JP2003305961A - Composition for image receiving sheet for heat transfer recording and image receiving sheet for heat transfer recording using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composition of an image receiving sheet for heat transfer recording capable of obtaining high printing density and high image quality by forming a middle layer which has a uniform foaming structure and can give heat insulation and a cushioning property by using an environment-friendly material not having bad influence on the environment without using a thermally expansible microcapsule likely to generate carbonic acid gas and organic gas, and to provide an image receiving sheet for heat transfer recording and printed matter using the image receiving sheet. <P>SOLUTION: The composition of the image receiving sheet for heat transfer recording includes an inorganic filler (A-1) and/or an organic filler (A-2) of 0.1-2 wt.% in moisture adsorption rate at 80% in relative humidity at 20°C and has a water soluble polymer (B-1) and/or a hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) as essential components. Further, the image receiving sheet for heat transfer recording is formed by successively providing the middle layer and an image receiving layer on a substrate, and the middle layer is composed of a layer having the composition of the image receiving sheet for heat transfer recording as the essential components. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a composition for an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having excellent performance, an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording using the same, and a printed matter obtained by using the image-receiving sheet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition for an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which has a high printing density, good image quality, and is inexpensive, an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, and a printed matter obtained by using the image receiving sheet. In accordance with the heat of a thermal head or the like, a sublimation dye or the like of the thermal transfer sheet is transferred by using a composition for a thermal transfer recording image receiving sheet suitable for recording, and a thermal transfer recording image receiving sheet, and using the image receiving sheet. The obtained printed matter is related.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, development of a color hard copy of a thermal transfer system, especially a sublimation type thermal transfer printer has been advanced.
In a sublimation thermal transfer printer, an ink ribbon containing a sublimable dye layer of three colors (yellow, magenta, cyan) or four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) is used.
It is possible to transfer and form a full-color image of density gradation by sequentially controlling and heating the heating energy of the thermal head to change the transfer amount of the dye of each color. Thermal transfer printers are used not only for medical and design-related business purposes, but also for printing out TV images, images taken with a video camera, images taken with an electronic still camera, and images created with a personal computer. It is rapidly becoming popular in general households as well, and it is required to reduce the price of image receiving sheets.

As an attempt to obtain high print density and high image quality by using an inexpensive paper base material as a sheet base material for image reception, an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having an intermediate layer having heat insulation and cushioning properties is obtained. The method is known. As such a method, for example, a heat-expandable microcapsule, hollow particles, a coating material having a porous material and a polymer material and a polymeric material are applied on a sheet-shaped substrate to obtain a heat insulating layer (JP-A-63-63). -8
No. 7286), a coating layer containing an electron beam-curable resin and microcapsules is provided, and an insulating layer is obtained by irradiating the coating layer with an electron beam to cure the coating layer (JP-A-5-301473).
It is known that such methods can provide sufficient print density. However, in the former case, the gloss of the image recording surface is insufficient, and the reproducibility of the low gradation part is deteriorated due to the deterioration of the surface property of the image recording surface due to the unevenness of the paper base material and the heat insulating layer, There are problems such as poor solvent resistance. Even in the latter case, the reproducibility of the low gradation portion is not sufficient due to the unevenness caused by the surface of the paper substrate, and there is a problem in appearance. Furthermore, the heat-expandable microcapsules are hollow shells that contain a low boiling point organic solvent such as propane and isobutane as a shell of a thermoplastic material, and when they are foamed by heating, carbon dioxide gas or organic gas is generated. Since it releases into the atmosphere, it goes against the recent trend of reducing environmental load, and measures to reduce the environmental load of raw materials have become one of the more important issues to be considered. Further, a method of obtaining a heat insulating layer by forming a large number of fine pores by mechanically stirring an aqueous resin-containing liquid (JP-A-1
No. 1-301123 gazette) is proposed, but in this method, there is a limit to uniformizing the size of bubbles formed by mechanical stirring even if a foam stabilizer is used, and it is difficult to form a uniform heat insulating layer. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain uniform image quality on the entire surface of the sheet, in other words, to make the print density uniform, because a difference in thermal conductivity occurs between the microscopic portions of the image receiving sheet. Further, in general, the sublimation type thermal transfer method has an advantage that an excellent image with rich gradation can be obtained as compared with the fusion type, but on the other hand, more heat energy is required to obtain a transferred image with high color density. However, in order to solve the problem, it has been a subject of the sublimation type thermal transfer system to improve the transfer efficiency.

[0004]

An object of the present invention is to use an environment-friendly material that does not adversely affect the environment without using thermally expandable microcapsules that generate carbon dioxide gas or organic gas. By forming an intermediate layer having a uniform foam structure and capable of imparting heat insulating properties and cushioning properties, a composition for an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording capable of obtaining high print density and high image quality, for thermal transfer recording Image receiving sheet,
And to provide a printed matter using the image receiving sheet.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that an intermediate layer on a substrate,
In an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording in which image receiving layers are sequentially provided,
In the intermediate layer located between the base material and the image receiving layer, the inorganic filler (A-1) and / or the organic filler (having a moisture adsorption rate in the range of 0.1 to 2% by weight at 20 ° C. and 80% relative humidity). Carbon dioxide gas is obtained by using the composition for an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording containing A-2) and containing the water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) as an essential component. An intermediate layer having excellent heat insulating properties and cushioning properties can be obtained by using an environment-friendly material that does not adversely affect the environment without using a heat-expandable capsule that generates organic gas or organic gas. By providing an image-receiving layer on the above, it was found that an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording capable of uniform and high-density clear image recording and a printed matter using the image-receiving sheet were obtained, and the present invention was completed. .

That is, according to the present invention, the water adsorption rate at 20 ° C. and 80% relative humidity is 0.1 to 2% by weight as a filler.
Containing an inorganic filler (A-1) and / or an organic filler (A-2) which is a water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or a hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) as an essential component. And a composition for an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording.

The present invention also provides an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording in which an intermediate layer and an image-receiving layer are sequentially provided on a substrate, the intermediate layer being a layer containing the composition for an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording as an essential component. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet characterized by being configured.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a printed matter obtained by using the above-mentioned thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, necessary matters for carrying out the present invention will be described below.

The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention is characterized in that an intermediate layer is provided on a base material, and then an image-receiving layer is sequentially provided. As the base material used in the thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet of the present invention, for example, a paper base material containing wood pulp as a main component has appropriate heat insulating properties and cushioning properties, and is easily available and cost effective. It is preferably used because it is advantageous. Examples of such a paper substrate include hardwood pulp,
Softwood pulp, wood pulp such as hardwood mixed pulp, wood pulp, kraft pulp, sulphite pulp, soda pulp, etc., paper made from commonly used pulp,
Alternatively, a paper whose surface smoothness is improved by applying pressure with a calendar or the like and compressing after papermaking is preferable. The basis weight is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 50 to 250 g / m ² , and may have a coating layer containing a pigment or the like, if necessary. Specific examples include high-quality paper, art paper, coated paper, single-glossy paper, impregnated paper, and paperboard. Further, those subjected to calendar treatment for high smoothing are preferable.
Further, the back side of the paper substrate, or both sides may be coated with a thermoplastic resin for the purpose of obtaining water resistance, the thermoplastic resin, for example, a polyolefin resin, and the polyolefin resin, Ethylene, α-olefins, for example, a homopolymer such as propylene, and at least two copolymers of the olefins,
It is also possible to use two or more of these various polymers in combination.

The paper base material used in the present invention includes various commonly used paper additives such as a dry paper strength enhancer (cationized starch, cationized polyacrylamide, etc.), and sizing agent (fatty acid salt, rosin, Maleated rosin, cationic sizing agent, reactive sizing agent, etc.), filler (clay, kaolin, titanium, etc.), wet paper strengthening agent (melamine resin, epoxidized polyamide resin, etc.), fixing agent (aluminum sulfate, cationization) Starch, etc.), a pH adjusting agent (caustic soda, sodium carbonate, etc.) and the like. Also,
Base papers are water-soluble polymer additives, sizing agents, inorganic electrolytes,
It may be tab-sized or size-pressed with a treatment liquid containing one or more kinds of hygroscopic substances, pigments, dyes, pH adjusters and the like. In addition to the above-mentioned paper base material, various non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, synthetic resin films such as polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene, metal foil, glass, etc., or a composite sheet combining these can be arbitrarily used according to the purpose. However, it is not limited thereto. These base materials may be opaque, transparent, or semi-transparent, and white pigments, organic dyes, organic pigments, or air bubbles may be formed in or on the surface of the base material in order to make the background look white or other specific colors. You may make it contain in. In particular, application may be difficult when a substrate having low hydrophilicity such as films is selected. In that case, hydrophilic treatment of the surface by corona discharge or the like, and a water-soluble polymer (B -1) and / or hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) may be applied to the surface of the substrate for easy adhesion treatment, and the treatment method is not particularly limited. Further, a treatment for antistatic, curl correction or the like may be performed, and the treatment method is not particularly limited.

In the present invention, the intermediate layer provided between the substrate and the image receiving layer is an inorganic filler (A-1) and / or an organic filler (A-2) and a water-soluble polymer (B-1). And / or having fine pores formed by the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2), the heat insulating property of the image receiving layer is well maintained, and the heat from the thermal head is appropriately stored on the surface of the image receiving layer. In addition, the fine pores described above improve the cushioning property of the image receiving sheet and realize high adhesion with the thermal head during printing.As a result, the acceptability of the transfer ink and the clear image It is possible to improve the transferability and the transfer unevenness and dot dropout.

The intermediate layer provided between the base material and the image receiving layer may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure composed of at least one layer and is not particularly limited.

The composition for an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention has an inorganic filler (A-1) and / or a filler having a moisture adsorption rate at 20 ° C. and a relative humidity of 80% of preferably 0.1 to 2% by weight. Alternatively, it contains an organic filler (A-2) and contains a water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or a hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) as essential components. In the present invention,
By using an inorganic filler (A-1) and / or an organic filler (A-2) whose moisture adsorption rate under the condition of 20 ° C. and 80% relative humidity is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 2% by weight. , A water-soluble polymer as a binder (B-
1) and / or the point at which a void is formed between the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) and the filler (A-1) and / or (A-2), that is, the relative humidity at 20 ° C. with the binder. The water adsorption rate under the condition of 80% is preferably 0.
The greatest feature is that an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording that meets actual use conditions can be obtained only by using 1 to 2% by weight of the inorganic filler (A-1) and / or the organic filler (A-2). is there.

A further feature of the present invention is that the conventionally used heat-expandable microcapsules have a problem that they generate a carbon dioxide gas or an organic gas during foaming, which adversely affects the environment. On the other hand, as a material used for the intermediate layer of the composition for an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention, such a material having an adverse effect on the environment is not used at all, so that it is environmentally friendly. Is one.

The water adsorption rate under the condition of 20 ° C. and 80% relative humidity in the present invention means the water adsorption isotherm used as a conventional method for quantitatively grasping the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the filler, That is, it means the moisture adsorption rate at a relative humidity of 80% in the relative humidity-moisture adsorption rate curve obtained by measuring the moisture adsorption rate at different relative humidity under constant temperature conditions (20 ° C. in the present invention). .
Specifically, a certain amount of filler at 20 ℃, relative humidity 80%
After being left for 2 hours under the conditions of 1., about 1 g is weighed with a precision chemical balance, dried at 105 ° C. for 2 hours, allowed to cool in a desiccator for 30 minutes, and then weighed. The percentage of the value obtained by dividing the amount of change in weight before and after drying by the initial weight in this method is the moisture adsorption rate.

Inorganic filler (A-1) used in the present invention
Or, as the organic filler (A-2), a known and commonly used filler is used, and examples thereof include diatomaceous earth, talc, clay, kaolin, calcined kaolin, calcium carbonate, silica, magnesium carbonate, basic magnesium carbonate, titanium oxide, and oxide. Zinc, silicon oxide, aluminum hydroxide,
Inorganic fillers such as calcium silicate, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, surface-treated calcium and silica,
Polystyrene resin, benzoguanamine resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, silicone resin, urea-
Organic fillers such as formalin resin and styrene / methacrylic acid copolymer can be used, and among them, those having a water adsorption rate of 0.1 to 2% by weight under the condition of 20 ° C. and 80% relative humidity are preferable. . Moreover, these inorganic fillers (A-1) and / or organic fillers (A-2) may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Inorganic filler (A-1) used in the present invention
The water content of the organic filler (A-2) and / or the organic filler (A-2) is preferably 0.
If it is in the range of 1 to 2% by weight, the water-soluble polymer (B-1)
And / or a proper gap is formed between the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) and the filler, sufficient heat insulation is ensured, and heat energy from the thermal head is lost to the outside through the substrate. It is suppressed, the sensitivity is increased, and further, the compatibility with the water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) is good,
The stability as a blended liquid is obtained, which is preferable.

The composition for an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention comprises an inorganic hydrophobic silica surface-treated with an organic silicon compound and / or silicone oil as a filler,
It contains at least one kind selected from hydrophobic organic fillers composed of methyl silicone resin. Among the above fillers used in the present invention, preferably silanol groups present on the surface of silica are treated with organic silicon compounds such as octylsilane and trimethylsilane, hydrophobic silica, titanium oxide, titanium dioxide, or surface treatment with silicone oil. Examples of the hydrophobic silica include high-purity fine particles of highly hydrophobic methyl silicone resin. The filler does not include heat-expandable microcapsules.

The average particle size of the filler used in the present invention can be appropriately adjusted according to the intended print density of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, and is not particularly limited, but the surface smoothness of the image-receiving sheet is maintained and thermal transfer is performed. In order to maintain the adhesion with the thermal head, it is usually preferable that the thickness is 10 μm or less. When the average particle diameter is 10 μm or less, the smoothness of the surface after coating and drying can be maintained, the adhesiveness with the thermal head does not decrease, and the effect of improving the sensitivity can be obtained. Further, the filler used in the present invention together with the surface smoothness is a water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / Alternatively, it is particularly preferable to use a filler having an average particle diameter of 5 μm or less from the viewpoint of efficiently forming voids with the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2).

Water-soluble polymer (B-1) used in the present invention
As described above, the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) is an inorganic and / or organic hydrophobic polymer having a water adsorption rate of 0.1 to 2% by weight at 20 ° C. and a relative humidity of 80%. Filler, that is, (A-1) and / or (A-2)
It is an essential component for forming voids by mixing with, coating on the surface of the substrate and drying. Although it is not clear why the voids are formed here, the water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-
Water, which is the dispersion medium of 2), is volatilized under the condition that it is difficult to be compatible with the surface of the inorganic filler (A-1) and / or the organic filler (A-2) which are rich in hydrophobicity, and at the same time, the water-soluble polymer (B −
1) and / or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) is heat-cured by drying. This is because the air held by the filler itself at this stage and the residual air present in the blended liquid remain at the interface between the resin and the filler, resulting in the formation of an air layer around the filler, that is, voids. It is estimated to be. Further, the water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) maintains the binding property between the base material and the intermediate layer and the binding property between the image receiving layer and the intermediate layer. It is also an essential ingredient for the purpose.

Water-soluble polymer (B-1) used in the present invention
Alternatively, the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) may be any polymer as long as it is a known and commonly used polymer as a dispersion medium, and examples thereof include polyvinyl alcohol, modified polyvinyl alcohol, starch and its derivatives, Cellulose derivatives such as methoxy cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, sodium polyacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, acrylamide / acrylic acid ester copolymer, acrylamide / acrylic acid ester / methacrylic acid ester terpolymer, styrene / Alkaline or ammonium salt of maleic anhydride copolymer, Alkali salt or ammonium salt of isobutylene / maleic anhydride copolymer, Alkaline salt of ethylene / maleic anhydride copolymer or Water-soluble polymers such as ammonium salts, polyacrylamide, sodium alginate, gelatin, and casein, polyurethane resins, polyester resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, ethylene / vinyl chloride copolymers, polyacrylic acid ester resins, styrene / butadiene copolymers (SBR), styrene / butadiene / acrylic acid ester copolymer, acrylonitrile / butadiene copolymer,
Acrylic ester / butadiene copolymer, ethylene /
Hydrophobic polymer emulsions such as vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl acetate resins, vinyl acetate / acrylic acid ester copolymers, styrene / acrylic acid ester copolymers, and polymer latex emulsions can be used. Specific examples of the water-soluble polymer (B-1) or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) include those described above, but the present invention is not limited to these specific examples. Absent. In addition, these water-soluble polymers (B
-1) and / or hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2)
May be used alone or in combination of two or more.

An inorganic filler (A-1) and / or an organic filler (A-2) and a water-soluble polymer (B-1) are formed on a substrate.
When an intermediate layer containing the polymer and / or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) is formed, for example, it is preferable that the intermediate layer is coated on the surface of the substrate and dried. In this case, the inorganic filler (A-1) and / or the organic filler (A-2)
Is preferably in the range of 10 to 300 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the resin solid content of the water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or the hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2), It is more preferably in the range of 20 to 250 parts by weight.
Inorganic filler (A-1) and / or organic filler (A-
When the use amount of 2) is in such a range, excellent heat insulating properties, cushioning properties, binding properties between the base material and the intermediate layer, and binding properties between the intermediate layer and the image receiving layer can be provided.

In the intermediate layer of the present invention, if necessary, known auxiliary additives such as pigments, antistatic agents, leveling agents, thickeners, etc. may be used as long as the heat insulation and cushioning properties are not impaired. Can be used in combination and is not particularly limited.

The pigment used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and known and commonly used pigments can be used, for example, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, calcium carbonate, silicic acid, silicate, kaolin clay, magnesium oxide, satin white, Basic calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide, talc, mica, calcined clay, aluminum hydroxide, barium sulfate,
Inorganic pigments such as lithopone and colloidal silica, true pigments such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, epoxy resin, and styrene-acrylic copolymer, hollow or organic pigments called plastic pigments of a type processed into various shapes, Examples thereof include starch powder and cellulose powder, which may be used alone.
You may use together 1 or more types.

The leveling agent used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and known and commonly used ones can be used, for example, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether type, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester type, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether type. , Sorbitan fatty acid ester type, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester type,
Nonionic hydrocarbon surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkylamine ether type, fatty acid diethanolamide type, sucrose ester type, dialkyl sulfosuccinic acid ester type, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate type, higher alkyl ether sulfate ester salt, phosphorus Anionic hydrocarbon-based surfactants such as acid ester salts, quaternary ammonium-based cationic hydrocarbon-based surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium chloride,
Amphoteric hydrocarbon surfactants such as dimethyl alkyl lauryl betaine, alkyl glycine, amido betaine type,
Polymeric hydrocarbon type surfactants such as imidazoline type polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block polymers, special acetylene glycol type surfactants, silicone type surfactants, fluorine type surfactants, etc. May be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Further, as the thickener used in the present invention,
There is no particular limitation, and known conventional ones can be used, for example, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carbooxymethyl cellulose, polyacrylates, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or urethane-based, polyether-based associative polymer surfactants. Examples include agent-based thickeners, which may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

The thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet of the present invention is a thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet in which an intermediate layer and an image-receiving layer are sequentially provided on a substrate, and the intermediate layer essentially comprises the composition for the thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet. It is composed of layers as components.

The image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention is mainly composed of a dyeing resin capable of dyeing a sublimable dye transferred from an ink ribbon. Examples of such dyeing resin include polyester resin, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polycarbonate resin, acetate butyrate-based resin, urethane resin, acrylic resin, cellulose derivative and the like. The coating amount of the image receiving layer is preferably in the range of 1 to 12 g / m ² , and more preferably 3 to 10 g / m ² . When the coating amount of the image receiving layer is in such a range, excellent image quality and gloss of the printed surface can be obtained, and it is economical, which is preferable.

As described above, it is preferable to add a crosslinking agent, a release agent or the like to the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention for the purpose of preventing fusion with the ink ribbon. An isocyanate compound is generally used as the cross-linking agent, but the cross-linking agent is not particularly limited. For example, a cross-linking agent such as an epoxy compound or a carbodiimide compound can be used. Examples of the release agent include silicone oil,
In addition to silicone resin and acrylic silicone resin, wax can be used. Further, if necessary, in the image-receiving layer, for example, an ultraviolet absorber such as a benzotriazole-based, benzophenone-based, phenyl salicylate-based, cyanoacrylate-based compound or a fluorescent dye, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, an additive such as a pigment May be added. The additive may be mixed with the main component of the image receiving layer and coated, or may be coated as a separate coating layer on and / or below the image receiving layer. As the pigment, for example, silica pigment, titanium pigment, clay, or plastic pigment can be used. Among them, silica pigments are preferable from the viewpoint of whiteness and image quality, the average particle diameter thereof is preferably in the range of 1 to 12 μm, and the amount used is preferably 2 to 15 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the dyeable resin. Is the range.

On the back surface of the thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet of the present invention, it is preferable to form a back surface coating layer containing an adhesive resin as a main component. If necessary, additives such as a conductive agent, a lubricant, and a pigment may be added to the back surface coating layer, and block transfer of the ink ribbon is prevented even if the front surface and the back surface are mistaken. A fusion inhibitor may be added for the purpose. As the adhesive resin, a known and commonly used polymer binder can be arbitrarily selected and used. For example, acrylic emulsion, acrylic resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, styrene / butadiene copolymer (SBR). , Polyvinyl alcohol, starch, and styrene-maleic acid ammonium salt. As the conductive agent, a commercially available antistatic agent can be used, and for example, an electron conductive inorganic fine powder in which fine powder such as titanium oxide or zinc oxide is mixed with impurities and baked to enhance electron conductivity can be used. . As the slip agent and the anti-fusing agent, for example, commercially available wax, silicone resin or the like can be used. As the pigment, for example, silica pigment,
Clay, titanium oxide, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate or the like can be used. The coating amount of the back surface coating layer is not particularly limited, but a range of 0.1 to 10 g / m ² is preferable. It is preferable that the coating amount of the back surface coating layer is in such a range that the desired sufficient effect is exhibited and the cost does not increase so much.

In the present invention, if necessary, another intermediate layer may be provided between the intermediate layer and the image receiving layer, for example, a water-soluble polymer and / or hydrophobic polymer emulsion, a pigment,
Contains antistatic agents, leveling agents, thickeners, etc. 1
It is also possible to provide a multilayer structure by providing the above layers. Specific examples thereof include the same as those exemplified in relation to the intermediate layer and the image receiving layer. In addition, regarding the filler used for the above-mentioned image receiving layer, back surface coating layer and another intermediate layer, the water adsorption rate under conditions of 20 ° C. and 80% relative humidity, which can be used for the undercoat layer, is 0.1. ~ 2% by weight without being limited to
Any known and conventional filler can be used.

Next, the specific method of applying the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be formed by a conventional method. For example, an air knife coater, a gravure coater, a blade. Coater,
It can be formed by coating and drying using a coating device such as a bar coater or a curtain coater. The thermal transfer recording image-receiving sheet of the present invention can be used not only for sublimation type thermal transfer recording but also for melting type thermal transfer recording paper, thermal recording paper and the like.

The printed matter of the present invention is characterized by being obtained by using the above-mentioned image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording. The printed matter of the present invention can provide an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording having a higher heat conduction efficiency and good heat insulation property than ever before, and thus an excellent image rich in gradation can be obtained more than ever before, and a small amount. It is excellent in that a transferred image with high color density can be obtained by the heat energy of. In addition, by using the image-receiving sheet of the present invention formed of an environment-friendly material that does not adversely affect the environment that does not contain any organic solvent or organic gas component, the application to contact the human body such as advertisements / signboards, posters, leaflets, etc. In regard to the above, it is one of the excellent features that a printed matter with high safety can be provided.

[0035]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described more specifically below with reference to examples and comparative examples. In the following, all parts and% are based on weight unless otherwise specified.

Example 1 A wood free paper of 105 g / m ² having a mean particle size of 16 nm was surface-treated with trimethylsilane, and the water adsorption rate at 20 ° C. and 80% relative humidity was 0.
8 parts by weight of inorganic hydrophobic silica (15 parts) was added to a general-purpose styrene / butadiene copolymer emulsion (resin solid content: 5%).
(0%) 100 parts and dispersed by a homogenizer, coated so that the dry adhesion amount becomes 3 g / m ^2, and kept in an atmosphere at 120 ° C. for 1 minute to evaporate water and form voids. A coated paper having An image receiving layer having the following composition was applied to the upper layer of the intermediate layer so that the dry weight was 4 g / m ² , and dried at 120 ° C. for 5 minutes to obtain an image receiving sheet. The composition of the image receiving layer is as follows. Polyester resin Vylon200 (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) 1.0 part Amino-modified silicone KF-393 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.03 part Epoxy-modified silicone X-22-343 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.03 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene / cyclohexane (weight ratio 4: 4: 2) 9.0 parts

Then, an ink composition for forming a thermal transfer layer having the following composition was prepared, applied to a PET film having a thickness of 8.5 μm so that the dry weight was 1.0 g / m ² , and dried to obtain a transfer sheet. It was The ink composition for forming the thermal transfer layer is as follows. Disperse dye KST-B-714 (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) 0.4 part Polyvinyl butyral BX-1 (Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. 0.42 part) Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1: 1) 9.0 parts An energy density of 70 mJ / m was obtained by combining the transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet obtained above with a thermal head.
m ² , pulse width 10 msec, dot density 6 dots / m
Printing was performed under the condition of m. As a result of the printing test, an image having no transfer omission and an extremely high transfer density was obtained.

Example 2 The average particle size of the intermediate layer is 16 nm.
50 parts of inorganic hydrophobic silica surface-treated with trimethylsilane at 20 ° C. and a moisture adsorption rate of 0.8% by weight at a relative humidity of 80%, and a general-purpose polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution having a polymerization degree of 1700 (resin solid content 15%) All were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the layer was composed of 335 parts. As a result of the printing test, an image having no transfer omission and an extremely high transfer density was obtained.

Example 3 In place of the inorganic hydrophobic silica (15 parts) in Example 1 as the intermediate layer, an organic filler, methyl silicone powder (2 μm) having an average particle diameter of 3 μm was used.
The same procedure as in Example 1 was carried out except that 30 parts of water was adsorbed at 0 ° C. and a relative humidity of 80% was 1.2% by weight.
As a result of the print test, an image having no transfer omission and a high transfer density was obtained.

Example 4 On the back side of the image-receiving sheet obtained in Example 1, a backside coating layer consisting of 65 parts of general-purpose SBR, 25 parts of calcium carbonate and 2 parts of polyethylene wax was applied so that the dry weight was 10 g / m ^2. Example 1 except that it was applied
I went the same way. As a result of the printing test, an image having a high transfer density without any transfer omission was obtained.

Example 5 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the amount of the inorganic hydrophobic silica in Example 1 was changed to 50 parts. As a result of the printing test, an image having a high transfer density without any transfer omission was obtained.

Comparative Example 1 The intermediate layer was replaced with the inorganic hydrophobic silica (15 parts) in Example 1 and the average particle size was 12 n.
Example 1 was repeated except that an inorganic hydrophilic silica having a water adsorption rate of 4% by weight at a temperature of 20 ° C. and a relative humidity of 80% was used. As a result, no void was formed in the intermediate layer, and as a result of further printing test, the transfer density was low,
White spot-like transfer omissions occurred frequently.

Comparative Example 2 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the amount of the inorganic hydrophobic silica in Example 1 was changed to 2.5 parts for the intermediate layer. As a result, the state of void formation in the intermediate layer was poor, and as a result of the printing test, transfer defects were large and the transfer density was lowered.

Comparative Example 3 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the inorganic hydrophobic silica used in Example 1 was not used. As a result, voids were not formed in the intermediate layer, and as a result of further printing test, the transfer density was low and white spot-like transfer voids occurred frequently.

[0045]

According to the present invention, in an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording in which an intermediate layer and an image receiving layer are sequentially provided on a substrate, the intermediate layer located between the substrate and the image receiving layer has a relative humidity of 8 at 20 ° C.
Inorganic filler (A-1) and / or organic filler (A-2) whose water adsorption rate at 0% is 0.1 to 2% by weight
And a composition containing a water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or a hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2) as essential components, the thermal expansion to generate carbon dioxide gas or organic gas. Environment-friendly material that does not adversely affect the environment is used without using a heat-sensitive capsule, and an intermediate layer with excellent heat insulation and cushioning properties is obtained. By providing an image receiving layer on the intermediate layer, a uniform and high It is possible to provide an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording capable of recording an image having a clear density, and a printed matter obtained by using the image receiving sheet.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A filler at 20 ° C. and a relative humidity of 80%
Water-soluble polymer (B-1) and / or hydrophobic polymer containing an inorganic filler (A-1) and / or an organic filler (A-2) having a water adsorption rate of 0.1 to 2% by weight. A composition for an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which comprises an emulsion (B-2) as an essential component. 2. The thermal transfer recording according to claim 1, wherein the filler is at least one selected from inorganic hydrophobic silica surface-treated with an organic silicon compound and / or silicone oil, and a hydrophobic organic filler composed of a methyl silicone resin. A composition for an image receiving sheet. 3. A hydrophobic polymer emulsion (B-2)
The thermal transfer according to claim 1 or 2, which contains at least one selected from polyurethane resins, polyacrylic acid esters, styrene-butadiene copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers, and acrylic acid ester-butadiene copolymers. Composition for recording image-receiving sheet. 4. The amount of (A-1) and / or (A-2) used is the resin solid content of 1 of (B-1) and / or (B-2).
The composition for an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is in a range of 10 to 300 parts by weight with respect to 00 parts by weight. 5. An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, which comprises an intermediate layer and an image-receiving layer formed on a base material in that order, wherein the intermediate layer comprises
4. An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording, comprising a layer containing the composition for an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to any one of 4 above as an essential component. 6. A printed matter obtained by using the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer recording according to claim 5.