JP3034533B2 - Thermal transfer recording medium - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording medium for performing thermal transfer recording on recording paper utilizing the thermal fusibility of ink transfer, and relates to a computer, a printer, and the like. The present invention can be applied to a printer such as a processor, a barcode printer, a facsimile, and the like.

[Prior Art] A thermal transfer recording medium in which a transfer layer mainly containing a wax such as paraffin wax and a coloring agent such as a dye or a pigment is provided on a support, is known. Since the strength is low, there is a disadvantage that the friction resistance of the transferred image is inferior.

In order to remedy this drawback, a method of adding a low melting point resin or making the transfer layer as thin as possible has been adopted.However, in the former, when the resin component is increased, the adhesive force becomes stronger and transfer becomes difficult, There is a problem that the sensitivity is deteriorated. In the latter case, the uniformity of the transferred image is deteriorated and the image density is lowered.

Further, even if the amount of the resin component is large, a transfer layer of water or a solvent-dispersed particulate ink has been studied in order to prevent the adhesive strength from becoming strong, but in this case, there was a disadvantage that the thermal sensitivity was reduced. .

Further, since an image printed using a thermal transfer sheet may be difficult to see due to the glossiness of the ink, it has been proposed to make the surface rough and so-called matte.
The specific method is as follows: 1) A thermal transfer sheet having a roughened substrate and an ink layer provided thereon is used.

2) A heat-sensitive transfer sheet having a roughened mat layer provided on a substrate and an ink layer provided thereon.

However, the method 1) cannot provide a sufficient effect. In the method 2), silica is mixed into the mat layer to roughen the surface. However, if silica is mixed to such an extent that the surface of the transferred ink becomes sufficiently matte, the adhesiveness between the mat layer and the substrate deteriorates. There is a problem that the mat layer is transferred together with the ink.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Under the above circumstances, the present invention forms a thermographic image which is matte on recording paper with high thermal sensitivity, has high density, is excellent in uniformity, and is excellent in friction resistance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording medium that can be used.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention comprises: (1) a mat layer, a first transfer layer, and a second transfer layer which are sequentially formed on a substrate, wherein the first transfer layer comprises an organic lubricant and (2) a thermal transfer recording medium comprising a vulcanized rubber as a main component and a second transfer layer comprising a colorant and a wax as main components; and (2) a mat layer, first, second, and The first transfer layer is mainly composed of an organic lubricant and unvulcanized rubber, the second transfer layer is mainly composed of a colorant and waxes, and the third transfer layer is mainly composed of waxes. (3) a mat layer, a first, a second, and a third transfer layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, wherein the first transfer layer is composed of an unvulcanized rubber and an organic material. The second transfer layer is mainly composed of an organic lubricant, and the third transfer layer is mainly composed of a colorant and waxes. Thermal transfer recording medium comprising a,
(4) A mat layer, first, second, third, and fourth transfer layers are sequentially formed on a substrate, and the first transfer layer mainly contains unvulcanized rubber and an organic lubricant. The layer is mainly composed of an organic lubricant, the third transfer layer is mainly composed of a coloring agent and waxes,
A thermal transfer recording medium characterized in that the fourth transfer layer contains waxes as a main component, and (5) the matte layer contains a silicon resin powder, a siliconized inorganic pigment, and a polytetrafluoroethylene powder. 4) A thermal transfer recording medium according to any one of the above.

The present invention achieves the above object by forming the mat layer and the transfer layer into a three- to five-layer structure of the specific components as described above.

The mat layer is preferably made of a silicon resin powder, polytetrafluoroethylene powder, or an inorganic powder such as silica, clay, alumina, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, etc., which has been subjected to silicon surface treatment.
0.1-3 μm is preferred. As a binder for the mat layer, polyester resin, polyvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethyl cellulose-
And epoxy resin can be used. The ratio of the pigment and the binder of the mat layer is preferably 1:20 to 5: 1, more preferably 1: 1.
0 to 2: 1.

Examples of the organic lubricant used in the first and second transfer layers of the present invention include natural waxes such as carnauba wax, candelilla wax and montan wax, and waxes such as synthetic waxes such as paraffin wax, oxidized wax and polyethylene wax; margarine Higher fatty acids such as acids, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, furomenic acid and behenic acid and metal salts thereof; higher alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and behenin alcohol; esters such as fatty acid esters of sorbitan; stearin Examples thereof include amides such as amide and oleinamide, and preferred are carnauba wax, montan wax and derivatives thereof.

Examples of the unvulcanized rubber used for the first and second transfer layers include polyisoprene, polybutadiene, styrene butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, urethane rubber, and the like, preferably polyisoprene. , Polybutadiene, ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber and nitrile rubber. These preferred rubbers are those having a temperature of 60 ° C to 200 ° C.

Incidentally, the first or second transfer layer can be formed by coating with a normal solution or dispersion liquid (which may be aqueous in the case of a dispersion liquid) or hot melt coating. The thickness of the first transfer layer is usually in the range of 0.1 to 2 μm, preferably 0.5 to 1.5 μm. On the other hand, the thickness of the second transfer layer is in the range of 0.2 to 3 μm, preferably 0.5 to 2 μm. The ratio of the organic lubricant to the unvulcanized rubber in the same transfer layer is suitably in the range of 95 to 5/5 to 95 (weight).

Next, the colorant used in the second and third transfer layers is appropriately selected from conventionally known dyes and pigments. Specific examples of the waxes are as described above. Examples of the low melting point resin include polyamide-based, polyester-based, acrylic-based, rosin, terpene petroleum-based, styrene-based, phenol-based resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and ethylene-based resin.
Acrylic resin and the like can be mentioned. The ratio of these components is suitably colorant / wax / resin: 5 to 50/30 to 90/5 to 50 (weight). As in the case of the first and second transfer layers, the coating of the organic solvent solution or the aqueous dispersion or the hot melt coating is applied to the formation of the second and third transfer layers. The thickness of the second and third transfer layers is usually 0.5 to
It is in the range of 5 μm, preferably 1-3 μm.

Further, in addition to the above components, fatty acid esters,
A small amount (30% or less) of a plasticizer such as a glycol ester, a phosphate ester, or an epoxidized linseed oil, or an oil substance such as a mineral oil, an animal oil, a vegetable oil, a liquid paraffin, or a silicone oil as a softener can be added. .

The third transfer layer according to claim (2) and the fourth transfer layer according to claim (4) of the present invention are background stain preventing layers and do not contain a coloring agent. Waxes and low-melting point resins have a thickness of generally 0.2 to 3 μm, preferably 0.5 to 2 μm as described above.
m. The coating method may be any of an organic solvent, an aqueous dispersion, and a hot melt.

Polyester as a substrate for supporting the above thermal transfer,
Heat-resistant plastic films such as polycarbonate, triacetyl cellulose, nylon, and polyimide, cellophane, parchment paper, condenser paper, etc. can be used.
If necessary, silicone resin, fluororesin, polyimide resin,
A heat-resistant layer such as an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a melamine resin, and a cellulose resin may be provided.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to Examples. All parts are parts by weight.

Example 1 Matt layer composition Silicone surface-treated silica 3 parts Polyester resin 7 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 45 parts Toluene 45 parts This was dispersed in a ball mill for 10 hours to give a dry adhesion of 1.0 g / m ² on a 4.5 μm polyester film. Was applied with a wire bar and dried (thickness was 1.3 μm).

First transfer layer composition Carnauba wax 6 parts Butadiene rubber 1 part Toluene 93 parts was heated to 80 ° C, cooled to 30 ° C, dispersed with a ball mill for 10 hours, and dried on the mat layer 1.5 g / m ² and dried at 60 ° C. for 2 minutes.

Composition of second transfer layer Water dispersion of carbon black (solid content 30%) 10 parts Carnauba wax emulsion (solid content 30%) 60 parts Water 30 parts The above are mixed, and the above is mixed with a wire bar. One layer was coated on the layer so as to have a dry adhesion of 2.0 g / m ² and dried at 60 ° C. for 2 minutes.

Finally, a toluene solution of a silicone resin was applied on the opposite side to the above layer so as to have a dry adhesion amount of 0.05 g / m ² , and dried at 60 ° C. for 2 minutes to prepare a thermal transfer recording medium.

Example 2 First transfer layer Nitrile rubber 3 parts Carnauba wax 2 parts Toluene 95 parts Heated to 80 ° C, cooled to 30 ° C, dispersed with a ball mill for 10 hours, and dried on the same mat layer as in Example 1. 0.5 g / m ²
And dried at 60 ° C. for 2 minutes. Next, 10 parts of carnauba wax and 90 parts of toluene were dispersed in a ball mill for 10 hours, and this was applied on the first transfer layer in the same manner and dried to form a second transfer layer of 1.5 g / m ² . did. Further, on this second layer, the same layer as the second layer of Example 1 was formed as a third layer.

Finally, a heat-resistant layer was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 to prepare a thermal transfer recording medium.

Example 3 After heating 5 parts of montan wax and 95 parts of isopropyl alcohol to 80 ° C. on the second transfer layer of Example 1, the liquid dispersed in a ball mill for 10 hours was dried with a wire bar to obtain a coating weight of 0.5. The third transfer layer was applied so as to give a g / m ² and dried at 50 ° C. for 2 minutes to prepare a thermal transfer recording medium.

Example 4 On the third transfer layer of Example 2, the same layer (fourth transfer layer) as the third transfer layer of Example 3 was formed to prepare a thermal transfer recording medium.

Comparative Example 1 A thermal transfer recording medium was prepared in exactly the same manner as in Example 1 except that the first transfer layer was as described below.

100 parts of paraffin wax was applied by hot melt so as to have an adhesion amount of 1.5 g / m ² .

Comparative Example 2 A thermal transfer recording medium was prepared in exactly the same manner as in Example 1 except that no mat layer was provided.

The transfer layer surface of the thermal transfer recording medium prepared as described above is brought into close contact with the surface of the high-quality paper, and a thermal transfer printer is used.
Printing was performed with an energy of 5 mj / dot. Further, in order to examine the rub resistance of the printed image, a rub resistance against a corrugated cardboard (at room temperature of 20, 50) was measured using a love tester (manufactured by Toyo Seiki KK).
° C).

 The glossiness of the image was also measured.

 The results are as follows.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the thermal transfer recording medium according to the configuration of the present invention can form a transfer image that is matte, has high image density, is clear, and has excellent wear resistance. Since the image is a matte image, the reading error of the bar code image is small, and the image is easy to see.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-63191 (JP, A) JP-A-63-98490 (JP, A) JP-A-63-288778 (JP, A) JP-A-63-1988 82784 (JP, A) JP-A-63-107586 (JP, A)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mat layer, a first transfer layer and a second transfer layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, wherein the first transfer layer comprises an organic lubricant and an unvulcanized rubber as main components, and the second transfer layer comprises a colorant. And a wax. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a mat layer, a first, a second, and a third transfer layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, wherein the first transfer layer comprises an organic lubricant and an unvulcanized rubber as main components. Wherein the third transfer layer is mainly composed of a coloring agent and waxes, and the third transfer layer is mainly composed of waxes. 3. A matte layer, a first, a second, and a third transfer layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, wherein the first transfer layer contains an unvulcanized rubber and an organic lubricant as main components. Wherein the third transfer layer comprises a colorant and waxes as main components. 4. A mat layer, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth transfer layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, wherein the first transfer layer contains an unvulcanized rubber and an organic lubricant as main components. A thermal transfer recording medium, wherein the second transfer layer contains an organic lubricant as a main component, the third transfer layer contains a colorant and waxes as main components, and the fourth transfer layer contains waxes as main components. 5. The thermal transfer recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the mat layer contains a silicone resin powder, a silicone-treated inorganic pigment, and a polytetrafluoroethylene powder.