is preferred. If necessary, one side of the plastic film support 1 may be subjected to an easy adhesion treatment or an easy peeling treatment before use. However, one side of the plastic film support 1 may be previously subjected to the easy adhesion treatment or the easy peeling treatment. Using a treated treatment sheet is an effective means in terms of workability and cost.

The release layer 2 used in the present invention is made of synthetic resin in order to obtain a recorded image having adhesiveness with the plastic film support 1, release with the gloss adjusting layer 3 and desired gloss. It is preferable that the coating layer is composed of a simple substance or a synthetic resin and a pigment adjusted by an arbitrary mixing ratio. Examples of the synthetic resin include a thermally crosslinked product of an acrylic polyol resin and a polyisocyanate resin, a thermally crosslinked product of an acrylic / stearic acid copolymer and an organic acid, and the like. Further, it is preferable to mix a pigment with the synthetic resin in order to easily adjust the glossiness, and examples of the pigment include inorganic pigments such as silica, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, and alumina, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. , Polycarbonate, ethyl acrylate, vinylidene chloride, silicone powder, fluorine powder, and other organic pigments. In this case, the mixing ratio of the synthetic resin and the pigment is such that the adhesiveness to the plastic film support 1, the coatability, the coating strength, and the surface shape of the release layer 2 are faithfully peeled off and transferred to the gloss adjusting layer 3. Is selected from the viewpoints of the releasability from the glossiness adjusting layer 3 and the desired glossiness of the recorded image. The thickness of the release layer 2 formed is preferably about 1 to 10 μm.

The gloss adjusting layer 3 used in the present invention has excellent characteristics such as releasability from the releasing layer 2, adhesiveness to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5, scratch resistance, writing aptitude, and ultraviolet absorptivity. Is a coating layer that is formed to hold the pencil hardness of H to 3H.
The coating layer is adjusted so that the absorbance at a wavelength of 360 nm is 2.0 or more. As the resin used for the gloss adjusting layer 3, methyl methacrylate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate,
A single substance of polyester or styrene acrylate resin or a mixture of such resins can be used. The gloss adjusting layer 3 is made by mixing the above synthetic resin with an ultraviolet absorber (for example, a triazole type) in order to prevent image fading of the recorded image due to natural light and make it usable outdoors. . The thickness of the gloss adjusting layer 3 is 1 to 10 μm
Is preferable, and particularly preferably 2 to 5 μm.

If the pencil hardness of the gloss adjusting layer 3 is softer than H, scratches are likely to occur when rubbing against the object, and the surface of the recorded image becomes matte (low gloss type product). Since the coating film is soft, it is easy to cause a decrease in writing aptitude with a pencil or the like, which is not preferable. On the other hand, if the pencil hardness is harder than 3H, the thermal transfer sheet 6 and the thermal transfer sheet are brought into close contact with each other, and the dye is transferred to the thermal transfer sheet by thermal diffusion by heating the thermal head, or the dye is heated by the thermal head. Alternatively, after a recording image is obtained by a fusion type thermal transfer recording method in which a pigment is transferred to a heat transfer sheet by heat melting, the gloss adjusting layer 3 is coated when the gloss adjusting layer 3 is transferred and adhered via the heat sensitive adhesive layer 5. It is not preferable because the film is hard and thus the transferability is easily deteriorated, and in the winding operation in the manufacturing process of the thermal transfer sheet 6, cracking phenomenon is likely to occur due to deterioration of flexibility. Therefore, the pencil hardness of the glossiness adjusting layer 3 is adjusted to H to 3H.

If the absorbance of the gloss adjusting layer 3 at a wavelength of 360 nm is less than 2.0, when the recorded image is used as a color signboard, image fading due to natural light (poor light resistance) occurs and the recorded image It is not preferable because the visibility of is likely to decrease.
Further, when the absorbance is extremely high, the adhesiveness with the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5 tends to decrease. Therefore, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5
In consideration of the adhesiveness with, the absorbance at 360 nm wavelength of the gloss adjusting layer 3 is preferably about 2.0 to 4.0.
The pencil hardness is indicated by the pencil hardness measured by a surface tester HEIDON-14 (manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.). In addition, the absorbance was displayed as a measured value at a wavelength of 360 nm using a self-recording spectrophotometer model 320 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.

Next, in the case of a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet, the thermal transfer layer 4 contains a sublimation dye and a binder which are thermally diffused by heating of a thermal head and transferred to the thermal transfer sheet. Further, the melt-type thermal transfer sheet contains a binder and a dye or pigment that is melted by the heating of the thermal head and is transferred to the thermal transfer sheet. The image recording mechanism is such that a heat-transferred sheet is brought into close contact with the surface of the heat-transfer sheet 6 on which the heat-transfer layer 4 is formed, and the sublimation dye that is thermally diffused from the heat-transfer layer 4 is heated by the thermal head from the back surface of the heat-transfer sheet 6. Alternatively, in order to transfer and transfer the heat-melted dye or pigment to the heat transfer sheet, the yellow, red, and blue heat transfer layers 4 are sequentially imaged so that the heat transfer sheet 6 is moved with respect to the heat transfer sheet. Recording is performed, and finally, the glossiness adjusting layer 3 is transferred and adhered onto the recorded image via the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5.

The thermal sublimation dye used in the thermal transfer layer 4 of the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet is preferably a thermal sublimation disperse dye, and preferably has a molecular weight of about 250. The target dye is Kayaset Yellow G (Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.)
Manufactured by Kayaset Red B (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.),
The trade name Kayaset Blue 906 (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) and the like are exemplified. Further, as the binder, it is preferable to use a synthetic resin such as polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, methyl cellulose, polyester and acrylic resin. In addition, the dye or pigment used for the fusion type thermal transfer sheet may be heated by a thermal head (100 to 150
There is no particular limitation as long as it is not decomposed at (° C). As the target dye, Kayaron Polyester Light Yellow 5G-S (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.), trade name Kayaron Polyester Pink RCL-E (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.),
The trade name Kayaron Polyester Blue B-SF Conc (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) and the like are exemplified. In addition, as the target pigment, the product name Rio First Yellow G222 (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.), the product name Rio First Red B225 (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.), the product name Rio First Blue G
227 (manufactured by Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.) and the like are exemplified. Also,
As the binder, synthetic resin such as polyester, acrylic, styrene acrylic, or polyethylene wax,
Waxes such as polypropylene wax, ester wax, paraffin wax and microlistan wax can be used alone. It is also possible to use a mixture of the above-mentioned synthetic resin and wax. The formation thickness of the thermal transfer layer 4 is preferably 1 to 5 μm so that the sublimation dye thermally diffused by heating or the dye or pigment thermally fused is easily transferred to the thermal transfer sheet.

In the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet, the thermal transfer layer 4
In addition to the sublimation dye and binder described above, it is also possible to add components such as polyethylene wax, fluorine resin, fatty acid amide, and paraffin wax in order to prevent fusion between the thermal transfer sheet 6 and the thermal transfer sheet during image recording. It is possible. The heat-resistant layer formed on the back surface of the plastic film support 1 on which the thermal transfer layer 4 is not formed further suppresses shrinkage distortion of the plastic film support 1 due to heating of the thermal head during image recording. This is an effective means and is applicable to the thermal transfer sheet 6 according to the present invention.

Next, when the heat transfer sheet 6 and the heat transfer sheet are brought into close contact with each other to perform image recording, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5 is sequentially image-recorded so that yellow, red, and blue are sequentially superposed, and finally the recording is performed. It is a resin layer that is released from the interface between the release layer 2 of the thermal transfer sheet 6 and the gloss adjusting layer 3 by the nip pressure between the thermal head and the backup roll on the image, and is transferred and adhered. It As the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5, resins such as polyester, ethylene vinyl acetate and styrene acrylate resin can be used. The thickness of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 5 should be determined in consideration of writing suitability.
It is preferably about 0.5 to 2 μm.

The thermal transfer sheet 6 of the present invention having the above-mentioned constitution can be used as a thermal transfer sheet 6 for a sublimation type thermal transfer recording system as well as a melting type thermal transfer recording system in close contact with a heat transfer target sheet. When used as the thermal transfer sheet 6 of the sublimation type thermal transfer recording system, the dye transfer layer for receiving the sublimation dye of the thermal transfer layer 4 which is transferred by heating is polyester, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate, styrene acrylate, polyurethane, It is preferable that it is formed of a resin such as epoxy or vinylidene chloride resin because it has excellent dyeability of a sublimation dye, and the heat transfer sheet used when it is used as the heat transfer sheet 6 of the fusion type heat transfer recording system is a conventional one. Can be used as is. Further, in order to prevent fusion between the thermal transfer sheet 6 and the dye receiving layer surface of the thermal transfer sheet during image recording by the sublimation type thermal transfer recording system, silicone oil, fluorine resin, wax, etc. are added to prevent fusion. The method is commonly used.

[0018]

EXAMPLES Next, the thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the following examples and comparative examples, parts indicate solid content weight ratios.

Example 1 As a long-length plastic film support, a heat-resistant treatment was applied to one surface and an easy-adhesion treatment was applied to the other surface, and a thickness of 9 was obtained.
Using a polyester film of μm, the coating of the thermal transfer layer and the release layer consisting of the following compositions respectively on the easy-adhesion treated surface of this plastic film support is applied sequentially in the longitudinal direction with a gravure coater and dried, yellow, red , A blue thermal transfer layer and a release layer are formed in this order, and then a coating of the gloss adjusting layer having the following composition is applied on the release layer and dried to form the gloss adjusting layer. The paint of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is applied on the adjusting layer and dried to form the heat-sensitive adhesive layer. The pencil hardness of the gloss adjusting layer is 2H, 360n
A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet was prepared so that the absorbance at m wavelength was 2.2. [Dry coating thickness of each layer] Thermal transfer layer: 1 μm Release layer: 1 μm Gloss level adjusting layer: 3 μm Thermal adhesive layer: 1 μm

[Coating Composition of Thermal Transfer Layer] Dye (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., trade name Kayaset Yellow G) 3 parts Binder (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name ESLEK BX-1) 3 parts Toluene 47 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 47 parts * Other 2 disperse dyes Kayaset Red B and Kayaset Blue 906 (both manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.)

[Release Layer Coating Composition] Synthetic resin (Hitachi Chemical Polymer Co., Ltd., trade name Tesfine 322) 19 parts Curing agent (Kanto Chemical Co., Inc., paratoluene sulfonic acid) 1 part Toluene 30 parts Ethyl acetate 25 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 25 parts

[Coating Composition of Glossiness Adjustment Layer] Synthetic resin (Eastman Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name CAP482-0.5) 15 parts UV absorber (Ciba Geigy Co., trade name Tinuvin 109) 5 parts Toluene 40 Part ethyl acetate 40 parts

[Coating composition of heat-sensitive adhesive layer] Synthetic resin (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., trade name Bayronal MD1100) 15 parts Water 50 parts IPA 35 parts

On the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet obtained above, a test pattern was printed using a sublimation type thermal transfer printer to obtain a recorded image for evaluation. The thermal transfer type thermal transfer sheet is a commercially available product name B manufactured by Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
C-P241SJ is used, and the thermal transfer printer is a commercially available product of TRUE PRINT 2200 manufactured by Victor Company of Japan.
(Resolution 300 DPI, recording speed 7 mm / sec) was used.

Example 2 As a release layer release agent, 20 parts of silica having a particle diameter of 1.5 μm (Mizuka Seal P527H manufactured by Mizusawa Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added to the release layer release agent in Example 1. Prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the release layer was formed to have a thickness of 3 μm by using the added material, the pencil hardness of the gloss adjusting layer was 2H, and the absorbance at a 360 nm wavelength was 2.2. A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet thus prepared was obtained.

Comparative Example 1 The same procedure as in Example 1 was carried out except that the coating material for the gloss adjusting layer used in Example 1 without the addition of the ultraviolet absorber was used as the coating material for the gloss adjusting layer. A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet was prepared which was prepared so that the pencil hardness of the gloss adjusting layer was 2H and the absorbance at a wavelength of 360 nm was 0.06.

Comparative Example 2 As the paint for the gloss adjusting layer, the synthetic resin used in the paint for the gloss adjusting layer used in Example 1 was an acrylic polyol resin (trade name: Thermolac S2000, manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.). Prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a polyisocyanate resin (manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., trade name Takenate D110N) was adjusted to a mixing ratio of 60/40. , The pencil hardness of the gloss adjusting layer is 4H,
A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet was prepared in which the absorbance at 360 nm wavelength was adjusted to 2.2.

Comparative Example 3 As the paint for the gloss adjusting layer, the synthetic resin in the paint for the gloss adjusting layer used in Example 1 was vinylidene chloride resin (Kureha SOA, manufactured by Kureha Chemical Co., Ltd.). A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the gloss hardness adjusting layer had a pencil hardness of F and an absorbance at a wavelength of 360 nm of 2.2.

In addition, the inventors of the present invention prepared a fusion type thermal transfer sheet described below and evaluated recording characteristics and image suitability in order to develop the application to the fusion type thermal transfer recording material.

Example 3 As a long plastic film support, a polyester film having a thickness of 9 μm, one surface of which was heat-treated and the other surface of which was easily peeled, was used. Gloss adjustment layer 3 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a thermal transfer layer of each color of yellow, red and blue having the following composition was formed on the surface so that the thickness of the dried coating film was 1 μm. Has a pencil hardness of 2H, 36
A melt type thermal transfer sheet was prepared so that the absorbance at the wavelength of 0 nm was 2.2.

[Coating composition of thermal transfer layer] Dye (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., trade name: Kayaron Polyester Light Yellow 5G-S) 3 parts Binter (manufactured by Mutual Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name PLUSCOAT Z850) 3 parts Wax (manufactured by Toho Kagaku Co., Ltd., trade name Hi-Tech E4A) 10 parts Water 44 parts Methanol 40 parts * Other two-color disperse dyes Trade name Kayaron Polyester Pink RCL-E and trade name Kayaron Polyester Blue B-SF Conc ( (Both manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.)

Example 4 The plastic film support and the thermal transfer layer were the same as in Example 3, the release layer was the same as in Example 2, and the other glossiness adjusting layers and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer were the same as in Example 1. Using the paints having the respective compositions described above, a fusion type thermal transfer sheet was prepared for each layer in the same manner as in Example 1, and the pencil hardness of the gloss adjusting layer was 2
With H, a fusion type thermal transfer sheet was obtained in which the absorbance at 360 nm wavelength was adjusted to be 2.2.

A test pattern was printed on the fusion type thermal transfer sheet obtained above using a fusion type thermal transfer printer to obtain a recorded image for evaluation. The thermal transfer type thermal transfer transfer sheet is a commercially available genuine paper manufactured by FARGO Co., Ltd., and the thermal transfer printer is a commercially available product manufactured by FARGO Co., Ltd. under the trade name PRIMERA78000 (resolution 203 DPI, recording speed 6).
mm / sec) was used.

Then, the absorbance of the gloss adjusting layer, the pencil hardness, and each performance of the recorded image obtained by using each thermal transfer sheet were measured and evaluated by the following methods. (1) Absorbance The absorbance of the gloss adjusting layer is measured by Hitachi's own recording spectrophotometer.
A 320 type machine was used to display the measured values at a wavelength of 360 nm. (2) Scratch resistance As for the scratch resistance of the surface of the gloss adjusting layer, HEIDON-14 (trade name, manufactured by Shinto Scientific Co., Ltd.) is used, and the load is 100 g and the moving speed is 100
The pencil hardness when the coating film was scratched under the condition of (mm / min) was displayed. The higher the pencil hardness, the better the scratch resistance, and the lower the pencil hardness, the poorer the scratch resistance.

(3) Glossiness The glossiness of the recorded image was measured by using a gloss checker IG-310 (trade name, manufactured by HORIBA, Ltd.) at an irradiation angle of 60 ° for the red image glossiness. (4) Smoothness The smoothness of the recorded image was measured for a red color using a Oken type high smoothness meter. (5) Image Density The reflection density of red color was measured using a Macbeth RD-918 type reflection densitometer manufactured by Macbeth Co., Ltd. (6) Gradation reproducibility Regarding the red color of the recorded image, the red color was visually confirmed and the portion where no transfer omission occurred was represented by DOT%. Target value is 10% DO
It is T reproduction.

(7) Transferability of Glossiness Adjusting Layer The transfer state of the glossiness adjusting layer transferred onto the recorded image was evaluated by visual inspection for the presence of air bubbles. The case where no bubbles were generated was rated as O (good), and the case where bubbles were generated was rated as X (bad). (8) Writing suitability of glossiness adjusting layer The writing suitability of the glossiness adjusting layer is the product name H manufactured by Shinto Kagaku Co., Ltd.
Using EIDON-14, load 100g, moving speed 100 (mm
/ Min), the state of writing with an HB pencil was observed and evaluated. ○ The one with high image density and no image blur
When the image line density was low or the image line blur was generated, x (bad) was given. (9) Lightfastness The storage stability of recorded images is yellow, and
Irradiation was carried out for 24 hours using an ultraviolet long-life fade meter manufactured by Co., Ltd. under the trade name of FAL-3. The yellow image fading rates before and after irradiation are shown. The target value is 20% or less. Image Density Measurement: Brand name Macbeth RD918 type reflection densitometer (10) Winding suitability of thermal transfer sheet When the thermal transfer sheet is wound up, those in which the gloss adjusting layer does not crack are evaluated as good (good), and cracked. What occurred was rated as x (bad). Table 1 shows the preparation conditions for each thermal transfer sheet, and Table 2 shows the performance evaluation results.

[0037]

[Table 1]

[0038]

[Table 2]

As is clear from Tables 1 and 2, the recorded image obtained by transferring and adhering the gloss adjusting layer through the heat-sensitive adhesive layer onto the recorded image on which the image was recorded is the synthetic resin and the pigment of the release layer. The glossiness could be easily adjusted by changing the mixing ratio with.
Particularly, in the case where the release layer was not added with the pigment, the image glossiness was high and a recorded image similar to a printed matter could be obtained. Furthermore, the recorded image in which the ultraviolet absorber was mixed in the gloss adjusting layer was excellent in light resistance with little image fading. In the comparative example, the scratch resistance of the recorded image, the transferability of the glossiness adjusting layer, the writing property of the glossiness adjusting layer, the light resistance, and the winding suitability of the thermal transfer sheet are in one or more performance items. However, it was out of the target range of the present invention, and good products could not be obtained.

[0040]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The thermal transfer sheet of the present invention has different glossinesses of different glossiness adjustment levels, because after the image recording of each color is performed on the heat transferable sheet, the glossiness adjusting layer is further transferred and adhered onto the recorded image. It became possible to freely adjust the glossiness of a recorded image by using a thermal transfer sheet on which an adjustment layer is formed. In addition, a recorded image having excellent light resistance and scratch resistance of the recorded image could be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a configuration of one example of a thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Plastic Film Support 2 Release Layer 3 Gloss Adjusting Layer 4 Thermal Transfer Layer 5 Thermal Sensitive Adhesive Layer 6 Thermal Transfer Sheet

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A long plastic film support (1)
A heat transfer layer (4) of each color containing a dye or a pigment and a binder on one side of, and a gloss adjusting layer (3) composed of a mixture of a synthetic resin and an ultraviolet absorber on the release layer (2). A thermal transfer sheet (6), which is formed continuously and in the longitudinal direction, with a laminate comprising a heat-sensitive adhesive layer (5) formed on the gloss adjusting layer (3), Gloss adjustment layer
A thermal transfer sheet (6), wherein the pencil hardness of (3) is H to 3H, and the coating layer has an absorbance at a wavelength of 360 nm of 2.0 or more. 2. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the release layer (2) of the thermal transfer sheet is a coating layer made of a synthetic resin alone or an arbitrary mixing ratio of a synthetic resin and a pigment. (6). 3. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer sheet (6) can be used in a sublimation type thermal transfer recording system or a fusion type thermal transfer recording system.
(6).