JPS62189195A - Thermal transfer recording sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance light resistance of an image transferred to a receiving layer and prevent saturation from being lowered, by using a styrene resin or a resin mixture comprising at least a styrene resin, as a resin constituting the receiving layer. CONSTITUTION:A thermal transfer recording sheet 1 comprises a base 2 and a receiving layer 3 provided on the base 2. The receiving layer 3 is constituted of a styrene resin or a resin mixture comprising at least a styrene resin. The styrene resin may be a styrene homopolymer, a copolymer of alpha-methylstyrene with vinyltoluene, a copolymer of alpha-methylstyrene with styrene, a copolymer of a styrene monomer and an acrylic monomer, a copolymer of a styrene monomer with acrylonitrile, a copolymer of a styrene monomer with maleic anhydride, a copolymer of a styrene monomer with an acrylic acid ester and acrylamide, or the like.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet, and more specifically, a sheet for recording an image by thermally transferring a sublimation dye in a coloring material layer of a thermal transfer sheet according to image information. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, it has become possible to use photographs directly from images on CRT displays.
As a recording method for recording such an image, the thermal transfer sheet is heated by a thermal head cap whose heat generation is controlled by an electric signal, and the sublimable dye in the color material layer of the thermal transfer sheet is transferred onto 'I & thermal transfer sheet 1~. A thermal transfer recording method is adopted in which image information is recorded using This thermal transfer recording method is a method that can transfer and record color images with continuous changes in color shading by overlapping recording of cyan, magenta, and yellow.
has been done. Conventionally, the thermal transfer sheet used in the thermal transfer recording method is a sheet in which a polyether resin is applied to the surface of a base material to form an image-receiving layer to which a sublimable dye is transferred.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, with the conventional thermal transfer sheet 1-, the transferred image has poor light resistance, the clarity of the transferred image decreases during storage, and a beautiful image cannot be maintained for a long period of time. This is thought to be because in the sublimation transfer method, in which the dye is sublimated and transferred by applying energy in a short period of time using a thermal head, the dye is transferred near the surface of the image-receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet, so it is easily affected by light. .

[Means for solving problems]

As a result of intensive research by the present inventors to solve the above problem,
The present inventors have discovered that light resistance can be significantly improved when the image-receiving layer is composed of a styrene resin or a resin mixture containing at least a styrene resin, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention provides a thermal transfer sheet having an image receiving layer in which a sublimable dye in a coloring material layer of a thermal transfer sheet is thermally transferred to record image information in accordance with the image information, and a base material on which the image receiving layer is supported. The gist of the present invention is a thermal transfer sheet characterized in that a styrene resin or a resin mixture containing at least a styrene resin is used as the resin constituting the image receiving layer.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a thermal transfer sheet 1-1 of the present invention, and the thermal transfer sheet 1 is composed of a base material 2 and an image receiving layer 3 provided on the base material 2.

The base material 2 may be a flexible sheet such as coated paper, condenser paper, glassine paper, parchment paper, or a plus deck film such as a polyester film or a polyester film having a high degree of sizing, or a so-called synthetic paper mainly composed of polypropylene having microvoids. Firno is an example. Among these, condenser paper and polyethylene terephthalate film are mainly used. In particular, condenser paper is preferable when heat resistance is important, and polyethylene terephthalate film is preferable when high strength (breakage resistance) is important.

The thickness of these base materials 2 is usually 50 to 400 μrn.

Particularly preferred is 70 to 170 μm.

In the present invention, the image receiving layer 3 is composed of a styrene resin or a resin mixture containing a small amount of styrene resin.

The above-mentioned styrene resin includes a styrene homopolymer, a copolymer of α-methylstyrene and vinyltoluene,
Copolymers of α-methylstyrene and styrene, copolymers of styrene monomers and acrylic monomers, copolymers of styrene monomers and acrylonitrile, copolymers of styrene monomers and maleic anhydride, Examples include copolymers of styrene monomers, acrylic esters, and acrylamide.

Specific examples of the above-mentioned styrene resins include Hymer SBM-100, Hymer SBM-73F1, Hymer SAM-955 (hereinafter referred to as Nistyrene-Acrylic, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), KA1039-8. (Styrene-acrylic, manufactured by Kanyo Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., RMr) -451,1 (
Styrene-acrylonitrile type, manufactured by UCC), TYR
IL-767 (styrene-acrylonitrile type, Dow
), CYMACloo (styrene-acryloni I・
(Ryl series, manufactured by ACC), and Oxidilanc 5H-101 (styrene-maleic acid copolymer resin, manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Chemical Co., Ltd.).

The above styrene resins can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Further, in the present invention, it is also possible to use a mixture of the above styrene resin and other resins as the resin constituting the image receiving layer.

” As a resin to be used in combination with the styrenic resin listed in Section 2,
Examples include vinyl chloride-hinyl acetate co-Y1 combination, polybutacrylic acid ester, polyacrylic acid ester, cellulose acedobutylene 1.

A mixture of one or more of these resins and a styrene resin can be used. The mixing ratio of styrene resin and other resins is 100% styrene resin.
The amount of other resins is about 00 to 900 parts by weight.

By mixing a styrene resin and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, there are advantages such as improved coating suitability and improved film properties (improved flexibility). A specific example of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer is VYITH
, VMCH (manufactured by UCC), etc.

Further, by mixing polyester resin, there are advantages such as improved dyeability and coating suitability. A specific example of polyester + M resin is vy1on200 (
manufactured by Toyobo), TP220. Examples include TP235 (manufactured by Nippon Gosei).

In the present invention, the whiteness of the image-receiving layer 3 is improved to further enhance the clarity of the transferred image, and the objective is to provide writability to the surface of the thermally transferred sheet I and to prevent re-transfer of the transferred image. A white pigment can be added to the image-receiving layer 3. Furthermore, by adding White Face I, it is possible to transfer images with higher clarity and excellent heat resistance and humidity resistance.

As the white pigment, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, kaolin clay, etc. are used, and two or more of these can be used as a mixture. As the titanium oxide, anatase type titanium oxide and rutile type titanium oxide can be used, and examples of the anatase type titanium oxide include KA-10, KA, -
1+ 5. KA-20, KA-30, KA-35,
KA-60, KA-80, 'A-90 (all manufactured by Titanium Kogyo@Masusei), KR-3 as rutile titanium oxide
1O5KR-380, K R-460, K R-480
(all manufactured by Titanium Kogyo ■), etc. The amount of the white pigment added is preferably 5 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the resin constituting the image receiving layer 3.

In the present invention, an ultraviolet absorber may also be added to the image receiving layer 3. By adding an ultraviolet absorber, the surface brightness of the dye is further improved. As ultraviolet absorbers, benzphenone type, hindered amine type,
Examples include benzotriadules. The amount added is 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the resin constituting the image receiving layer 3.
~5 parts by weight.

The thermal transfer sheet 1 of the present invention may contain a release agent in the image-receiving layer 3 in order to improve releasability from the thermal transfer sheet. Examples of the mold release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon powder; fluorine-based and phosphoric acid ester-based surfactants; and silicone oil, with silicone oil being preferred.

2. As the silicone oil, an oily one can be used, or a hardened type is preferable.

Examples of the curable silicone oil include reaction curable, photocurable, and catalytic curable silicone oils, with reaction curable silicone oils being particularly preferred. The reaction-curing silicone oil is preferably 4J, which is obtained by reaction-curing amine-modified silicone oil and epoxy-modified silicone oil, and amine-modified silicone oil is preferably KF-
3! '13. Kl-857, KF 858. X
22 3680. X-22-380IC<manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) etc., and examples of epoxy-modified silicone oils include ill, KF-]00T, KF-101, KF-(
io-164, K1-103 (Shin-Etsu Chemical (■q
) Kasaka is mentioned. In addition, KS-705F-P is a catalyst-curing type or light-curing type silicone oil.
S, KS-705F-PS-1,, KS-17 (1
-PL-3 (catalytic curing silicone oil, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical (+1)), KS-720, KS-774-
Examples include P■, -3 (photocurable silicone oil, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), and the like. The amount of the curable silicone oil added is preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the resin constituting the image receiving layer 3.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, a release agent layer 4 may be provided on a part of the surface of the image-receiving layer 3 by dissolving or dispersing the above-mentioned release agent in a suitable solvent and applying the solution, followed by drying. You can do it. As the mold release agent constituting the curve 11 type agent layer 4, a reaction cured product of the above-mentioned amino-modified silicone oil and epoxy-modified silicone oil is particularly preferred. Mold release agent layer 4
The thickness is preferably 0.01 to 5 μm, particularly 0.05 to 2 μm.

The release agent layer 4 may be provided on a part of the surface of the image-receiving layer 3 as shown in [2], or the release agent layer 4 may be provided on the entire surface of the image-receiving layer 3, but if it is provided on a part of the surface of the image-receiving layer 3, On the part where the molding agent layer 4 is not provided, it is possible to perform recording with a toner 1-impact recording, heat-sensitive melt transfer recording, pencil, etc., and sublimation can be performed on the part where the molding agent layer 1 is installed. Transfer recording is performed, and recording is performed using another recording method on the part of the release agent layer 4 that is not provided.
For example, the sublimation transfer recording method and the llh recording method can be used together.

Heat transfer t5 of the present invention: The sheet 1 has a cushion layer 5 between the base 12 and the image receiving layer 3 as shown in FIG. An image with less noise and corresponding to image information can be transferred and recorded with good reproducibility. Examples of materials constituting the cushion layer 5 include urethane resin, acrylic resin, ethylene resin,
Examples include butadiene rubber and epoxy resin. The thickness of the cushion layer 5 is preferably about 2 to 20 μm.

Moreover, a slippery layer can also be provided on the back surface of the base material.

There are cases where the sheets to be thermally transferred are stacked and fed out one by one for transfer. In this case, providing a slippery layer allows the sheets to slide smoothly against each other, making it possible to avoid sending out one sheet at a time to the correct f1v. . As the lubricant of the slippery layer, meccryle-1 resin such as methyl methacrylate-1 or the corresponding acrylate l/-1 resin, vinyl resin such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc. may be used. can be lost.

It is also possible to incorporate an antistatic agent into the thermal transfer sheet. By containing an antistatic agent, it is possible to make the sheets slide more smoothly, and it also has the effect of preventing dust from adhering to the thermal transfer sheet 1-. The image-receiving layer r1 contains a cylindrical layer.Although the cylindrical layer 31 can be provided as an antistatic agent layer on the back surface of the base material, it is preferably provided as an antistatic layer on the back surface of the base material.

Further, in the present invention, it is also possible to provide a detection mark on the thermal transfer sheet. The detection mark is extremely convenient when positioning the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer sheet, and for example, a detection mark that can be detected by a phototube detection device can be placed on the back surface of the substrate by printing or the like.

The thermal transfer sheet 1 of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration is arranged such that the color material layer 7 of the thermal transfer sheet 6 and the image receiving layer 3 of the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 are in contact with each other as shown in FIG.
・After heating with a thermal head or the like from the support material 8 side of the thermal transfer sheet 6 and peeling off the transfer sheet 6, the sublimable dye 1 in the color material layer 7 is transferred to the thermal transfer sheet 1. The image is transferred to layer 3, and an image corresponding to the image information is recorded on the thermal transfer sheet. The sublimable dye used in the thermal transfer sheet 6 has a molecular weight of about 150 to 600.
Examples include relatively low molecular weight disperse dyes, oil dyes, certain basic dyes, or intermediates that can be converted into these dyes. They are selected and used in consideration of temperature, thermal transfer efficiency, coloring materials, color rendering properties, weatherability, etc. Color material layer 7 of thermal transfer sheet 6
is formed by dispersing the sublimable dye described in item 1 in a synthetic resin binder and applying it to the surface of the support material 8. Examples of such synthetic resin binders include cell TI such as ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, cellulose acetate, and cellulose acetate.
Examples include vinyl resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyester, polyhinyl acetate, and polyacrylamide I. Among these resins, polyvinyl butyral or cellulose resin, which has excellent acid resistance, is preferred. The support material 8 of the thermal transfer sheet 1-6 may include polyester film, polystyrene film, polysulfone film, polyhinyl alcohol film, cellophane film, etc., and polyester film is particularly preferred from the viewpoint of heat resistance. The thickness of the support material 8 is preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, preferably 3 to 10 μm for bamboo.

The thermal transfer sheet 6 is heated from the support material 8 side by heating means such as a thermal head, but it is preferable to provide a lubricating layer containing a lubricant such as wax or a mold release agent on the surface of the support material 8 to be heated. It is possible to prevent the heating means such as the above from being fused to the supporting material 8.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to specific examples.

Example 1 Polyethylene terephthalate i-film (manufactured by Toyobo: 5-PE') with a thickness of 6 μm and which was subjected to corona discharge treatment on one side.
l') is set as support) A, and a coloring material layer composition having the composition shown in the table is applied to the corona discharge treated surface of the support +A.
Apply bar coating to a dry thickness of μm to form a coloring layer, and apply 2 drops of silicone oil (X-41-400 Giant 3 A: Shin-Etsu Silicone) on the back side with a dropper. After dripping, it was spread over the entire surface to form a slippery layer to obtain a Clear 1 transfer sheet.

Coloring material layer composition Disperse dye 4 parts by weight (made by Nippon Kayaku; Kayasef 1 Blue 136) Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose 5 parts by weight (manufactured by Vercules) Toluene 40 parts by weight methyl ethyl 40 parts by weight Dioxane
10 heavy view iN+ (on the other hand, 150.+
1m synthetic paper (manufactured by Tamago Yuka: Y [J PO-FPG
-150) as a base material, the image-receiving layer composition having the composition shown in step 1 was applied to the surface of the iron using a wire-hardening method to a dry thickness of 41 mm, and after temporary drying with a dryer, it was heated at 100°. The image receiving layer was formed by drying in oven C for 30 minutes, and a thermal transfer sheet was obtained.

Image-receiving layer composition Hymer SBM100 (manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei: styrene-acrylic copolymer) 14 parts by weight KF-393
(Niamino modified silicone oil made by Shin-Etsu Silicone)
1 part by weight X-22-343 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone: epoxy modified silicone oil)
1 part by weight toluene 42
Parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 42 parts by weight The above thermal transfer sheet and the sheet to be thermally transferred are superimposed so that the coloring material layer and the image receiving layer are in contact with each other, and the output IW of the thermal head is applied from the supporting material side of the thermal transfer sheet using a saalmahesod.
/dot, pulse width 0°3~0. 45m/s e
When the cyan disperse dye in the color material layer of the thermal transfer sheet was transferred to the image receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet by heating at a dot density of 3 l note/+u, a clear cyan image was transferred. It was done.

Next, the image transferred to the thermal transfer sheet was subjected to a light resistance test and a heat resistance and moisture resistance test under the conditions shown below. The fading rate of the image after the light fastness test was measured and the fading rate was 91%. In addition, we measured and compared the Hunter whiteness of the heat transfer sheet before printing and after the 101 light resistance test and heat resistance and humidity resistance test. Each hunter's whiteness after the sex test was +1. +92
．． 5, +2+9], 0, f3) 90.

It was 5.

Light resistance test, exposed for 10 hours under conditions based on JIS LO842.

Heat and humidity resistance test It was kept in an atmosphere of 40° C. and 90% humidity for 100 hours.

In addition, the fading rate is based on Macbeth reflective type density old (RIl-9
In step 18), the image density immediately after printing and the image density after the test are measured, and expressed as a percentage of the image density after the test divided by the image density immediately after printing.

Furthermore, high-quality paper for dry electrostatic copying was placed on the image-receiving layer side of the thermal transfer sheet with the image transferred, and after applying a pressure of 30 g/cl and leaving it in an oven at 60°C for 3 days, it was removed from the oven and dried. The high quality paper for electrostatic copying was peeled off from the thermal transfer sheet, and the image density retransferred to the surface of the high quality paper for dry electrostatic copying was measured using a MacbeLh densitometer similar to the above, and the retransfer density was measured. Retransfer density is 0.
It was 28.

Example 2 An image-receiving layer composition having the following composition was coated on the same substrate as in Example 1 with a wire bar to a dry thickness of 10 μm.
An image-receiving layer was formed by coating and drying to form an image-receiving layer.

Image-receiving layer composition Hymer SBM100 (manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei: styrene-acrylic copolymer) 7 parts by weight Oxirac 5T (-101 (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Chemical Co., Ltd.: styrene-maleic acid polymer: melting point 190-200°C)
7 parts by weight K1-393 <amino-modified silicone oil manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone)
1 part by weight Color transferred.

Next, a light resistance test of this thermal transfer sheet was carried out under the same conditions as in Example 1, and the rate of color fading after the light resistance test was measured. As a result, the rate of color fading was 86%.

Example 3 An image-receiving layer composition having the following composition was coated on the same substrate as in Example 1 by wire bar coating so that the dry thickness was 4 μm and dried to obtain a thermal transfer sheet.

Image-receiving layer composition Hymer SBM100 (styrene-acrylic copolymer manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei) 14 parts by weight toluene
43 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone 43 parts by weight Then, on a part of the surface of the image-receiving layer,
A mold release material composition having the following composition was coated by wire bar coating so that the dry thickness was 0.5 μm and allowed to dry to form a mold release material layer to obtain a thermal transfer sheet.

Release agent composition Kl'-393 (Niamino modified silicone oil manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone) 1 part by weight X-22-
343 (Shin-Etsu Silicone: Epoxy modified silicone oil) 1 part by weight methanol
98 Overlap Portion When the thermal transfer sheet was transferred to this thermal transfer sheet under the same conditions as in Example 1, the cyan color was clearly transferred. Next, a light resistance test of this thermal transfer sheet was conducted under the same conditions as in Example I, and the rate of discoloration after the light resistance test was measured. As a result, the rate of discoloration was 9.
%Met.

Example 4 An image-receiving layer set +11 having the following composition was coated on the same base material as in Example 1 by wire bar coating to a dry thickness of 10.
It was coated to a thickness of .mu.m and dried to form an image-receiving layer.

Image-receiving layer composition KALO39-3 (manufactured by Kanyo Kagaku Kogyo@Sei: styrene-acrylic copolymer: Tg = 64°C) 14 parts by weight KF-393 (neamino-modified silicone oil manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone) 1 part by weight X-22-3
43 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone = epoxy-modified silicone oil) 1 part by weight KA-10 (titanium industrial grade; titanium oxide) 2 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 41 parts by weight Toluene 41 parts by weight This thermal transfer sheet was coated with the same thermal transfer sheet as in Example 1. When the transfer was performed under the same conditions using the same method, a clear cyan color was transferred.

Next, a light resistance test and a heat resistance and moisture resistance test of the image transferred to the thermal transfer sheet were conducted under the same conditions as in Example 1. The fading rate of the image after the light fastness test was measured and the fading rate was 94.
%Met. In addition, when we measured and compared the Hunter whiteness of the thermal transfer sheet before printing, after the light resistance test, and after the heat resistance and humidity resistance test, we found that before full printing, (2) after the light resistance test, and (3) after the heat resistance and humidity resistance test. The whiteness of each hunter is (1)94
．． 0, (2193,5, f3) 93.0.

Further, as a result of measuring the retransfer density in the same manner as in Example 1, the retransfer density was 0.10.

Example 5 A cushion layer having the following composition was coated on the same base material as in Example 1 by wire bar coating so that the dry thickness was 10 μm and dried to form a cushion layer.

Cushion layer composition Elvaloy 742 (ethylene resin: T g = −
32°C) 15.0 parts by weight Toluene 42.5 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 42.5 parts by weight Next, the same image receiving layer composition as in Example 1 was coated on the cushion layer with a wire bar to give a dry thickness of 4 μm. When it was applied and dried and transferred under the same conditions using the same thermal transfer sheet as in Example 1, a clear cyan color was transferred.

Next, a light resistance test of this thermal transfer sheet was conducted under the same conditions as in Example 1, and the rate of color fading after the light resistance test was measured. As a result, the rate of color fading was 91%.

Example 6 An image-receiving layer composition having the following composition was coated on the same substrate as in Example 1 with a wire bar to a dry thickness of 10 μm.
An image-receiving layer was formed by coating and drying to form an image-receiving layer.

Image-receiving layer composition Hycotenox JOO (copolymer of α-methylstyrene and vinyltoluene; manufactured by Vercules) 15 parts by weight Toluene 30 parts by weight Methyl ethyl chloride 30 parts by weight Cycloquinone 22 parts by weight KF-393, 5 parts by weight (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone) Ta.

Example 7 An image-receiving layer composition having the following composition was applied to the same sticky material as in Example 1 by wire bar coating to a dry thickness of 7 μm.
After coating and drying, an image-receiving layer was formed.

Image-receiving layer composition Hymer SBM100 (manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei 01; styrene-acrylic copolymer) 10 parts by weight Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer Quadruple parts (V Y HT-I
: manufactured by Union Carhide) Krl-3931 parts by weight (Niamin modified silicone manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone) X-2
1-3431 parts by weight (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone: epoxy-modified silicone) Methyl ethyl ketone 84 parts by weight When transfer was performed under the same conditions using the same thermal transfer sheet as in Example 1, a cyan color was clearly transferred.

Next, the heat transfer sheet 1~ was subjected to a light resistance test under the same conditions as in Example 1, and the rate of color fading after the light resistance test was measured. As a result, the rate of color fading was 85%.

Comparative Example 1 The same base material as in Example 1. Second, Vylon 200 (polyester manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.: Tg
-67°C), and the image-receiving layer composition with the other compositions similar to those in Example 1 was applied by wire bar coating to a dry thickness of 5 μm and dried. did.

Transfer was performed on this thermal transfer sheet using the same thermal transfer sheet as in Example 1 under the same conditions. Next, a light resistance test of this heat transfer sheet was conducted under the same conditions as in Example 1, and the rate of color fading after the light resistance test was measured. As a result, the rate of color fading was 50%.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, the image receiving layer to which the sublimable dye in the color layer of the thermal transfer sheet is transferred is made of a styrene resin or a mixed resin containing at least a styrene resin. , the image transferred to the image-receiving layer has excellent light resistance, the color of the transferred image is extremely low in color deterioration, and the clarity of the image can be maintained for a long period of time at almost the same level as immediately after transfer. have an effect.

B

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, and FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of the heat transfer sheet of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat transfer sheet of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing still another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer sheet are not overlapped and the sublimable dye of the thermal transfer sheet is transferred to the thermal transfer sheet. It is a front view. ■...Thermal transfer sheet 2...Base material 3...Image receiving layer

Claims (16)

[Claims] (1) A thermal transfer sheet having an image-receiving layer on which a sublimable dye in a coloring material layer of the thermal transfer sheet is heated and recorded in accordance with image information, and a base material on which the image-receiving layer is supported. A thermal transfer sheet characterized in that a styrene-based resin or a resin mixture containing at least a styrene-based resin is used as a layer-constituting resin. (2) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the image-receiving layer is a styrene homopolymer. (3) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the image receiving layer is a copolymer of α-methylstyrene and vinyltoluene. (4) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the image receiving layer is a copolymer of α-methylstyrene and styrene. (5) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the image receiving layer is a copolymer of a styrene monomer and an acrylic monomer. (6) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the image receiving layer is a copolymer of a styrene monomer and acrylonitrile. (7) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the image receiving layer is a copolymer of a styrene monomer and maleic anhydride. (8) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the image receiving layer is a copolymer of a styrene monomer, acrylic ester, and acrylamide. (9) The resin constituting the image receiving layer is a styrene homopolymer, α
-Copolymer of methylstyrene and vinyltoluene, α-
Copolymers of methylstyrene and styrene, copolymers of styrene monomers and acrylic monomers, copolymers of styrene monomers and acrylonitrile, copolymers of styrene monomers and maleic anhydride, styrene-based The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, which uses a mixed resin of at least two types of copolymers of monomers, acrylic esters, and acrylamide. (10) The resin constituting the image-receiving layer is a mixture of at least one resin selected from the group of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polymethacrylate, polyacrylate, and cellulose acetobutyrate and styrene resin. A thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1. (11) The thermal transfer sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the image-receiving layer contains a reaction product of amino-modified silicone and epoxy-modified silicone as a release agent. (12) The thermal transfer sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a release agent layer is provided on a part or the entire surface of the image-receiving layer. (13) Claim 1 in which the mold release agent layer is formed by reacting amino-modified silicone and epoxy-modified silicone.
The thermal transfer sheet according to item 2. (14) The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 12, wherein the release agent layer is made of catalyst-curing silicone. (15) The image-receiving layer contains 5 to 20 parts by weight of one or more selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and kaolin clay based on 100 parts by weight of the resin. The thermal transfer sheet according to any one of items 1 to 14. (16) The thermal transfer sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a cushion layer is provided between the image-receiving layer and the base material.