JPH02274592A - Sublimable thermal transfer image receiving paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance a print image in density and sharpness by a method wherein an expanded polypropylene layer having pores is formed on a substrate made of polymer film or paper, and thereon a dyeing layer is laminated to form thermal transfer image receiving paper. CONSTITUTION:An intermediate layer made of an expanded polypropylene film that has a surface flatness, a low absorption capacity for an ink or the like, and a large number of pores inside is formed on a substrate made of polymer film or paper. Thereafter, on the intermediate layer, a coating liquid mainly composed of an aqueous emulsion of a thermoplastic resin is applied and dried to laminate a dyeing layer to produce sublimable thermal transfer image receiving paper. It is preferable that a white layer is applied on said intermediate layer and that an anchor coating is applied to the intermediate layer for improving an adhesion between the intermediate layer and the dyeing layer. The obtained image receiving paper is superior in both glossiness and flatness and improved in sensitivity, and realizes a sharp printing image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a sublimation type heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving paper used for full-color heat-sensitive transfer recording of electronic images such as videos, televisions, and color graphics.

[Conventional technology]

In dye-sublimation thermal transfer recording, it is important to bring the printer's thermal head and image-receiving paper into contact with each other.As a technique to improve this adhesion and obtain clear images,
Conventionally, the following methods have been proposed.

■ As a base material, a synthetic paper with inorganic fine powder protruding from the surface and many micropores inside is used, as described in JP-A-62-87390, and a dyeing layer is laminated on top of it. . The product described in the above publication is manufactured and sold by Oji Yuka Synthetic Paper Co. under the trade name "YUPO".

(The following intermediate layer is provided between the base material and the dyeing layer.

a An intermediate layer mainly made of a resin having rubber elasticity as described in JP-A No. 61-144394 b A thermoplastic resin or a resin as described in JP-A No. 61-270194 Intermediate layer i obtained by coating an organic solvent solution or aqueous emulsion of synthetic rubber on a substrate and drying it.A synthetic resin emulsion such as polyurethane or a synthetic rubber latex such as methyl methacrylate-butadiene is foamed by mechanical stirring. An intermediate layer obtained by coating a liquid on a substrate and drying it... An intermediate layer obtained by coating a liquid mixture of the above synthetic resin emulsion or synthetic rubber latex with a foaming agent on a substrate and drying it. ■ Intermediate layer K obtained by coating a liquid mixture of synthetic resin such as PVC plastisol, polyurethane, or synthetic rubber such as styrene-butadiene with a foaming agent on a base material and drying. Mixing of polymer solution and non-solvent. Intermediate layer obtained by coating liquid and drying [Problem to be solved by the invention] However, even with the above method, the following problems still exist.

In other words, when using the synthetic paper described in (■) above, not only does printing cause curling, but it also absorbs ink, etc.
Due to the unevenness of the surface caused by the fine inorganic powder and the inorganic fine powder, when a dyed layer is applied, (a) a flat coating film is not formed and lacks luster;

(b) Since unevenness remains, the printed image is rough and the density is insufficient.

(c) The density decreases because the dyed layer penetrates into the interior rather than the surface layer.

There are drawbacks such as.

In order to eliminate these drawbacks, it is necessary to reduce the absorbency of ink, etc. and to make the surface flat, but it is extremely difficult to perform such treatment only by coating.

Therefore, after applying and drying the dyed layer, a process such as calendering is required, which inevitably reduces work efficiency.

In addition, when providing an intermediate layer mainly made of resin with rubber elasticity as described in (a), the dyes in the above-mentioned resins are very easy to diffuse, so the printed image will be blurred and the diffusion will continue even after printing. Stain on the stop.

On the other hand, if a foamed liquid of ■bi, ii and city resin is applied onto a substrate and dried, the bubbles will be too large and the surface will become uneven. With the method of applying and drying a mixture of a polymer solution and a non-solvent (iv), it is difficult to prevent the dyed layer from being absorbed and entering the interior, and the porous structure is crushed by printing, making it difficult for the printer to dry. There is a risk that traces of the shape of the thermal head may be left on the printed matter.

Therefore, in either method, it is necessary to carry out treatment by a method other than coating after coating and drying, which inevitably reduces work efficiency.

In view of the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention aims to solve problems related to surface flatness and ink absorption, which have been problems in the prior art, and to improve the density and clarity of printed images. The object of the present invention is to provide an image-receiving paper that can

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention has been made with the aim of solving the above-mentioned problems, and its structure is such that a polymer film or paper is used as a base material, the surface is flat, the absorbency of ink, etc. is low, and the internal A foamed polypropylene film having a large number of micropores is laminated as an intermediate layer, and a dyeing layer is laminated thereon.

That is, in the present invention, an intermediate layer made of a foamed polypropylene film with a flat surface and low absorbency for ink, etc., and having many micropores inside is laminated on a base material, and a dyeing layer is directly formed on the intermediate layer. A glossy finish is achieved by applying a coating liquid, drying it, and layering a dyed layer.

It has excellent flatness and is capable of producing high-density and clear printed images.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail.

Substrate The substrate used in the present invention is a polymer film or paper, preferably flat.

Intermediate Layer In the present invention, the intermediate layer laminated on the substrate improves the adhesion between the thermal head and the image receiving paper, increases the density and clarity of the image, and prevents traces of the shape of the thermal head from remaining on the printed matter. For this purpose, it is necessary to have appropriate cushioning properties, two-strength heat resistance, and low absorption of ink, etc., and foamed polypropylene film is optimal.

In addition, in order to improve the whiteness of the image receiving paper, a white layer may be coated on this intermediate layer.Furthermore, in order to improve the adhesion between this intermediate layer and the dyed layer, an anchor may be applied to the intermediate layer. It is preferable to apply a coating.

Dyeing layer On the other hand, the dyeing layer in the present invention is on the above-mentioned intermediate layer,
It is formed by applying a liquid mainly consisting of an aqueous emulsion of a thermoplastic resin as a coating liquid and drying it, but an aqueous saturated copolymerized polyester emulsion is suitable.

[Functions and effects of the invention]

According to the present invention, there is no need to provide a dyeing layer directly on the base material using a polymer film or paper, and the intermediate layer has a flat surface, low absorbency for ink, etc., and a large number of layers inside. A polypropylene film with micropores is laminated, and a dyeing layer is laminated on top of it so that the dye is dyed only in the dyeing layer. Compared to image-receiving paper, which uses synthetic paper with a large number of micropores and has a dye layer directly laminated on top of it, the printing density is higher when printing, and it has excellent gloss and flatness. (2) Compared to the image receiving paper in which an intermediate layer mainly made of resin with rubber elasticity is provided between the base material and the dyed layer in ■a, the clarity of the image is significantly improved; Compared to image-receiving paper, which has an intermediate layer between the material and the dyed layer, which is obtained by coating an organic solvent solution or aqueous emulsion of thermoplastic resin or synthetic rubber on the base material and drying it, it can print at a higher density. Images can be obtained without leaving traces of the shape of the thermal head due to printing.

〔Example〕

Next, examples of the present invention will be described.

Base material Polyethylene terephthalate 125μ (1,
C, I Melinex) Intermediate layer Foamed polypropylene film, one side treated with chlorinated polypropylene, 50μ, 100μ (Toyobo Co., Ltd. Toyovar-5S) Dyeing M (composition of coating liquid) Aqueous saturated copolymerized polyester emulsion 100
Part (manufactured by Toyobo MD-1200) Thickener 3 parts (manufactured by San Nopco 5N-THECKENERA-803
) Epoxy modified silicone 2
Part (X-22-343, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone) Jetanolamine 2 parts The intermediate layer is set on the above base material using adhesive tape, and a coating liquid having the above composition is applied thereon, dried, and a dyed layer is formed. The layers were laminated to obtain an image receiving paper.

Color video printer (newly manufactured by Hitachi) is attached to this receiver paper.
VY-50), a clear image with high density was obtained. Also, no traces of the thermal head were left behind.

[Comparative example]

Base material: Synthetic paper (Yupo, manufactured by Tamago Oil Synthetic Paper) 150μ dyed layer Same as in the example, apply the coating solution directly onto the above base material, dry it, laminate the dyed layer, and make the image receiving paper. Obtained.

This image-receiving paper had less gloss and lower surface flatness than the image-receiving paper obtained in the example. Also, in the prints made by the above color video printer, the overall density was lower than that of the image-receiving paper of the example.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A polymer film or paper is used as a base material, and on this base material, a foamed polypropylene film that has low absorbency for ink, etc. and has many micropores inside is laminated as an intermediate layer, and a dyeing layer is laminated on top of this. A sublimation type heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving paper characterized by comprising: