Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/18—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin characterised by the use of special additives
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
  • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
  • B41J2/01—Ink jet
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/36—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used using a polymeric layer, which may be particulate and which is deformed or structurally changed with modification of its' properties, e.g. of its' optical hydrophobic-hydrophilic, solubility or permeability properties
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
  • B41M5/385—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes characterised by the transferable dyes or pigments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G7/00—Selection of materials for use in image-receiving members, i.e. for reversal by physical contact; Manufacture thereof

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to an intermediate transfer medium, an intermediate transfer medium with a release member, a combination of an intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, a combination of an intermediate transfer medium, a thermal transfer sheet and a transfer-receiving body, a printed matter, and a method for manufacturing a printed matter.
• a known method for producing printed matter using a thermal transfer system is to use a thermal transfer sheet and transfer an image from the thermal transfer sheet to a receiving material.
• Another known method is to use a thermal transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium, transfer the image from the thermal transfer sheet to the intermediate transfer medium, and then retransfer the image from the intermediate transfer medium to the receiving material.
• Methods of manufacturing printed materials using thermal transfer printing can transfer images well to recipients with high surface smoothness.
• the image is difficult to transfer to the concave parts of the recipient's surface, resulting in problems such as blurring, whiteouts, and unclear image edges, resulting in reduced print quality.
• Patent Document 1 proposes a thermal transfer material in which a thermally transferable ink layer containing a heat-meltable binder, a colorant, and a thermally decomposable foaming agent is formed on a support.
• Patent Document 2 also proposes a thermal transfer recording medium in which a foaming agent layer containing a foaming agent is provided between the support layer and the ink layer.
• heating causes the thermally decomposable foaming agent contained in the thermally transferable ink layer to decompose and generate gas, or the foaming agent contained in the foaming agent layer between the support layer and the ink layer to decompose and expand, pressing the ink layer against the recipient, making it possible to transfer ink to recesses in the surface of the recipient.
• the layer containing the foaming agent is also transferred to the recipient.
• Patent Document 3 proposes a thermal transfer recording medium in which a foaming agent-containing layer, a heat-melt release layer, and a heat-melt colored layer are laminated in this order on a substrate.
• the foaming agent contained in the foaming agent-containing layer foams or expands due to heating, pressing the heat-melt colored layer against the recipient, making it possible to transfer ink to recesses on the surface of the recipient.
• the foaming agent-containing layer remains on the substrate during thermal transfer.
• a thermal transfer printer is used in the manufacturing of printed materials using the thermal transfer method.
• a thermal transfer sheet and the object to be printed are overlapped and passed between a thermal head and a platen roller, and the thermal head locally heats the thermal transfer sheet, transferring the image to the object to be printed.
• the foaming agent is foamed or expanded during thermal transfer, but in thermal transfer printers, the thermal transfer sheet is heated locally while the sheet and the object are transported, so the heating time is short. Furthermore, the thermal energy from the thermal head diffuses from the object. This makes it difficult to foam or expand the foaming agent sufficiently. Therefore, when the surface of the object is highly uneven, it is still difficult to transfer ink to the recesses on the surface of the object, even if foaming or expanding the foaming agent is used.
• This disclosure was made in consideration of the above problems, and its main objective is to provide an intermediate transfer medium that has good transferability even to transfer targets with low surface smoothness.
• One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an intermediate transfer medium having, in this order, a substrate, a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer, wherein the foamable layer and the transfer layer are peelable from each other, and the foaming agent is in an unfoamed state.
• Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides an intermediate transfer medium with a release member, which includes the above-mentioned intermediate transfer medium and a release member disposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium facing the substrate.
• Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a combination of the above-mentioned intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, wherein the thermal transfer sheet has a colorant layer.
• Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a combination of the above-mentioned intermediate transfer medium, a thermal transfer sheet, and a transfer recipient, in which the thermal transfer sheet has a colorant layer.
• Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a printed matter having a transferee and a transfer layer having an image disposed on the transfer surface of the transferee, wherein the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer surface of the transferee is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less, and the arithmetic mean height of the transfer layer on the surface opposite the transferee is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a printed matter having a transferee and a transfer layer having an image disposed on the transfer surface of the transferee, wherein the transferee is a textile, and the arithmetic mean height of the transfer layer on the surface opposite the transferee is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a printed matter having a transferee and a transfer layer having an image disposed on the transfer surface of the transferee, wherein Sa2/Sa1 is greater than or equal to 0.05, where Sa1 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transferee in an area where the transfer layer is not disposed, and Sa2 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer layer opposite the transferee.
• Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for producing a printed product, comprising: a preparation step of preparing an intermediate transfer medium having, in this order, a substrate, a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer; an image formation step of forming an image on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium; a transfer step of placing the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed opposite a transfer surface of a transfer recipient and applying heat and pressure to expand the foamable layer while transferring the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient; and a peeling step of peeling the substrate and the expanded foamable layer from the transfer layer transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient.
• This disclosure provides an intermediate transfer medium that has good transferability even to transfer targets with low surface smoothness.
• 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate transfer medium according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate transfer medium according to the present disclosure.
• 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate transfer medium according to the present disclosure.
• 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an intermediate transfer medium with a release member according to the present disclosure.
• 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a thermal transfer sheet according to the present disclosure.
• 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a print according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a second adhesive layer forming step in the method for producing a print in the present disclosure.
• FIG. 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a conventional method for producing a printed matter.
• 1A to 1C are process diagrams illustrating a conventional method for producing a printed matter.
• the following provides a detailed description of the intermediate transfer medium, the combination of the intermediate transfer medium and the thermal transfer sheet, the combination of the intermediate transfer medium, the thermal transfer sheet, and the transferee, the print, and the method for manufacturing the print, as described in this disclosure.
• the intermediate transfer medium of the present disclosure has, in this order, a substrate, a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer.
• the foamable layer and the transfer layer are separable from each other, and the foaming agent is in an unfoamed state. In other words, the foaming agent foams when the transfer layer is transferred to a transfer-receiving material.
• an intermediate transfer medium 10 includes a substrate 1, a foamable layer 2 containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer 3, in this order in the thickness direction DT .
• the intermediate transfer medium according to the present disclosure is a transfer sheet before an image is formed on the transfer layer, and is an image-forming sheet.
• FIG. 2(a) to 2(c) and 3(a) to 3(b) are process diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing a printed matter using the intermediate transfer medium of the present disclosure.
• an intermediate transfer medium 10 is prepared.
• the intermediate transfer medium 10 is similar to the intermediate transfer medium 10 shown in FIG. 1 above.
• an image 25 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10.
• the image 25 may be formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3, or may be formed by transferring a colorant into the transfer layer 3.
• the foaming agent in the foamable layer 2 is in an unfoamed state, and the foamable layer 2 has not expanded.
• the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the image 25 has been formed is placed opposite the transfer surface of the transferee 51.
• heat and pressure are applied to expand the foamable layer 2, while transferring the transfer layer 3 on which the image 25 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is formed onto the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the foaming agent in the foamable layer 2 foams, causing the foamable layer 2 to expand, pressing the transfer layer 3 on which the image 25 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is formed against the transfer recipient 51, forcing the transfer layer 3 on which the image 25 is formed into the concave portions of the uneven transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the transfer layer 3 on which the image 25 is formed may be transferred to the concave portions of the uneven transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the image 25 may be formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3, or may be formed by transferring a colorant into the transfer layer 3, but the colorant is not transferred to the transfer recipient 51.
• the substrate 1 and the expanded foamable layer 2 are peeled off from the transfer layer 3 transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the expanded foamable layer 2 and the transfer layer 3 are peeled off, and only the transfer layer 3 is transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the foamable layer 2 and the transfer layer 3 can be peeled off.
• the foaming agent used in the foamable layer 2 is appropriately selected so that it foams when the transfer layer 3 is transferred to the transfer recipient 51. However, the foaming agent is not selected so that it foams before or during image formation on the transfer layer 3.
• 16(a) to 16(c) show an example of a conventional thermal transfer sheet 110 having a foamable layer 102 and a colorant layer 122, in that order, on one side of a substrate 101.
• the colorant layer 122 is a melt-transfer type colorant layer to which the colorant layer 122 itself is transferred.
• the colorant layer 122 of the thermal transfer sheet 110 is thermally transferred to a transferee 151, while simultaneously expanding the foamable layer 102 of the thermal transfer sheet 110.
• the expanded foamable layer 102a and substrate 101 are peeled off from the colorant layer 122 transferred to the transferee 151.
• a thermal head (not shown) locally heats only the area of the thermal transfer sheet 110 to which the colorant layer 122 is to be transferred.
• the heating temperature is higher and the heating time is shorter. Because the heating time is short, not enough heat is applied to the thermal transfer sheet 110, making it difficult to fully expand the foamable layer 102.
• the foamable layer 102 does not expand sufficiently, the force pressing the colorant layer 122 against the transferee 151 is weak. As a result, the colorant layer 122 is not pressed into the concave portions of the uneven transfer surface of the transferee 151, and the colorant layer 122 is transferred only to the convex portions of the uneven transfer surface of the transferee 151.
• the image formed by thermally transferring the colorant layer 122 on the printed object 150 may have faded or white spots, or the edges of the image may be unclear.
• the transfer layer on which the image of the intermediate transfer medium is formed is transferred to a transferee. Therefore, the image formation process in which an image is formed and the transfer process in which the image-formed transfer layer is transferred using the expansion of the foamable layer can be performed separately. Because the image is already formed on the transfer layer in the transfer process, there is no need to locally heat the intermediate transfer medium with a thermal head. Therefore, the heating time can be extended in the transfer process, and sufficient heat can be applied to the intermediate transfer medium. Furthermore, unlike local heating using a conventional thermal head, the transfer process does not require a high temperature, and the heating temperature can be adjusted.
• the heating temperature can be adjusted depending on the foaming start temperature or maximum foaming temperature of the foaming agent. This allows the foamable layer to expand sufficiently. Therefore, the force with which the transfer layer on which the image of the intermediate transfer medium is formed is increased, making it easier for the transfer layer on which the image is formed to be pressed into the concave portions of the uneven transfer surface of the transferee. This reduces the occurrence of blurring, whiteouts, and blurred image edges.
• the intermediate transfer medium disclosed herein can achieve good transferability even on transfer targets with low surface smoothness.
• the substrate 1 and the expanded foamable layer 2 are peeled off from the transfer layer 3 transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the expanded foamable layer 2 is peeled off from the transfer layer 3 transferred to the transfer recipient 51 and remains on the intermediate transfer medium.
• the intermediate transfer medium of the present disclosure has good transferability, so the transfer layer 3 on which the image 25 is formed easily follows the unevenness of the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51. Therefore, in the printed matter 50, the surface of the transfer layer 3 opposite the transfer recipient 51 is likely to reflect the surface shape of the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the surface of the transfer layer 3 opposite the transfer recipient 51 will have a surface shape similar to the surface shape of the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the appearance of the surface of the transfer layer opposite the recipient in the printed matter is less different from the appearance of the recipient surface in the area where the transfer layer has not been transferred, reducing the sense of incongruity. This improves the texture of the image in the printed matter.
• Figures 17(a) to 17(c) show another example of a conventional thermal transfer sheet 110 having a foamable layer 102 and a colorant layer 122, in that order, on one side of a substrate 101.
• the colorant layer 122 is a melt-transfer type colorant layer to which the colorant layer 122 itself is transferred.
• the colorant layer 122 of the thermal transfer sheet 110 is thermally transferred to a transferee 151, while simultaneously expanding the foamable layer 102 of the thermal transfer sheet 110.
• the substrate 101 is peeled off from the colorant layer 122 transferred to the transferee 151 and the expanded foamable layer 102a.
• the expanded foamable layer 102a when the expanded foamable layer 102a is also transferred to the transferee 151, the expanded foamable layer 102a and the colorant layer 122 fill in some of the irregularities on the transferee surface of the transferee 151. Therefore, in the printed product 150, the shape of the surface of the expanded foamable layer 102a opposite the transferee 151 differs from the surface shape of the transferee surface of the transferee 151 in the region to which the colorant layer 122 and the expanded foamable layer 102a have not been transferred. Therefore, in the printed product 150, the region to which the colorant layer 122 and the expanded foamable layer 102a have been transferred may appear as if something has been pasted on the transferee 151.
• the surface of the expanded foamable layer 102a opposite the transferee 151 becomes smooth, creating an unnatural feeling due to the different surface shape.
• the areas where the color material layer 122 and the expanded foamable layer 102a have been transferred may have a different glossiness, for example, and may appear to have a sticker attached. This impairs the texture of the transferred object, degrading the texture of the printed matter.
• the intermediate transfer medium disclosed herein can improve print quality.
• the foamable layer in the present disclosure contains a foaming agent.
• the foamable layer is a layer that functions to press the transfer layer against a transfer-receiving body by expanding during thermal transfer. Furthermore, the foamable layer is a layer that remains on the intermediate transfer medium when an image is formed on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer layer on which the image has been formed is transferred to a transfer-receiving body.
• the foamable layer may be a single layer containing a foaming agent, or it may have multiple layers. If the foamable layer has multiple layers, at least one of the layers must contain a foaming agent.
• the foamable layer may also have, in order from the substrate side, a foaming agent-containing layer containing a foaming agent and a release layer. "Single layer" means that it is composed of one layer.
• the foamable layer of this embodiment is a single layer containing a foaming agent.
• blowing agent is preferably a thermal blowing agent, which expands when heated or decomposes when heated to generate gas.
• thermally expandable microcapsules are particles with a core-shell structure that encapsulate a low-temperature volatile solvent.
• thermally expandable microcapsules are preferably used.
• thermally expandable microcapsules are particles in which low-boiling-point hydrocarbons are microencapsulated with a shell wall made of resin, and when heated at a specific temperature, their volume expands to several to several hundred times its volume before heating.
• low-boiling-point hydrocarbons encapsulated in thermally expandable microcapsules include fluorine-containing aliphatic hydrocarbons such as methyl chloride, methyl bromide, trichloroethane, dichloroethane, n-butane, n-heptane, n-propane, n-hexane, n-pentane, isobutane, isoheptane, neopentane, petroleum ether, and Freon, as well as mixtures of these hydrocarbons.
• fluorine-containing aliphatic hydrocarbons such as methyl chloride, methyl bromide, trichloroethane, dichloroethane, n-butane, n-heptane, n-propane, n-hexane, n-pentane, isobutane, isoheptane, neopentane, petroleum ether, and Freon,
• thermoly expandable microcapsules Materials that can be used for the shell walls of thermally expandable microcapsules include vinylidene chloride, vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, styrene, methyl methacrylate acrylate, ethyl methacrylate acrylate, vinyl acetate, copolymers or blends thereof, etc. If necessary, a crosslinking agent may also be added to the partition wall material.
• Thermal decomposition type chemical blowing agents may also be used as blowing agents, such as organic and inorganic blowing agents.
• organic blowing agents include azo blowing agents such as azodicarbonamide (ADCA), azobisformamide, and azobisisobutyronitrile; fluorinated alkane blowing agents such as trichloromonofluoromethane; hydrazine blowing agents such as p-toluenesulfonylhydrazide, hydrazolecarbonamide, and acetone-p-sulfonylhydrazone; semicarbazide blowing agents such as p-toluenesulfonylsemicarbazide; triazole blowing agents such as 5-morpholyl-1,2,3,4-thiatriazole; N-nitroso blowing agents such as N,N-dinitrosoterephthalamide and dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine; and azide blowing agents such as p-tolu
• the average particle size of the foaming agent is preferably 0.1 to 5 times the thickness of the foamable layer.
• the average particle size of the foaming agent is, for example, 0.1 ⁇ m to 90 ⁇ m, or may be 5 ⁇ m to 30 ⁇ m. If the average particle size of the foaming agent is within the above range, the transferability of the transfer layer can be further improved by the expansion of the foamable layer.
• the average particle size of the foaming agent is the particle size at 50% cumulative value (D50) in the particle size distribution determined by laser diffraction scattering.
• the foamable layer is dissolved in a solvent to separate the foaming agent.
• the solvent is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of dissolving components other than the foaming agent contained in the foamable layer, and is selected appropriately depending on factors such as the type of resin contained in the foamable layer.
• the solvent used in the foamable layer composition used to form the foamable layer can be used.
• a Microtrac particle size analyzer manufactured by Microtrac Bell can be used as a measuring device.
• the foaming start temperature of the foaming agent may be, for example, 90°C to 200°C, 90°C to 160°C, 100°C to 200°C, or 120°C to 160°C.
• foaming start temperature of the foaming agent is within the above range, foaming of the foaming agent can be suppressed when the coating film is dried during the formation of each layer constituting the intermediate transfer medium.
• expansion of the foamable layer can be suppressed when an image is formed on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium. This suppresses the occurrence of unevenness on the surface of the transfer layer due to the expansion of the foamable layer, thereby suppressing the occurrence of unevenness and shading in the image when forming the image on the transfer layer.
• the heating temperature is relatively high during the process of forming each layer constituting the intermediate transfer medium and the process of forming an image on the transfer layer, it is believed that the foaming agent will hardly foam if the heating time is very short. Furthermore, when the foaming start temperature of the foaming agent is within the above range, deterioration of the resin contained in the foamable layer can be suppressed.
• the maximum foaming temperature of the foaming agent may be, for example, 100°C or higher and 200°C or lower, or 120°C or higher and 190°C or lower. If the maximum foaming temperature of the foaming agent is within the above range, when the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium is transferred to the transfer recipient, the foamable layer can expand sufficiently without insufficient expansion, and the transfer layer can be pressed into the concaves of the uneven transfer surface of the transfer recipient.
• the foaming initiation temperature and maximum foaming temperature of a foaming agent are determined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). Specifically, when measurements are taken using thermomechanical analysis (TMA) at a heating rate of 20°C/min and a load force of 0.06 N, with the x-axis representing temperature and the y-axis representing displacement, the temperature at which the maximum displacement occurs is the maximum foaming temperature, and the temperature at which there is a 3% displacement from the maximum displacement is the foaming initiation temperature.
• TMA thermomechanical analysis
• the foamable layer is dissolved in a solvent to separate the foaming agent. The method for separating the foaming agent from the foamable layer is as described above.
• the foaming agent content in the foamable layer is, for example, 5% by mass or more and 85% by mass or less. If the foaming agent content is within this range, the expansion of the foamable layer can further improve the transferability of the transfer layer.
• the foamable layer may generally contain a foaming agent and a resin.
• the resin is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of dispersing the foaming agent and does not prevent the foamable layer from expanding due to the foaming agent, and examples thereof include polyester resin, acrylic resin, phenol resin, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, polyimide resin, epoxy resin, cellulose resin, polyurethane resin, and polystyrene resin.
• the softening point of the resin is preferably, for example, 100°C or lower, more preferably 90°C or lower, even more preferably 85°C or lower, and particularly preferably 80°C or lower. If the softening point of the resin is within the above range, it is possible to avoid interfering with the expansion of the foamable layer by the foaming agent. On the other hand, the softening point of the resin may be, for example, 40°C or higher.
• the softening point of the resin is measured using a local thermal analysis system (Nanoscale Thermal Analysis: nanoTA). Using a scanning thermal microscope (NanoTA manufactured by Anasys), the tip of the probe is brought into contact with the cross-sectional surface of the foamable layer, the probe is heated at a heating rate of 5°C/min, and the probe displacement is measured.
• the cantilever model of the thermal probe is, for example, the EX-AN2-200. The temperature at which the probe displacement is maximum is taken as the softening point of the resin. The measurement position is changed and five measurements are taken, and the average of the five measurements is used.
• the foamable layer may contain a release agent.
• the foamable layer may contain a release agent, and when the transfer layer has a release layer on the surface of the foamable layer side as described below, the release layer may contain a release agent, or both the foamable layer and the release layer may contain a release agent.
• the foamable layer may contain an additive as needed.
• the foamable layer can expand, for example, at an expansion ratio of 2 to 25 times.
• the expansion ratio may be, for example, 2 to 15 times, or 2 to 12 times. If the expansion ratio is within the above range, the expansion of the foamable layer can further improve the transferability of the transfer layer.
• the thickness of the foamable layer is preferably 0.2 to 10 times the average particle size of the foaming agent.
• the thickness of the foamable layer may also be equal to or greater than the average particle size of the foaming agent.
• the thickness of the foamable layer is, for example, 5 ⁇ m to 90 ⁇ m, or 5 ⁇ m to 30 ⁇ m, or 5 ⁇ m to 15 ⁇ m. If the thickness of the foamable layer is within the above range, the expansion of the foamable layer can further enhance the transferability of the transfer layer.
• the thickness of each layer is the average value of the thicknesses measured at 10 arbitrary points on a cross section of the intermediate transfer medium in the thickness direction as observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
• the foamable layer 2 of this embodiment includes, in order from the substrate 1 side, a foaming agent-containing layer 2a containing a foaming agent and a release layer 2b.
• the flexibility in selecting the resin to be used for the foaming agent-containing layer is increased.
• the peelability at the interface between the foamable layer and the transfer layer can be improved.
• the foamable layer 2 may have an intermediate adhesive layer 2c between the foaming agent-containing layer 2a and the release layer 2b, as illustrated in Figure 4. This increases the adhesion between the foaming agent-containing layer and the release layer, improving the peelability at the interface between the foamable layer and the transfer layer.
• foaming Agent-Containing Layer The foaming agent and resin contained in the foaming agent-containing layer are the same as those described in the first embodiment of the foamable layer. Other aspects of the foaming agent-containing layer are also the same as those described in the first embodiment of the foamable layer.
• release layer As for the release layer, a known release layer used in a thermal transfer sheet or intermediate transfer medium for a melting type thermal transfer system or a dye sublimation type thermal transfer system can be used.
• the material of the intermediate adhesive layer is not particularly limited as long as it can improve the adhesion between the foaming agent-containing layer and the release layer, and any conventionally known material can be used.
• the thickness of the intermediate adhesive layer is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 0.1 ⁇ m or more and 5 ⁇ m or less.
• Transfer Layer constituting the intermediate transfer medium in the present disclosure is a transfer layer before image formation. After an image is formed on the transfer layer, the transfer layer is peeled off from the foamable layer after expansion during thermal transfer and transferred to a transfer recipient.
• the transfer layer has a printable surface on the side opposite the foamable layer.
• An example of a printing method is on-demand printing, which is a printing method that allows printing from digital data without using a plate.
• on-demand printing methods include thermal transfer, inkjet, and electrophotography.
• electrophotography methods include laser and LED (light-emitting diode) methods.
• the printable surface of the transfer layer is selected appropriately depending on the printing method.
• the transfer layer may have a surface onto which ink can be fixed as the printable surface, or it may have a receiving layer onto which ink can be received.
• the transfer layer has a receiving layer as the printable surface.
• the transfer layer has a surface onto which the melt-transfer colorant layer of the thermal transfer sheet can be transferred as the printable surface.
• the transfer layer may have a receiving layer as the printable surface.
• the transfer layer has a surface onto which ink can be fixed as the printable surface.
• the transfer layer may have a receiving layer as the printable surface.
• the transfer layer has a surface onto which toner can be fixed as the printable surface.
• the thermal transfer method is preferred. It produces images with high design quality.
• the dye-sublimation thermal transfer method enables printing with high gradation and a wide color reproduction range.
• the melting thermal transfer method makes it possible to transfer highly light-resistant color materials, and also allows for printing with metallic and pearlescent tones.
• the transfer layer 3 may have a release layer 12 on the surface facing the foamable layer 2. This can improve the release of the transfer layer from the foamable layer after expansion during thermal transfer.
• the transfer layer 3 may have a protective layer 13 on the surface facing the foamable layer 2.
• a protective layer on the outermost surface of the transfer layer facing the foamable layer, the image formed on the transfer layer after transfer can be protected and the durability of the image can be improved.
• the release layer may also serve as the protective layer.
• the transfer layer 3 has a receiving layer 11 on the side opposite the foamable layer 2.
• the transfer layer 3 may have, in order from the foamable layer 2 side, a release layer 12 and a receiving layer 11, or a protective layer 13 and a receiving layer 11.
• the release layer may also serve as a protective layer.
• the transfer layer may have a receptor layer that receives ink, if necessary.
• a dye-sublimation thermal transfer system an image is formed on a receiving layer from a thermal transfer sheet containing a dye-sublimation transfer colorant layer by thermal transfer.
• the transfer layer on which the image of the intermediate transfer medium is formed is then transferred to a receiving material, resulting in a printed image.
• the receiving layer can be made of any conventional resin material that readily accepts thermally transferable colorants such as sublimation dyes.
• Examples include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and polyacrylic esters, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymer resins of olefins such as ethylene or propylene with other vinyl polymers, cellulose resins such as ionomers or cellulose diastase, and polycarbonates.
• vinyl chloride resins, acrylic-styrene resins, and polyester resins are preferred. Resin materials may be used alone or in combination.
• a swelling type receiving layer or a porous type receiving layer can be used as the receiving layer that receives the ink, as needed.
• the receiving layer itself does not necessarily need to be adhesive.
• the receiving layer when a transfer layer containing a receiving layer on which an image has been formed is transferred to a receiving body without a heat seal layer, it is preferable that the receiving layer contain a resin material with adhesive properties, such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer.
• the receiving layer may contain various additives as needed.
• the receiving layer can be formed by preparing a receiving layer composition by dissolving or dispersing the above-mentioned resin material and, if necessary, additives in an appropriate solvent such as water or an organic solvent, and then applying and drying the receiving layer composition.
• application methods include conventionally known application methods such as gravure printing, screen printing, or reverse coating using a gravure plate.
• the thickness of the receiving layer is, for example, 1 ⁇ m or more and 10 ⁇ m or less.
• the transfer layer may have a release layer on the surface facing the foamable layer.
• the release layer is an optional layer that constitutes the transfer layer and is transferred to a transfer-receiving material during thermal transfer.
• the release layer can improve the release of the transfer layer from the foamable layer after expansion during thermal transfer.
• the release layer also serves as a protective layer (described later)
• the durability of the print formed using the intermediate transfer medium can be improved.
• the transfer layer has a release layer and a protective layer in this order from the foamable layer side, the durability of the print can be further improved.
• thermoplastic resins such as cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, and cellulose acetate; acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and polybutyl acrylate; and vinyl copolymers such as polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyvinyl butyral.
• thermosetting resins such as saturated or unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethane resins, thermally crosslinkable epoxy-amino resins, and aminoalkyd resins.
• silicone wax silicone resins, silicone-modified resins, fluororesins, fluoro-modified resins, and polyvinyl alcohol. These materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
• the release layer may contain a filler, which can improve the peelability of the foil.
• the release layer can be formed by dispersing or dissolving the above materials in a solvent to prepare a release layer composition, and then applying and drying the release layer composition.
• application methods include conventionally known application methods such as roll coating, gravure coating, and bar coating.
• the thickness of the release layer is, for example, from 0.1 ⁇ m to 5 ⁇ m, and may be from 0.5 ⁇ m to 2 ⁇ m.
• the transfer layer may have a protective layer on the surface on the foamable layer side.
• the protective layer is an optional layer that constitutes the transfer layer and is transferred to a transfer-receiving material during thermal transfer.
• the protective layer can improve the durability of a print formed using the intermediate transfer medium, specifically, its abrasion resistance and plasticizer resistance.
• the material for the protective layer is not particularly limited, and conventionally known materials can be used. Examples include polyester, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, ultraviolet absorbing resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene, polyurethane, acrylic urethane resin, silicone-modified resins of these resins, mixtures of these resins, ionizing radiation-curable resins, and ultraviolet absorbing resins.
• the protective layer may contain a filler, which can improve foil tearability.
• the protective layer can be formed by dissolving or dispersing the above materials in an appropriate solvent to prepare a protective layer composition, and then applying and drying the protective layer composition.
• application methods include conventionally known application methods such as gravure printing, screen printing, or reverse coating using a gravure plate.
• the thickness of the protective layer is, for example, 2 ⁇ m or more and 30 ⁇ m or less.
• the substrate is a member that supports the transfer layer and the foamable layer.
• the substrate is not particularly limited, and a resin film can be used.
• resins that constitute the resin film include polyester, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyamide, and polymethylpentene.
• polyesters include polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate.
• the resin film may be a stretched film or an unstretched film.
• the resin film may be a single-layer film or a composite film formed by laminating two or more layers of films containing the above resins.
• the substrate may also be a resin film containing voids therein.
• the thickness of the substrate is preferably somewhat thick from the standpoints of ease of peeling the intermediate transfer medium from the intermediate transfer medium with release member described below, ease of handling after peeling the intermediate transfer medium from the intermediate transfer medium with release member until installation in the thermal transfer device (press machine), heat resistance to the heat source, suppression of curling, and prevention of folding and wrinkling during operation.
• the thickness of the substrate is selected appropriately depending on the type of resin so as to obtain the desired strength, heat resistance, etc.
• the thickness of the substrate may be, for example, 1 ⁇ m or more, or 3 ⁇ m or more, preferably 20 ⁇ m or more, and more preferably 30 ⁇ m or more.
• the thickness of the substrate may be, for example, 500 ⁇ m or less, or may be 400 ⁇ m or less, or may be 200 ⁇ m or less, or may be 100 ⁇ m or less.
• the thickness of the substrate may be 1 ⁇ m or more and 500 ⁇ m or less, 3 ⁇ m or more and 500 ⁇ m or less, 3 ⁇ m or more and 400 ⁇ m or less, 20 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less, 30 ⁇ m or more and 100 ⁇ m or less, or 1 ⁇ m or more and 100 ⁇ m or less.
• the intermediate transfer medium 10 of the present disclosure may have a first adhesive layer 4 between the substrate 1 and the foamable layer 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
• the first adhesive layer can improve the adhesion between the substrate and the foamable layer. This can improve the peelability of the transfer layer from the expanded foamable layer during thermal transfer.
• the material for the first adhesive layer is not particularly limited as long as it can improve the adhesion between the substrate and the foamable layer, and any conventionally known material can be used.
• the thickness of the first adhesive layer is not particularly limited, and is, for example, between 0.1 ⁇ m and 5 ⁇ m.
• the intermediate transfer medium with releasing member according to the present disclosure has the intermediate transfer medium described above and a releasing member disposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium facing the substrate.
• FIG. 6(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate transfer medium with a release member according to the present disclosure.
• the intermediate transfer medium with a release member 30 has an intermediate transfer medium 10 and a release member 31 arranged on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10 facing the substrate 1.
• the intermediate transfer medium with release member disclosed herein has the intermediate transfer medium described above, and therefore exhibits the same effects as the intermediate transfer medium described above.
• the release member in the present disclosure is disposed on the substrate-side surface of the intermediate transfer medium.
• the release member is disposed on the intermediate transfer medium when an image is formed on the transfer layer, and is a member that is peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium before the transfer layer is transferred to the transfer recipient.
• the release member 31 may be a single layer.
• the release member 31 may have multiple layers, for example, a resin layer 33 and a support 32, in that order from the substrate 1 side.
• the dynamic friction coefficients of both surfaces of the release member 5 may be 0.3 or more and 0.9 or less. This is because this improves the printer's transport suitability when forming an image on the transfer layer. Examples of such release members include those described in Japanese Patent No. 7120472.
• the support may be a single layer or multiple layers.
• the support may be in contact with the intermediate transfer medium.
• the support it is preferable that the support be one that allows the dynamic friction coefficients of both surfaces of the release member to be 0.3 or more and 0.9 or less.
• the support 32 may be in contact with a resin layer 32.
• the resin layer can improve the adhesion between the intermediate transfer medium and the release member. In this case, the surface of the resin layer facing the intermediate transfer medium becomes the surface of the release member, and the surface of the support opposite the resin layer becomes the back surface of the release member.
• the support may be a resin substrate or a paper substrate.
• Resin substrate materials include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyimide, polyetherimide, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, nylon, polyether ether ketone, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride.
• Paper substrates include condenser paper, glassine paper, parchment paper, synthetic paper, wood-free paper, art paper, coated paper, uncoated paper, cast-coated paper, wallpaper, cellulose fiber paper, synthetic resin-impregnated paper, backing paper, and impregnated paper (synthetic resin-impregnated paper, emulsion-impregnated paper, synthetic rubber latex-impregnated paper).
• the support may include multiple resin substrates. Alternatively, the support may include multiple paper substrates. Alternatively, the support may include one or more resin substrates and one or more paper substrates.
• the support may be adhesively treated on the surface facing the resin layer.
• adhesive treatments include corona discharge treatment, flame treatment, ozone treatment, ultraviolet treatment, radiation treatment, surface roughening treatment, chemical treatment, plasma treatment, low-temperature plasma treatment, and grafting treatment.
• the support may also be adhesively treated on the surface opposite the resin layer.
• primer treatment includes a form in which a primer layer is provided on the surface of the support facing the resin layer.
• the release member may include a void layer.
• void layers include films with internal voids. Voids are also called microvoids or holes. Films with internal voids may be resin substrates. Examples of void layers include those produced by kneading inorganic particles into a polymer and then creating voids using the inorganic particles as nuclei when the mixture is stretched, and those produced by mixing one or more incompatible polymers with the main resin and creating voids when the mixture is stretched.
• the release member may have a laminated structure in which a support, a void layer, and a resin layer are laminated in this order.
• the release member may also have a laminated structure in which a void layer, a support, a void layer, and a resin layer are laminated in this order.
• the thickness of the intermediate transfer medium with a release member is, for example, 50 ⁇ m or more and 1500 ⁇ m or less, preferably 100 ⁇ m or more and 300 ⁇ m or less, and more preferably 150 ⁇ m or more and 250 ⁇ m or less. Having the thickness of the intermediate transfer medium with a release member within the above range improves the printer's transport suitability when forming an image on the transfer layer.
• the thickness of the release member there are no particular restrictions on the thickness of the release member, but it is preferable to set the thickness of the intermediate transfer medium with the release member to the thickness described above, taking into consideration the thickness of the intermediate transfer medium, etc. The same applies to the thickness of the resin layer and the thickness of the support.
• the combination of this embodiment is a combination of the intermediate transfer medium described above and a thermal transfer sheet, in which the thermal transfer sheet has a colorant layer.
• the above-mentioned intermediate transfer medium is a transfer sheet before an image is formed on the transfer layer, and is an image-forming sheet. Therefore, the above-mentioned intermediate transfer medium can be used in combination with a thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer for forming an image.
• Intermediate Transfer Medium The intermediate transfer medium is the same as that described above in "A. Intermediate Transfer Medium.” Furthermore, the intermediate transfer medium may be the one with the release member described above.
• Thermal Transfer Sheet has a thermal transfer sheet 20A having a color material layer 22, as shown in FIG.
• the thermal transfer sheet may be a thermal transfer sheet 20C having a support 21c, colorant layers 22 (yellow colorant layer 22Y, magenta colorant layer 22M, cyan colorant layer 22C) and a heat seal layer 23 arranged on the same surface of the support 21c, as shown in Figure 7(c), or may be a thermal transfer sheet 20A having a colorant layer 22 as shown in Figure 7(a) and a thermal transfer sheet 20B having a heat seal layer 23 as shown in Figure 7(b).
• the thermal transfer sheet may also be a thermal transfer sheet 20D having a support 21d, colorant layers 22 (yellow colorant layer 22Y, magenta colorant layer 22M, cyan colorant layer 22C) arranged on the same surface of the support 21d, a concealing layer 24, and a heat seal layer 23, as shown in FIG. 7(d). It may also have a thermal transfer sheet 20C having a support 21c, colorant layers 22, and a heat seal layer 23 arranged on the same surface of the support 21c, as shown in FIG. 7(c), and a thermal transfer sheet 20E having a concealing layer 24, as shown in FIG. 7(e). It may also have a thermal transfer sheet 20A having a colorant layer 22, as shown in FIG. 7(a), a thermal transfer sheet 20B having a heat seal layer 23, as shown in FIG. 7(b), and a thermal transfer sheet 20E having a concealing layer 24, as shown in FIG. 7(e).
• the colorant layer is a layer for forming an image on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium.
• the colorant layer may be a sublimation transfer type colorant layer to which the colorant contained in the colorant layer is transferred, or a melt transfer type colorant layer to which the colorant layer itself is transferred.
• the thermal transfer sheet may have both a sublimation transfer type colorant layer and a melt transfer type colorant layer.
• the sublimation transfer colorant layer contains a colorant and a binder resin.
• a sublimation dye is used as the colorant.
• the colorant and binder resin contained in the sublimation transfer colorant layer can be any known material used in sublimation transfer colorant layers of thermal transfer sheets.
• the melt-transfer colorant layer contains a colorant and a binder resin.
• the colorant may be a pigment or a dye.
• the colorant and binder resin contained in the melt-transfer colorant layer can be any known material used in melt-transfer colorant layers of thermal transfer sheets.
• the thermal transfer sheet may have one colorant layer on one side of the support, or may have multiple colorant layers of different hues arranged in face sequence. Examples of multiple colorant layers include a yellow colorant layer, a magenta colorant layer, and a cyan colorant layer.
• the support is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a resin film.
• a resin film a known resin film used for a thermal transfer sheet may be used.
• the heat-sealing layer is a layer that melts or softens when heated and is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium.
• the heat-sealing layer is a layer that bonds the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium, on which an image is formed, to the transferee.
• the material of the heat-sealing layer can be any known material used for the heat-sealing layer of a thermal transfer sheet.
• a release layer may be disposed between the support and the heat seal layer.
• the release layer can improve the releasability of the heat seal layer.
• the release layer is a layer that remains on the thermal transfer sheet when the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet is transferred to the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium.
• the material of the release layer can be any known material used for the release layer of a thermal transfer sheet.
• the thermal transfer sheet may have a peel-off layer.
• the peel-off layer is a layer for removing a part of the transfer layer on which the image of the intermediate transfer medium is formed.
• the material of the peel-off layer can be any known material used for the peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet.
• the thermal transfer sheet may have a block layer.
• the block layer is a layer that is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium, and functions as a masking member when transferring the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient, preventing part of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium from being transferred to the transfer recipient.
• the material for the block layer can be a known material used for the block layer of a thermal transfer sheet. Examples of the block layer include the block layers described in Patent Publication WO 2019/151378.
• the thermal transfer sheet may have a back layer on the side of the support opposite to the colorant layer.
• the back layer can suppress fusion with a thermal head or the like during thermal transfer and improve slipperiness.
• the material for the back layer can be any known material used for the back layer of a thermal transfer sheet.
• the thermal transfer sheet may have a concealing layer.
• the concealing layer is a layer that is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium. Furthermore, when the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which an image has been formed is transferred to a transfer recipient, the concealing layer is disposed between the transfer recipient and the image, and serves to conceal the color of the transfer recipient.
• the material for the concealing layer can be any known material used for the concealing layer of a thermal transfer sheet.
• the heat seal layer may contain a material for the concealing layer, and the heat seal layer may also serve as the concealing layer.
• the combination of this embodiment is a combination of the above-described intermediate transfer medium, thermal transfer sheet, and transfer receiving material, in which the thermal transfer sheet has a colorant layer.
• the intermediate transfer medium described above is a transfer sheet before an image is formed on the transfer layer, and is an image-forming sheet. Therefore, the intermediate transfer medium described above can be used in combination with a thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer for forming an image, and a transfer-receiving material.
• Intermediate Transfer Medium The intermediate transfer medium is the same as that described above in "A. Intermediate Transfer Medium.” Furthermore, the intermediate transfer medium may be the one with the release member described above.
• Thermal Transfer Sheet The thermal transfer sheet is the same as that described above in "C. Combination of intermediate transfer medium and thermal transfer sheet.”
• the transfer layer on which the image of the intermediate transfer medium is formed is transferred to the receiving surface of the receiving material, thereby obtaining a printed product.
• the receiving material is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the receiving surface has unevenness.
• Examples of materials to be transferred include paper, cloth, and wood. Of these, cloth is preferred. Generally, cloth has a greater surface roughness than paper. As described above, in this disclosure, good transferability can be achieved even when the surface roughness of the material to be transferred is high. Therefore, this disclosure is useful when the material to be transferred is cloth. Examples of cloth include woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, knitted fabric, lace, felt, tufted fabric, and the like. Furthermore, when cloth is used, the material to be transferred may be a fabric (material) or a cloth product. The cloth product may be any product made from the above-mentioned cloth, with woven fabric products and nonwoven fabric products being preferred. In this specification, cloth fabrics (materials) and cloth products are collectively referred to as textiles.
• the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer surface of the transfer object is, for example, preferably 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less, more preferably 1.2 ⁇ m or more and 150 ⁇ m or less, and even more preferably 1.5 ⁇ m or more and 100 ⁇ m or less.
• the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer surface of the transfer object is, for example, preferably 8 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less, more preferably 10 ⁇ m or more and 150 ⁇ m or less, and even more preferably 15 ⁇ m or more and 100 ⁇ m or less.
• good transferability can be achieved even when the surface roughness of the transfer object is high. Therefore, this disclosure is useful when the transfer surface Sa of the transfer object is relatively high, as described above.
• the maximum height Sz of the transfer surface of the transfer recipient is preferably, for example, 200 ⁇ m or more and 900 ⁇ m or less, and more preferably 250 ⁇ m or more and 800 ⁇ m or less.
• the foaming agent in the foamable layer foams and expands, causing the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium to be pressed against the transfer recipient. If Sz of the transfer surface of the transfer recipient is within the above range, adhesion between the concave portions of the uneven transfer surface of the transfer recipient and the transfer layer will be good.
• the arithmetic mean curvature Spc of the peaks of the transfer surface of the transferee is preferably, for example, 2000 [1/mm] or more and 12000 [1/mm] or less, and more preferably 4000 [1/mm] or more and 9000 [1/mm] or less.
• Spc represents the average principal curvature of the peaks of the surface.
• a small Spc indicates that the point of contact with another object is rounded.
• a large Spc indicates that the point of contact with another object is sharp.
• the surface of the transferee feels smooth.
• the foaming agent in the foamable layer foams, causing the foamable layer to expand.
• the developed area ratio Sdr of the interface of the transfer surface of the transfer recipient is preferably, for example, 5 or more and 100 or less, and more preferably 12 or more and 65 or less. Sdr represents how much the developed area (surface area) of a defined area increases relative to the area of the defined area.
• the Sdr of a completely flat surface is 0. Furthermore, Sdr increases when the surface is inclined.
• the foaming agent in the foamable layer foams and expands, and when the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium is pressed against the transfer recipient, if the Sdr of the interface of the transfer surface of the transfer recipient is within the above range, adhesion between the concave portions of the uneven transfer surface of the transfer recipient and the transfer layer is improved, and image deformation can be suppressed.
• the arithmetic mean height Sa, maximum height Sz, arithmetic mean curvature Spc of the peaks, and developed surface area ratio Sdr of the transferred object's surface are measured using a laser microscope in accordance with ISO 25178:2012. Detailed measurement conditions are described in the Examples.
• the printed material in the present disclosure has three embodiments, which will be described below separately.
• the printed matter of this embodiment is a printed matter having a transfer recipient and a transfer layer having an image disposed on the transfer recipient surface of the transfer recipient, wherein the transfer recipient is fabric, and the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer layer on the surface opposite to the transfer recipient is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a printed object of this embodiment.
• printed object 50 has a transfer recipient 51 and a transfer layer 3 that is placed on the transfer recipient surface of transfer recipient 51 and has an image 25.
• Transfer recipient 51 is fabric.
• the surface Sa of transfer layer 3 on the side opposite to transfer recipient 51 is within a predetermined range.
• the print of this embodiment can be produced using the intermediate transfer medium described above. Therefore, it achieves the same effects as the intermediate transfer medium described above.
• the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer layer on the surface opposite to the transfer target is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• the ratio of Sa2/Sa1 is not particularly limited, but is preferably Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.05, more preferably Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.10, even more preferably Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.20, and even more preferably Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.25. If the ratio of Sa2/Sa1 is within the above range, the transfer layer is transferred without damaging the texture of the transfer object, resulting in a printed product with a highly aesthetic design.
• the arithmetic mean height Sa1 of the surface of the transfer object in the area where the transfer layer is not located, and the arithmetic mean height Sa2 of the surface of the transfer layer opposite the transfer object, are measured using a laser microscope in accordance with ISO 25178:2012. Detailed measurement conditions are described in the Examples.
• the transfer layer have an uneven shape on the side opposite the transferee that differs from the shape of the transferee and from the shapes of the layers constituting the transfer layer other than the layer located on the side opposite the transferee.
• the print of this embodiment is produced using the intermediate transfer medium described above. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9(a), when the transfer layer 3 on which the image 25 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is formed is transferred to the transfer surface of the transferee 51 while expanding the foamable layer 2 by applying heat and pressure, an uneven shape resulting from the expanded foamable layer 2 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 facing the expanded foamable layer 2.
• the transfer layer 3 has an uneven shape on the side opposite the transferee 51 that differs from the shape of the transferee 51 and from the shapes of the layers constituting the transfer layer 3 other than the layer located on the side opposite the transferee.
• the image 25 may be formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3, or may be formed by transferring colorant into the transfer layer 3, but the colorant is not transferred to the transferee 51 during transfer.
• the uneven shape on the surface of the transfer layer opposite the transfer target is observed using a laser microscope.
• the measurement conditions are the same as those for Sa above.
• the transfer layer has an image.
• the image is preferably formed by an on-demand printing method.
• the printing method is the same as that described above in "A. Intermediate transfer medium 2.
• Transfer layer The image is a thermal transfer image in the case of a thermal transfer method, a toner image in the case of an electrophotographic method, or an ink image in the case of an inkjet method.
• the transfer layer may also have a release layer on the surface opposite the transfer recipient.
• this can improve the release of the transfer layer from the foamable layer after expansion during thermal transfer.
• the transfer layer may also have a protective layer on the surface opposite the transfer target.
• the protective layer protects the image on the transfer layer and improves the durability of the image.
• the release layer may also serve as the protective layer.
• the transfer layer is the same as described above in "A. Intermediate transfer medium 2. Transfer layer,” except that the transfer layer has an image.
• Receiver The receiver in this embodiment is a cloth. The details regarding the cloth are the same as those described above in "D. Combination of intermediate transfer medium, thermal transfer sheet, and receiver.”
• the receiver is preferably a textile.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may have a heat seal layer between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may also have a concealing layer between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may also have a heat seal layer and a concealing layer, in this order from the transfer recipient side, between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the heat seal layer and the concealing layer are the same as those described above in "C. Combination of intermediate transfer medium and thermal transfer sheet.”
• the printed material of this embodiment is preferably produced by the method for producing a printed material described below.
• the printed matter of this embodiment is a printed matter having a transfer recipient and a transfer layer having an image disposed on the transfer recipient surface of the transfer recipient, wherein the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer recipient surface of the transfer recipient is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less, and the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer layer on the surface opposite to the transfer recipient is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a printed object of this embodiment.
• printed object 50 has a transfer recipient 51 and a transfer layer 3 that is placed on the transfer recipient surface of transfer recipient 51 and has an image 25.
• the Sa of the transfer recipient surface of transfer recipient 51 is within a predetermined range, and the Sa of the surface of transfer layer 3 opposite to transfer recipient 51 is also within a predetermined range.
• the print of this embodiment can be produced using the intermediate transfer medium described above. Therefore, it achieves the same effects as the intermediate transfer medium described above.
• Transfer Layer The transfer layer in this embodiment is the same as the transfer layer in the first embodiment of the print.
• the arithmetic mean height Sa of the receiving surface of the receiving body is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• the arithmetic mean height Sa of the receiving surface of the receiving body and the surface properties of the receiving surface of the receiving body are the same as those described above in "D. Combination of intermediate transfer medium, thermal transfer sheet, and receiving body, 3. Receiving body.”
• the transfer recipient is not particularly limited as long as it has the above-mentioned surface properties, but it is preferably cloth. The same applies to cloth as described above in "D. Combination of intermediate transfer medium, thermal transfer sheet, and transfer recipient.” It is preferable that the transfer recipient be a textile.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may have a heat seal layer between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may also have a concealing layer between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may also have a heat seal layer and a concealing layer, in this order from the transfer recipient side, between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the heat seal layer and the concealing layer are the same as those described above in "C. Combination of intermediate transfer medium and thermal transfer sheet.”
• the printed material of this embodiment is preferably produced by the method for producing a printed material described below.
• the printed matter of this embodiment is a printed matter having a transfer recipient and a transfer layer having an image disposed on the transfer recipient surface of the transfer recipient, in which Sa2/Sa1 is ⁇ 0.05, where Sa1 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer recipient in an area where the transfer layer is not disposed, and Sa2 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer layer opposite to the transfer recipient.
• Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a printed object of this embodiment.
• printed object 50 has a transferee 51 and a transfer layer 3 that is disposed on the transfer surface of transferee 51 and has an image 25.
• the print of this embodiment can be produced using the intermediate transfer medium described above. Therefore, it achieves the same effects as the intermediate transfer medium described above.
• Transfer Layer when the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer object in the area where the transfer layer is not disposed is Sa1 and the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer layer opposite the transfer object is Sa2, the transfer layer satisfies Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.05, and is the same as the transfer layer in the first embodiment of the printed matter described above.
• Receiver The receiver is the same as that described above in "D. Combination of intermediate transfer medium, thermal transfer sheet and receiver, 3. Receiver.”
• the printed matter of this embodiment may have a heat seal layer between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may also have a concealing layer between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the printed matter of this embodiment may also have a heat seal layer and a concealing layer, in this order from the transfer recipient side, between the transfer recipient and the transfer layer bearing the image.
• the heat seal layer and the concealing layer are the same as those described above in "C. Combination of intermediate transfer medium and thermal transfer sheet.”
• the printed material of this embodiment is preferably produced by the method for producing a printed material described below.
• a method for manufacturing a printed product in the present disclosure includes a preparation step of preparing an intermediate transfer medium having, in this order, a substrate, a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer, an image formation step of forming an image on a surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium, a transfer step of placing the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed, opposite a transfer surface of a transfer recipient, and applying heat and pressure to expand the foamable layer while transferring the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed, to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient, and a peeling step of peeling the substrate and the expanded foamable layer from the transfer layer transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient.
• FIG. 2(a) to 2(c) and 3(a) to 3(b) are process diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• an intermediate transfer medium 10 is prepared.
• the intermediate transfer medium 10 is similar to the intermediate transfer medium 10 shown in FIG. 1 above.
• an image 25 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10.
• the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the image 25 has been formed is placed opposite the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• FIG. 2(c) the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the image 25 has been formed is placed opposite the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• an intermediate transfer medium having a substrate, a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer in this order is prepared.
• the intermediate transfer medium is the same as that described above in "A. Intermediate Transfer Medium.”
• an image is formed on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium.
• the image is preferably formed by an on-demand printing method.
• the on-demand printing method is the same as that described above in "A. Intermediate Transfer Medium.”
• thermal transfer sheet In the case of the thermal transfer method, a thermal transfer sheet is used. The details regarding the thermal transfer sheet are the same as those described above in "C. Combination of intermediate transfer medium and thermal transfer sheet.”
• Transfer Step In the transfer step, the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed is placed opposite the transfer surface of a transfer recipient, and heat and pressure are applied to expand the foamable layer, while the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed is transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient.
• the heating and pressure conditions are set appropriately depending on the type of foaming agent, the material of the transfer layer, etc.
• the heating temperature is preferably higher than the foaming start temperature of the foaming agent, more preferably within ⁇ 45°C of the maximum foaming temperature of the foaming agent, and even more preferably within ⁇ 30°C of the maximum foaming temperature of the foaming agent.
• the heating temperature is preferably 80°C or higher and 200°C or lower, more preferably 85°C or higher and 185°C or lower, and even more preferably 90°C or higher and 170°C or lower.
• the heating time is, for example, preferably 15 seconds or higher and 6 minutes or lower, more preferably 30 seconds or higher and 6 minutes or lower, even more preferably 30 seconds or higher and 4 minutes or lower, and may be 1 minute or higher and 4 minutes or lower.
• pressurization method There are no particular restrictions on the pressurization method, as long as it is a method that allows pressure to be applied while heating.
• the pressure application conditions are adjusted appropriately to suit the conditions for transferring the transfer layer to the transfer-receiving material. Heat rolls, laminators, irons, heat presses, heated drums, etc. may be used for heating and pressure application.
• the transfer medium is the same as described above in "D. Combination of intermediate transfer medium, thermal transfer sheet, and transfer medium.”
• the substrate and the expanded foamable layer are peeled from the transfer layer transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer-receiving material, thereby obtaining a printed matter.
• the method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure may include, between the image formation step and the transfer step, a removal step in which a peel-off layer is heat-pressurized onto the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium, and then a part of the transfer layer is removed by the peel-off layer.
• FIG. 10(a) to 10(d) are process diagrams illustrating the image formation process and removal process in the method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• a thermal transfer sheet 10F is prepared.
• the thermal transfer sheet 20F has a support 21f, colorant layers 22 (yellow colorant layer 22Y, magenta colorant layer 22M, cyan colorant layer 22C) arranged on the same surface of the support 21f, and a peel-off layer 26.
• the peel-off layer 26 is a layer for removing a portion of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium.
• an image 25 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 using the colorant layer 22 of the thermal transfer sheet 20F.
• the thermal transfer sheet 20F and the intermediate transfer medium 10 are overlapped so that the surface of the peel-off layer 26 of the thermal transfer sheet 20F contacts the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium.
• the thermal transfer sheet 20F is locally heated by the thermal head 29 from the surface side of the support 21f of the thermal transfer sheet 20F, and the surface of the peel-off layer 26 of the thermal transfer sheet 20F is pressed against the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium by the thermal head 29 and a platen roller (not shown).
• the heat-pressed portion 26A of the peel-off layer 26 adheres closely to the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10, so that the portion 26A of the peel-off layer 26 adheres to the transfer layer 3. Meanwhile, the other portions of the peel-off layer 26 other than the portion 26A are not heat-pressed to the transfer layer 3 and therefore do not adhere to the transfer layer 3.
• the thermal transfer sheet 20F is peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium 10, thereby removing the portion 3A of the transfer layer 3 corresponding to the portion 26A of the peel-off layer 26.
• the foamable layer 2 and the transfer layer 3 are peelable from each other on the intermediate transfer medium 10, so the foamable layer 2 remains on the intermediate transfer medium 10.
• the portion 3A of the transfer layer 3 corresponding to the portion 26A of the peel-off layer 26 may be located in an area on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 where the image 25 is not formed, or in an area where transfer to the transfer recipient is not desired.
• a transfer step (not shown), the portion 3B of the transfer layer 3 that was not removed in the removal step is transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient.
• a melt layer formation process may be performed between the image formation process and the removal process to form a melt layer on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium in the removal area where the transfer layer will be removed.
• the removal area can be removed cleanly in the removal process.
• the melting layer is not particularly limited as long as it melts or softens when heated and can be formed on the transfer layer.
• a heat seal layer or a melt-transfer colorant layer can be used.
• the molten layer only needs to be formed in at least a portion of the removal area.
• the molten layer may be formed in an area narrower than the removal area, in the same area as the removal area, or in an area wider than the removal area.
• the molten layer may also be formed in a pattern.
• the thermal transfer sheet is not limited to the thermal transfer sheet 20F described above.
• a thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer disposed on one side of a support and a thermal transfer sheet having a peel-off layer disposed on one side of a support may be used in combination.
• a thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer, a heat seal layer, and a peel-off layer disposed in surface order on one side of a support may be used, or a thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer, a melt-transfer colorant layer, and a peel-off layer disposed in surface order on one side of a support may be used.
• Block Layer Forming Step The method for producing a print according to the present disclosure may include, between the image forming step and the transfer step, a block layer forming step of forming a block layer in an area on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium where no image is formed.
• FIGS. 11(a) to 11(d) and 12(a) to 12(b) are process diagrams illustrating the image formation process, block formation process, transfer process, and peeling process in the print manufacturing method of the present disclosure.
• a thermal transfer sheet 10G is prepared.
• the thermal transfer sheet 20G has a support 21g, colorant layers 22 (yellow colorant layer 22Y, magenta colorant layer 22M, cyan colorant layer 22C) and a block layer 27 arranged on the same surface of the support 21g.
• an image 25 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 using the colorant layer 22 of the thermal transfer sheet 20G.
• the thermal transfer sheet 20G and the intermediate transfer medium 10 are superimposed so that the surface of the block layer 27 of the thermal transfer sheet 20G faces the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium.
• the thermal transfer sheet 20G is locally heated by the thermal head 29 from the surface of the support 21g of the thermal transfer sheet 20G.
• the portion 27A of the block layer 27 is located in an area of the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 where the image 25 is not formed.
• the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the transferee 51 are superimposed so that the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 faces the transfer-receiving surface of the transferee 51.
• the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the transfer-receiving surface 51 are heated and pressurized.
• the foaming agent in the foamable layer 2 foams, causing the foamable layer 2 to expand, thereby transferring the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the transfer-receiving surface of the transferee 51.
• the block layer 27A transferred onto the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 functions as a masking member, and only the portion 3C of the transfer layer 3 that does not overlap with the block layer 27A is transferred onto the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the thermal transfer sheet is not limited to the thermal transfer sheet 20G described above.
• a thermal transfer sheet having a color material layer disposed on one side of the support and a thermal transfer sheet having a block layer disposed on one side of the support may be used in combination.
• a thermal transfer sheet having a color material layer, heat seal layer, and block layer disposed in face-sequential order on one side of the support may be used.
• the method for producing a print product according to the present disclosure may include a second adhesive layer forming step, between the image forming step and the transfer step, of forming a second adhesive layer on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium in the region where the image is formed.
• the transfer layer is transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient via the second adhesive layer, thereby increasing the adhesion of the transfer layer.
• FIG. 13(a) to 13(c) and 14(a) to 14(b) are process diagrams illustrating the image formation process, second colored layer formation process, transfer process, and peeling process in the method for producing a printed matter according to the present disclosure.
• an image 25 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10.
• a second adhesive layer 28 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 in the area where the image 25 is formed.
• FIG. 13(c) the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the transferee 51 are superimposed so that the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 faces the transfer surface of the transferee 51.
• the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the transferee 51 are heated and pressurized.
• the foaming agent in the foamable layer 2 foams and the foamable layer 2 expands, transferring the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51 via the second adhesive layer 28.
• the substrate 1 and the expanded foamable layer 2 are peeled off from the transfer layer 3 transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the expanded foamable layer 2 and the transfer layer 3 are peeled off, and only the transfer layer 3 is transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient 51.
• the second adhesive layer 28 may be formed only in the area where the image 25 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10.
• the second adhesive layer 28 may be formed in an area that is slightly larger than the area where the image 25 is formed on the surface of the transfer layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10. In either case, in the transfer process, only the portion of the transfer layer that overlaps the second adhesive layer is transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient.
• the distance d from the edge of the area where the image is formed to the edge of the second adhesive layer is selected appropriately depending on the size of the area where the image is formed, the printer, the application, etc., but may be, for example, 30 ⁇ m or more and 450 ⁇ m or less. Specifically, the distance d may be 1 dot or more and 5 dots or less in a 300 dpi or 600 dpi printer, or may be 1 dot or 2 dots. In this way, by forming the second adhesive layer in an area slightly larger than the area where the image is formed, it is possible to tolerate image misalignment during transfer.
• the heat seal layer described above can be used as the second adhesive layer.
• Image-bearing intermediate transfer medium The image-bearing intermediate transfer medium of the present disclosure has the above-described intermediate transfer medium, and the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium bears an image.
• the image-bearing intermediate transfer medium of the present disclosure is obtained after the image formation step in the above-described method for producing a print.
• Example 1 (1) Preparation of intermediate transfer medium A polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 38 ⁇ m was used as a substrate.
• the adhesive layer composition 1 having the following composition was applied to the substrate by gravure coating, and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form an adhesive layer having a thickness of 0.5 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Adhesive layer composition 1> 30 parts of urethane-modified copolymer polyester resin (Vylon UR1400, manufactured by Toyobo MC Co., Ltd.) Solvent (toluene/MEK 1/1) 70 parts
• a release layer composition 1 having the following composition was applied to the foamable layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 2.0 ⁇ m, which also served as a protective layer.
• a receiving layer composition 1 having the following composition was applied onto the release layer and dried to form a receiving layer having a thickness of 2 ⁇ m, thereby obtaining a transfer layer having a release layer and a receiving layer.
• thermal transfer sheet was prepared by processing an 8 x 10 inch dye ribbon of "Pure Premium Digital” media for the dye-sublimation digital photo printer "DP-DS820" manufactured by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
• the colorant layer used was a Ye, Mg, and Cy panel as is.
• the protective layer (OP) of the ribbon was replaced with a configuration consisting of a back layer, a support, a release layer, and a heat seal layer, as shown below.
• a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 5 ⁇ m was used as a support, and a composition for a back layer having the following composition was applied onto the support and dried to form a back layer having a thickness of 1 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Coating liquid for back layer Polyvinyl acetal 36 parts (S-LEC KS-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Isocyanate compound 25 parts (Burnoc D750, manufactured by DIC Corporation) ⁇ Silicone resin microparticles 1 part (Tospearl 240, manufactured by Momentive Performance Materials Japan LLC) Zinc stearyl phosphate 10 parts (purified LBT1830, manufactured by Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Zinc stearate 10 parts (SZ-PF, manufactured by Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 3 parts polyethylene wax (Polywax 3000, manufactured by Toyo ADL Co., Ltd.) Ethoxylated alcohol-modified wax 7 parts (
• a release layer composition having the following composition was applied by gravure coating to the surface of the support opposite to the back layer, and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 0.25 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Release layer composition > 1 part polyvinyl alcohol (Poval 27-96, manufactured by Kuraray Trading Co., Ltd.) Polyolefin resin 10 parts (Arrowbase SD-1205J2, manufactured by Unitika Ltd., solid content 20%) 39 parts water 50 parts isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
• a composition for a heat seal layer having the following composition was applied onto the release layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a heat seal layer having a thickness of 2.0 ⁇ m.
• Example 2 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a foamable layer was formed as follows. The foamable layer composition 2 described below was applied by gravure coating so that the thickness after drying would be 10 ⁇ m, and dried at 120° C. for 1 minute to form a foamable layer.
• ⁇ Foamable Layer Composition 2> Acrylic resin 20 parts (Celltop 226, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 50%) Aluminum catalyst 4 parts (Celltop CAT-A, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%) Foaming agent 5.2 parts (Matsumoto Microsphere FN-100SSD, manufactured by Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., average particle size 6 ⁇ m to 11 ⁇ m, foaming start temperature 120°C to 130°C, maximum foaming temperature 145°C to 155°C, solid content 70% to 80%) Solvent (toluene/MEK 1/1) 70.8 parts
• Example 3 (1) Preparation of intermediate transfer medium Using the same substrate as in Example 1, adhesive layer composition 2 having the following composition was applied to the substrate by gravure coating, and dried at 100°C for 1 minute to form an adhesive layer with a thickness of 1.0 ⁇ m.
• Adhesive layer composition 2 > 50 parts of polyester (Vylonal MD1930, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., solid content 31%) ⁇ Water 50 parts
• composition for an intermediate adhesive layer having the following composition was applied onto the foaming agent-containing layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form an intermediate adhesive layer having a thickness of 0.3 ⁇ m.
• a release layer composition 1 having the following composition was applied to the intermediate adhesive layer by gravure coating and dried at 120° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 2.0 ⁇ m, thereby obtaining a foamable layer having a foaming agent-containing layer, an intermediate adhesive layer, and a release layer.
• ⁇ Release layer composition 1 Acrylic resin 15 parts (Celltop 226, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 50%)
• Aluminum catalyst 3 parts (Celltop CAT-A, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%)
• Solvent (toluene/MEK 1/1) 82 parts
• the same release layer composition 1 as in Example 1 was applied to the release layer by gravure coating and dried at 100°C for 1 minute to form a release layer with a thickness of 2.0 ⁇ m.
• a receiving layer composition 2 having the following composition was applied onto the release layer and dried to form a receiving layer having a thickness of 4 ⁇ m, thereby obtaining a transfer layer having a release layer and a receiving layer.
• Example 4 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a foaming agent-containing layer was formed as follows.
• Composition 2 for foaming agent-containing layer having the following composition was applied onto the adhesive layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 3 minutes to form a foaming agent-containing layer having a thickness of 10 ⁇ m.
• Foaming agent 10 parts (Matsumoto Microsphere FN-100SSD, Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., average particle size 6 ⁇ m to 11 ⁇ m, foaming start temperature 120°C to 130°C, maximum foaming temperature 145°C to 155°C, solid content 70% to 80%) 64.5 parts of polyester (Vylonal MD1930, Toyobo Co., Ltd., solids content 31%) ⁇ Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) 25.5 parts
• Example 5 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a release layer was formed as follows.
• a release layer composition 2 having the following composition was applied by gravure coating and dried at 120° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 2 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Release layer composition 2> Acrylic resin 15 parts (Celltop 226, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 50%)
• Aluminum catalyst 3 parts (Celltop CAT-A, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%)
• Modified silicone oil 0.325 parts KF-101, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)
• Solvent (toluene/MEK 1/1) 81.675 parts
• Example 6 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a release layer was formed as follows.
• a release composition 2 having the following composition was applied onto the release layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 2 ⁇ m.
• This release layer also served as a protective layer.
• Example 7 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a release layer and a peeling layer were formed as follows.
• a release layer composition 3 having the following composition was applied by gravure coating and dried at 120° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 2 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Release layer composition 3> Acrylic resin 15 parts (Celltop 226, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 50%)
• Aluminum catalyst 3 parts (Celltop CAT-A, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content 10%)
• Modified silicone oil 0.0970 parts KF-101, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)
• Solvent (toluene/MEK 1/1) 81.903 parts
• Composition 3 for release layer having the following composition was applied onto the release layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 2 ⁇ m. This release layer also served as a protective layer.
• ⁇ Release layer composition 3> Acrylic resin 19.8 parts (Dianal BR-87, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) Modified silicone oil 0.2 parts (KF-101, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) Solvent (toluene/MEK 1/1) 80 parts
• Composition 4 for release layer having the following composition was applied onto the release layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 2 ⁇ m. This release layer also served as a protective layer.
• ⁇ Release layer composition 4> Acrylic resin 10 parts (Dianal BR-87, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer 10 parts (Solvine CNL, manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Solvent (toluene/MEK 1/1) 80 parts
• Example 9 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3.
• the yellow colorant layer coating liquid, magenta colorant layer coating liquid, and cyan colorant layer coating liquid were applied in that order to the surface of the support opposite the back layer, and then dried to form a yellow colorant layer, magenta colorant layer, and cyan colorant layer, each 1.0 ⁇ m thick.
• a release layer composition having the following composition was applied to the remaining portion of the surface of the support opposite to the back layer, and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a release layer having a thickness of 0.25 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Release layer composition > 1 part polyvinyl alcohol (Poval 27-96, manufactured by Kuraray Trading Co., Ltd.) Polyolefin resin 10 parts (Arrowbase SD-1205J2, manufactured by Unitika Ltd., solid content 20%) 39 parts water 50 parts isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
• a composition for a heat seal layer having the following composition was applied onto the release layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a heat seal layer having a thickness of 2.0 ⁇ m.
• Example 10 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3.
• thermal transfer sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 9, except that a masking layer was formed on the release layer, and then a heat seal layer was formed on the masking layer.
• a composition for a masking layer having the following composition was applied onto the release layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 1 minute to form a masking layer having a thickness of 1.0 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Concealing layer composition Titanium oxide 58 parts (Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd., R-780) 10.5 parts of (meth)acrylic resin (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Dianall (registered trademark) BR-87) 31.5 parts of (meth)acrylic resin (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Dianall (registered trademark) BR-85) ⁇ Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) 100 parts ⁇ Toluene 100 parts
• Example 11 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a foaming agent-containing layer was formed as follows.
• Composition 3 for foaming agent-containing layer having the following composition was applied onto the adhesive layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 3 minutes to form a foaming agent-containing layer having a thickness of 10 ⁇ m.
• Foaming agent 15 parts (Matsumoto Microsphere FN-80GS, Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., average particle size 6 ⁇ m to 11 ⁇ m, foaming start temperature 100°C to 110°C, maximum foaming temperature 125°C to 135°C)
• Polyester 48 parts (Vylonal MD1930, Toyobo Co., Ltd., solids content 31%) ⁇ 37 parts isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
• Example 12 (1) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium An intermediate transfer medium was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that a foaming agent-containing layer was formed as follows.
• Composition 4 for foaming agent-containing layer having the following composition was applied onto the adhesive layer by gravure coating and dried at 100° C. for 3 minutes to form a foaming agent-containing layer having a thickness of 10 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Composition 4 for foaming agent-containing layer> Foaming agent: 15 parts (Expancel 920-40, Nippon Phillite Co., Ltd., average particle size 10 ⁇ m to 14 ⁇ m, foaming start temperature 123°C to 133°C, maximum foaming temperature 170°C to 180°C) Polyester 48 parts (Vylonal MD1930, Toyobo Co., Ltd., solids content 31%) ⁇ 37 parts isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
• composition was applied onto the adhesive layer by gravure coating so that the thickness after drying would be 10 ⁇ m, and then dried at 100° C. for 3 minutes to form a layer containing no foaming agent.
• IPA isopropyl alcohol
• a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 5 ⁇ m was used as a support, and a back layer composition having the following composition was applied onto the support and dried to form a back layer having a thickness of 1 ⁇ m.
• ⁇ Coating liquid for back layer Polyvinyl acetal 36 parts (S-LEC KS-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Isocyanate compound 25 parts (Burnoc D750, manufactured by DIC Corporation) ⁇ Silicone resin microparticles 1 part (Tospearl 240, manufactured by Momentive Performance Materials Japan LLC) Zinc stearyl phosphate 10 parts (purified LBT1830, manufactured by Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Zinc stearate 10 parts (SZ-PF, manufactured by Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 3 parts polyethylene wax (Polywax 3000, manufactured by Toyo ADL Co., Ltd.) Ethoxylated alcohol-modified wax 7 parts (Unito
• an adhesive layer On the surface of the support opposite the backing layer, an adhesive layer, a foaming agent-containing layer, an intermediate adhesive layer, a release layer, a peel layer, and a receiving layer were formed in that order using the same method as in Example 3.
• a weak adhesive Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.,
• Thermal head F3589 (Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Co., Ltd.) ⁇ Average resistance of heating element: 5015 ⁇ Printing voltage: 19V Main scanning direction resolution: 300 dpi (dots per inch) Sub-scanning direction resolution: 300 dpi Line speed: 6.0 msec./line Pulse duty ratio: 85% - Tone value: 255/255 (maximum energy tone)
• Thermal head F3589 (Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Co., Ltd.) ⁇ Average resistance of heating element: 5015 ⁇ Printing voltage: 19V Main scanning direction resolution: 300 dpi (dots per inch) Sub-scanning direction resolution: 300 dpi Line speed: 6.0 msec./line Pulse duty ratio: 85% Tone value: Image (sublimation) 255/255 (maximum energy tone)
• Examples 1 to 8 prints were produced using an intermediate transfer medium with a foamable layer, and the expanded foamable layer was peeled off along with the substrate after secondary transfer, resulting in good transferability and surface condition.
• the intermediate transfer medium did not have a foamable layer, resulting in poor transferability and surface condition.
• a thermal head was used for secondary transfer, resulting in insufficient heat and pressure during secondary transfer, resulting in poor transferability and surface condition.
• Example 5 the same foamable layer as in Example 3 is used, and therefore it is expected that the same results will be obtained.
• the colorant layer (Yellow, Mg, Cy) and heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet were transferred to the surface of the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium under the following conditions, forming a 10 cm x 10 cm black solid image.
• a colorant layer (Ye, Mg, Cy) of a thermal transfer sheet was transferred onto the surface of the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium, forming a 10 cm x 10 cm black solid image, and then a concealing layer and a heat seal layer were transferred in sequence onto the black solid image.
• Thermal head F3589 (Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Co., Ltd.) ⁇ Average resistance of heating element: 5015 ⁇ Printing voltage: 19V Main scanning direction resolution: 300 dpi (dots per inch) Sub-scanning direction resolution: 300 dpi Line speed: 6.0 msec./line Pulse duty ratio: 85% - Tone value: 255/255 (maximum energy tone)
• Example 11 A print was obtained in the same manner as in (a) above, except that the conditions for heating and pressing were a load of 320 g/cm 2 , a temperature of 140° C., and a time of 180 seconds.
• Example 12 A print was obtained in the same manner as in (a) above, except that the conditions for heating and pressing were a load of 320 g/cm 2 , a temperature of 190° C., and a time of 180 seconds.
• Example 13 The intermediate transfer medium on which the image was formed was that of Example 3. A printed matter was obtained in the same manner as in (a) above, except that the following fabric was used. Fabric: 100% cotton, arithmetic mean height Sa of transferred surface: 48.19 ⁇ m
• Example 14 The intermediate transfer medium on which the image was formed was that of Example 3. A printed matter was obtained in the same manner as in (a) above, except that the following fabric was used. Fabric: ACT-00300, 4.4 oz. T-shirt (white), manufactured by Toms Co., Ltd., 100% polyester, arithmetic mean height Sa of transferred surface: 101.59 ⁇ m
• Example 5 the same foamable layer as in Example 3 is used, and therefore it is expected that the same results will be obtained.
• An intermediate transfer medium having, in order, a substrate, a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer,
• the intermediate transfer medium is one in which the foamable layer and the transfer layer are separable from each other, and the foaming agent is in an unfoamed state.
• the intermediate transfer medium according to [1] wherein the foaming agent foams when the transfer layer is transferred to a transfer-receiving body.
• the transfer layer has a printable surface on the side opposite to the foamable layer.
• the on-demand printing method is at least one printing method selected from the group consisting of a thermal transfer method, an inkjet method, and an electrophotographic method.
• the foaming agent is a thermal foaming agent.
• the foamable layer is a single layer or multiple layers.
• An intermediate transfer medium with a release member comprising: the intermediate transfer medium according to any one of [1] to [12]; and a release member disposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium facing the substrate.
• a print product comprising: a transfer layer having an image and disposed on a transfer surface of the transfer layer; an arithmetic mean height Sa of the transferred surface of the transferred body is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less; The printed matter, wherein the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer layer on the surface opposite to the transfer-receiving body is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• a print product comprising: a transfer layer having an image and disposed on a transfer surface of the transfer layer; the object is a textile, The printed matter, wherein the arithmetic mean height Sa of the transfer layer on the surface opposite to the transfer-receiving body is 1.0 ⁇ m or more and 200 ⁇ m or less.
• a print product comprising: a transfer layer having an image and disposed on a transfer surface of the transfer layer; A printed matter in which Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.05, where Sa1 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer object in the area where the transfer layer is not disposed, and Sa2 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer layer opposite the transfer object.
• a print product comprising: a transfer layer having an image and disposed on a transfer surface of the transfer layer; A printed matter in which Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.10, where Sa1 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer object in the area where the transfer layer is not disposed, and Sa2 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer layer opposite the transfer object.
• Sa2/Sa1 ⁇ 0.10 where Sa1 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer object in the area where the transfer layer is not disposed
• Sa2 is the arithmetic mean height of the surface of the transfer layer opposite the transfer object.
• [27] a preparation step of preparing an intermediate transfer medium having, in order, a substrate, a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, and a transfer layer; an image forming step of forming an image on the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium; a transfer step of placing the surface of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed, facing the surface of a transferee, and applying heat and pressure to expand the foamable layer while transferring the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image has been formed to the surface of the transferee; a peeling step of peeling the substrate and the expanded foamable layer from the transfer layer transferred to the transfer surface of the transfer recipient;
• a method for producing a printed matter comprising the steps of: [28] The method for producing a printed matter according to [27], wherein in the image forming step, the image is formed by an on-demand printing method.
• [29] The method for producing a printed matter according to [27], wherein the on-demand printing method is at least one printing method selected from the group consisting of a thermal transfer method, an inkjet method, and an electrophotographic method.
• the foamable layer has, in order from the substrate side, a foaming agent-containing layer containing the foaming agent and a release layer.
• An image-bearing intermediate transfer medium comprising the intermediate transfer medium according to any one of [1] to [12], wherein the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium bears an image.

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• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)
• Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)

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• 2025
  • 2025-01-31 JP JP2025014914A patent/JP7769826B1/ja active Active
  • 2025-06-09 WO PCT/JP2025/020859 patent/WO2025258563A1/ja active Pending
  • 2025-06-09 JP JP2025564050A patent/JP7803473B1/ja active Active
• 2026
  • 2026-01-08 JP JP2026002204A patent/JP2026065673A/ja active Pending

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