JPH0752538A - Photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material in which printing of the material having high sensitivity and low smoothness is preferable and no craze occurs in a photothermal conversion layer at the time of handling or coating with an ink layer. CONSTITUTION:A photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material 3 comprises at least a cushion layer, a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer sequentially laminated in this order on a support, wherein the conversion layer is so softened that its breaking elongation becomes 10% or more.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material, and more particularly to a photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material having improved physical properties.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a thermal transfer recording technique, a thermal transfer recording material having a heat-meltable coloring material layer or a coloring material layer containing a heat sublimable dye provided on a substrate and an image receiving material are opposed to each other, and a thermal head is used. There is a method of transferring and recording an image by pressing a heat source controlled by an electric signal such as an energizing head from the ink sheet (recording material) side. Thermal transfer recording has features such as noise-free, maintenance-free, low cost, easy colorization, and digital recording, and is used in various fields such as various printers, recorders, facsimiles, computer terminals and the like.

On the other hand, in recent years, in the fields of medical care, printing, etc., there is a demand for a recording method having high resolution and capable of high-speed image processing, so-called digital recording. However, in the conventional thermal transfer recording method using a thermal head or a current-carrying head as a heat source, it is difficult to increase the density of the heating elements in terms of the life of the head heating element, and it is difficult to obtain a high-resolution image. .

In order to solve this, thermal transfer recording using a laser as a heat source is disclosed in JP-A-49-15437, JP-A-49-17743 and JP-A-49-17743.
57-87399, 59-143659, etc. In thermal transfer recording using a laser as a heat source, the resolution can be increased by narrowing the laser spot. However, when recording with a laser, it is common to perform recording by scanning a minute spot, and unless the spot is scanned on the recording medium at high speed, the recording time cannot be shortened and the recording speed is improved. This is generally disadvantageous as compared with the case of using a batch exposure or a line thermal head.
In addition, since the amount of heat given by light is generally smaller than the amount of heat given by a heating element such as a thermal head, in this respect also, photothermal conversion type heat mode recording using light from a laser or the like improves the recording speed. It is in a disadvantageous situation to make it happen.

As a laser scanning method, a polygon mirror or a galvano mirror and an fθ lens are combined to perform main scanning of laser light, and sub-scanning is performed by moving a recording medium. However, there is a cylindrical scan in which laser exposure is performed and the rotation of the drum is the main scan and the movement of the laser light is the sub-scan, but the cylindrical scan is easier to improve the accuracy of the optical system and is suitable for high-density recording. . In the case of cylindrical scanning, it is easy to increase the scanning speed by increasing the rotational speed of the drum, but it is difficult to obtain the adhesion between the heat mode recording material and the heat mode image receiving material required for transfer.

In thermal transfer recording with a thermal head, it is possible to obtain close contact between the thermal transfer recording material and the image receiving material by the pressure between the platen and the heating element of the thermal head, but such a method cannot be adopted in cylindrical scanning. . Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-112665 discloses laser exposure while applying pressure with a transparent pressing member, etc. However, when the drum is rotated at high speed for high-speed recording, uniform pressing becomes difficult and close contact is achieved. Fogging easily occurs due to unevenness and pressure transfer.

Japanese Patent Application No. 03-343684, No. 4-142799, No. 4-2
Nos. 28778 and 4-228779 describe that by providing a cushion layer on a recording material or an image receiving material, the adhesion required for transfer can be obtained even in a vacuum adhesion method. Further, for colorization, it is necessary to separate the ink layer and the light-heat conversion layer, but in order to prevent color turbidity, a configuration in which the ink layer and the light-heat conversion layer can be completely separated is Japanese Patent Application No. 4-94422. No. 4-149472.

By the way, for the purpose of increasing the sensitivity, printing on a recording medium having low smoothness, and eliminating the omission of the transferred image due to minute dust that has entered between the recording material and the image receiving material, a very flexible material for the cushion layer. However, if a heat-resistant photothermal conversion layer that is a thin film and does not scatter is formed on the cushion layer, there is a problem that cracks will occur in the photothermal conversion layer during subsequent handling or application of the ink layer. occured.

[0009]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve sensitivity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material which is good in printing on a recording medium having low smoothness and which does not cause cracks in the photothermal conversion layer during handling or application of an ink layer.

[0010]

The above object of the present invention is to provide a photothermal conversion layer of a photothermal conversion heat mode recording material comprising a support, and at least a cushion layer, a photothermal conversion layer, and an ink layer laminated in this order. , Was achieved by softening treatment so that the breaking elongation was 10% or more.

The photothermal conversion layer comprises a hydrophilic colloid layer containing at least gelatin as a binder; this gelatin is selected from cation exchange-treated gelatin, amphoteric ion exchange-treated gelatin and acid-treated pigskin gelatin. A softening treatment is performed by adding a high boiling point organic solvent to the light-heat converting layer; a light-heat converting layer is softened by using gelatin and a water-soluble resin and / or latex as a binder for the light-heat converting layer That the latex is a latex stabilized with gelatin; the elastic modulus of the cushion layer is 100 kg / mm ² or less, or the needle penetration of the cushion layer is 15 or more, the effect of the present invention is further manifested. This is a preferable mode because it can be performed.

The present invention, that is, the prevention of cracking of the ink layer by the softening treatment of the light-heat conversion layer, will be described in detail when the binder for the light-heat conversion layer is gelatin. When other resins are used as the binder. Similarly, it is possible to achieve the object by performing the softening process. The light-heat conversion heat mode recording material and the light-heat conversion heat mode image receiving material are abbreviated as “recording material” and “image receiving material”, respectively.

The basic constitution of the recording material of the present invention is a support /
It is composed of a cushion layer / light-heat conversion layer / ink layer, but if necessary, an adhesive layer may be provided between the support and the cushion layer, and between the cushion layer and the light-heat conversion layer.

Any support can be used as long as it has good dimensional stability and can withstand heating during image formation. Specifically, the film described in JP-A-63-193886, page 2, lower left column, lines 12 to 18 can be used. Alternatively, sheets can be used. Further, when the laser light is irradiated from the recording material side to form an image, the support of the recording material is preferably transparent. The support of the recording material need not be transparent as long as laser light is applied from the image receiving material side to form an image. The thickness of the support is not particularly limited, but normally 6 to 300 μm is suitable, and preferably 25 to 200 μm.

A backing layer may be provided on the back surface of the support (the surface opposite to the surface provided with the ink layer) in order to impart functions such as running stability, heat resistance and antistatic property. The backing layer is a resin such as nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent, or a binder resin and 20 ~
It can be formed by coating the support surface with a coating solution for a backing layer in which fine particles of 30 μm are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.

The cushion layer is a layer having a thermosoftening property or elasticity, which is provided for the purpose of increasing the adhesion between the recording material and the image receiving material, and can be sufficiently softened and deformed by heating, or a material or rubber having a low elastic modulus. A material having elasticity may be used. Specific materials include those described in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-1237, paragraph No. 0014.

Among these materials, the elastic modulus at 25 ° C is 100 kg
Less than / m ² is effective for high sensitivity, and further 20kg / m ²
The following materials are preferred. In addition, the cushion layer is effective in preventing transfer omission due to dust adhering to the surfaces of the recording material and the image receiving material. The greater the penetration, the greater the effect of preventing transfer omission due to dust.

The term "penetration" used here means JIS K-2530-1976.
Penetration (unit: 0.1 mm) obtained under the measurement conditions (25 ° C., 100 g, 5 seconds) defined in 1. In the present invention, the penetration is 5 or more, more preferably 15 or more. Specific examples thereof include those described in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-43859, paragraph 0017.

The cushion layer may be formed by coating the above material dissolved in a solvent or dispersed in a latex in a coating method such as a blade coater, roll coater, bar coater, curtain coater or gravure coater.
An extrusion lamination method using hot melt, a method of laminating a film sheet with a substrate, or the like can be applied. Further, as described in JP-A No. 5-1237, a light-heat conversion layer is applied to a bonding sheet, and after applying a cushion layer, it is bonded to a bonding sheet before winding, and an ink layer is formed. When peeling the bonding sheet before applying,
A method in which the light-heat conversion layer is attached to the cushion layer may be adopted. Further, the cushion layer material may be applied at the time of forming the support to give the support itself cushioning properties.

The cushion layer promotes close contact between the transfer medium and the transfer medium by vacuum softening or by light softening or a decrease in elastic modulus during light irradiation.
The thickness of the cushion layer is appropriately 1 to 50 μm, more preferably 5 to 50 μm.

The photothermal conversion layer is composed of at least a photothermal conversion material and a binder, and can be provided adjacent to the ink layer.

As the light-heat converting agent, any conventionally known one can be used. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, since heat is generated by irradiation with a semiconductor laser light, carbon black having absorption in the visible to near infrared region also functions as a photothermal conversion material, but exhibits absorption maximum in the wavelength band of 700 to 3000 nm, and in the visible region. A near-infrared light absorber having no or little absorption of is preferred.

As the near-infrared light absorber, organic compounds such as cyanine-based, polymethine-based, azurenium-based, squarylium-based, thiopyrylium-based, naphthoquinone-based, anthraquinone-based dyes, phthalocyanine-based, naphthalocyanine-based, azo-based, thioamide-based The organometallic complexes of JP-A Nos. 63-139191 and 64-33547 are specifically used.
No. 1, JP-A 1-160683, 1-280750, 1-293342,
2-2074, 3-26593, 3-30991, 3-34891
No. 3, No. 3-36093, No. 3-36094, No. 3-36095, No. 3-422
81, No. 3-97589, No. 3-103476 and the like. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the binder of the light-heat conversion layer, a resin having a high glass transition point and a high thermal conductivity or a thermosetting resin can be used. Examples thereof include gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyester, polyparabanic acid, polymethylmethacrylate, Cellulose resins such as polycarbonate, polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polysulfone, polyether sulfone, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, phenol resin, urea resin, Melamine resin, aniline resin, unsaturated polyester, diallyl phthalate resin, epoxy resin, alkyd resin, polyimide, polyetherimide It can be used a general heat-resistant resin of aramid.

Of these, water-soluble polymers are preferable because they have good releasability from the ink layer, good heat resistance when exposed to light, and little so-called scattering even with excessive heating. When a water-soluble polymer is used, the photothermal conversion substance may be modified to be water-soluble (by introduction of a sulfo group),
Water-based dispersion is desirable. Among the water-soluble polymers, gelatin is a water-soluble binder having excellent solvent resistance as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-271880, which does not decompose and scatter when irradiated with high intensity light and is used as a photothermal conversion material. High sensitivity is possible without bleed-out when using an infrared absorbing dye.

Further, since increasing the releasability between the photothermal conversion layer and the ink layer leads to an improvement in sensitivity, it is effective to incorporate various releasing agents in the photothermal conversion layer. As the release agent, silicone-based release agents (polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone oil, alcohol-modified silicone oil, etc.), fluorine-based surfactants (perfluorophosphate ester-based surfactants), and other various surfactants are effective. Is.

The thickness of the photothermal conversion layer is preferably 0.1 to 3 μm, more preferably 0.1 to 1.1 μm. The content of the light-heat converting substance in the light-heat converting layer is usually such that the absorbance at the wavelength of the light source used for image recording is 0.3 to 3.0, more preferably 0.
You can decide to be 6 to 2.5. When the infrared absorbing dye is used, since the absorption coefficient per unit weight is larger than that of a pigment such as carbon black, the film thickness of the photothermal conversion layer can be made thin and high sensitivity can be achieved.

Other substances added to the photothermal conversion layer include activators, buffering agents such as citric acid and sodium acetate for adjusting the pH of the coating solution, and gelatin for controlling water absorption of the photothermal conversion layer. Hardeners for use.

As the method for forming the light-heat conversion layer, a reverse coater, an extrusion coater, a slide hopper coater, a curtain coater, a gravure coater,
It can be applied directly on the cushion layer by a known method such as a wire bar, or can be formed by the method described in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-1237.

If the photothermal conversion layer has poor adhesion to the cushion layer, film peeling may occur during thermal transfer or peeling from the image receiving material, resulting in color turbidity. Therefore, between the photothermal conversion layer and the cushion layer. An adhesive layer may be provided.

Next, the softening treatment of the photothermal conversion layer will be described.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent cracks in thermosetting resins other than gelatin that require softening, such as thermosetting resins. Here, a case where gelatin is used as the binder for the light-heat conversion layer will be specifically described.

The softening of gelatin is possible by dispersing a high boiling point organic solvent (hereinafter abbreviated as HBS) as a plasticizer in gelatin, or by using a latex or a water-soluble resin having good compatibility with gelatin. Becomes

The following compounds can be used as specific examples of HBS.

Tributyl Phosphate (Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-32727)
No.), diphenyl m-cresyl phosphate, dicyclohexyl phenyl phosphate (JP-A-55-25057).
No.), di (2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluorohexyl) phthalate (JP-A-53-146622), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

The amount of HBS added is gelatin / HBS = 95/5 to 50
/ 50 is preferable, and more preferably 90/10 to 60/40
Is.

The method of adding HBS is as follows.
HBS is dissolved in a solvent such as ethyl acetate in which BS is soluble, added to an aqueous gelatin solution containing a surfactant, and the solvent such as ethyl acetate is dispersed while being emulsified and dispersed by a colloid mill, an ultrasonic disperser, a Manton Gory, etc. A method known as a method for preparing a silver salt photographic emulsion coating solution, that is, removal can be used.

As the polymer latex, in addition to the following compounds, Japanese Patent Publication No. 45-5331, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-133465,
The compounds described in 55-113031 and US Pat. No. 4,197,127 can be used.

[0039]

[Chemical 1]

[0040]

[Chemical 2]

The amount of latex added depends on the type of gelatin and cannot be generally stated.
Latex is preferably added in the range of 20/80 to 80/20, and more preferably 30/70 to 70/30. Depending on the type of latex, if the amount of latex is too large, when a dye is used as a photothermal conversion agent, the dye aggregates, the gelatin itself aggregates, and the solvent resistance of the photothermal conversion layer is lost when applying the ink layer. Partially compatible with the photothermal conversion layer. If the amount of latex is too small, the softening is insufficient and cracking occurs.

As the latex, gelatin-stabilized latex may be used in order to improve compatibility with gelatin. As the gelatin-stabilized latex, those described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-191, paragraphs 0013 to 0020 can be used. The appropriate amount of the gelatin-stabilized latex added is gelatin-stabilized latex / gelatin = 20/80 to 80/20.

As the water-soluble resin, it is possible to use polyvinyl alcohol, modified poval such as cation-modified poval and carboxy-modified poval, and cellulose resin such as polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. is there.

The amount of the water-soluble resin added is gelatin /
The water-soluble resin is preferably added in the range of 20/80 to 80/20, more preferably 30/70 to 70/30.

By performing the above-mentioned softening treatment so that the breaking elongation of the photothermal conversion layer is 10% or more, cracking can be prevented. The breaking elongation referred to here is JIS
It may be determined by measuring the “tensile breaking elongation” described in K-7127.

The ink layer means a layer which is melted or softened when heated and can be transferred together with the layers containing a colorant, a binder and the like, and need not be transferred in a completely molten state.

Examples of the coloring material include pigments such as inorganic pigments and organic pigments, and dyes. Specifically, the coloring material used in the ink layer described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-271880 can be applied.

The content of the coloring material in the ink layer is not particularly limited, but is usually in the range of 5 to 70% by weight, preferably 10 to 60% by weight.

Examples of the binder for the ink layer include a heat-melting substance, a heat-softening substance, and a thermoplastic resin, and those used in known heat-melting ink materials can be applied as they are. These heat-fusible substances, heat-softening substances,
As a specific example of the thermoplastic resin, the ink layer binder described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-271880 can be used.

By properly selecting the above-mentioned heat-melting substance, heat-softening substance and thermoplastic resin, a heat-softening ink layer having a desired heat-softening point or heat-melting point can be formed. It is also possible to perform a primary transfer to a smooth image receiving material (image receiving sheet), and then to a desired paper (printing paper such as art paper, coated paper, and fine paper) as a secondary transfer. In that case,
Styrene / (meth) acrylic acid (ester) resin is used as a binder for the ink layer (Japanese Patent Application No. 4-142801),
When an image receiving layer made of a polyolefin material is used, the primary transfer sensitivity is high and the image can be efficiently secondary transferred.

In addition, examples of additives for the ink layer include plasticizers for increasing sensitivity by plasticizing, surfactants for improving coating properties, matting materials (particles of submicron to micron order) for preventing blocking, and the like. To be The thickness of the ink layer is preferably 0.2 to 2 μm, more preferably 0.1 μm.
3 to 1.5 μm.

Regarding the constitution and materials of the image receiving material, Japanese Patent Application Nos. 4-82251, 4-94422, 4-130915 and 4-149472.
No. 4-209197, 4-228778, 4-228779, 4-
The technology described in No. 234901 can be applied.

[0053]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In addition, "part" in an Example represents "part by weight" unless otherwise specified.

Example 1 (Preparation of ink sheet) PE with a transparent conductive layer having a thickness of 75 μm
A cushion layer, a photothermal conversion layer, and an ink layer were sequentially applied to T (polyethylene terephthalate, T-100G manufactured by Diafoil Hoechst Co., Ltd.) as shown below to prepare an ink sheet.

Cushion layer: A cushion layer coating solution having the following composition was applied and dried to a dry film thickness of 20 μm.

Cushion layer coating liquid Styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene resin (SEBS) 30 parts (Shell Japan Co., Ltd .: Kraton G1657) MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) 10 parts Toluene 60 parts Photothermal conversion layer: prepared as follows. The light-heat conversion layer coating liquid was applied at a drying temperature of 40 ° C. so that the absorbance at 830 nm was 1.0. The film thickness was about 0.3 μm.

Preparation of coating solution for light-heat conversion layer A solution prepared by dissolving 6 g of HBS (compound 2) in 20 g of ethyl acetate was added to 60 g of alkali-treated gelatin (5% aqueous solution) containing 0.4 g of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, followed by ultrasonication. At the same time as emulsifying and dispersing for 20 minutes with a disperser, ethyl acetate was removed. The entire amount of this was added to a dye solution having the following composition to prepare a photothermal conversion layer coating liquid.

Infrared absorbing dye (IR-1) 6 g Alkali-treated gelatin (5% aqueous solution) 240 g Surfactant (Compound 1) 0.3 g Water 255 g Ethanol 30 g Ink layer ... Ink layer coating liquid having the following composition is dried 0.4 μm
It was applied and dried so that

Ink layer coating liquid Magenta pigment MEK dispersion 4 parts Styrene-acrylic resin (SBM73F, Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) 5.4 parts EVA (Mitsui DuPont Polychemical Co., Ltd .: EV-40Y) 0.5 part Fluorine-based surfactant ( Asahi Glass Co., Ltd .: Surflon S-382) 0.1 parts MEK 80 parts Cyclohexanone 10 parts

[0060]

[Chemical 3]

Example 2 An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the composition for the photothermal conversion layer coating was changed to the following composition.

Light-to-heat conversion layer coating solution Acid-treated pigskin gelatin 2 parts Carboxy-modified PVA (manufactured by Kuraray Chemical Co., Ltd .: CM-318) 1.43 parts Surfactant (Compound 1) 0.05 parts Halic acid 0.02 parts Infrared absorbing dye ( IR-1) 1.5 parts Distilled water 90 parts Ethanol 5 parts Example 3 An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2, except that the acid-treated pigskin gelatin of the photothermal conversion layer was changed to amphoteric ion-exchanged gelatin.

Example 4 An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2, except that the acid-treated pigskin gelatin of the light-heat conversion layer was changed to cation exchange-treated gelatin.

Example 5 An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2, except that the acid-treated pigskin gelatin of the light-heat conversion layer was changed to alkali-treated gelatin.

Example 6 Carboxy-modified PVA of photothermal conversion layer in Example 5
Was changed to a latex made of polybutyl acrylate to prepare an ink sheet in the same manner.

Example 7 Carboxy-modified PVA of photothermal conversion layer in Example 5
Was replaced by a gelatin-stabilized latex synthesized as described below, and an ink sheet was prepared in the same manner.

Gelatin-stabilized latex synthesis In 60 liters of water, 1.0 kg of gelatin, 10 g of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 50 g of ammonium persulfate were dissolved. While stirring at a liquid temperature of 60 ° C., a mixed liquid of 3.0 kg of styrene, 3.0 kg of methyl methacrylate and 3.2 kg of ethyl acrylate and 800 g of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate were added over 1 hour under a nitrogen atmosphere. After stirring for another 1.5 hours, steam distillation was performed for 1 hour to remove residual monomers. After cooling to room temperature, the pH was adjusted to 6.0 with ammonia. The obtained latex liquid was added with water to a final weight of 75 kg (average particle size 0.1 μm).

Comparative Example 1 An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example except that the coating solution for the photothermal conversion layer was changed to the one having the following composition.

Photothermal conversion layer coating solution Alkali-treated gelatin 3.43 parts Citric acid 0.02 parts Surfactant (compound 1) 0.05 parts Infrared absorbing dye (IR-1) 1.5 parts Distilled water 90 parts Ethanol 5 parts Example 8 Implementation An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner except that SEBS of the cushion layer in Example 5 was changed to SIS (Califlex TR1117S manufactured by Shell Co.).

Example 9 An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5, except that SEBS of the cushion layer was changed to EVA (P1007 manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Polychemical Co., Ltd.).

Comparative Example 2 An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the light-heat conversion layer had the following composition.

Photothermal conversion layer coating liquid Hydroxyethyl cellulose 3.45 parts Surfactant (compound 1) 0.05 parts Infrared absorbing dye (IR-1) 1.5 parts Distilled water 95 parts Example 10 The photothermal conversion layer in Example 1 was composed as follows. An ink sheet was prepared in the same manner except that the ink sheet was changed to the above.

Photothermal conversion layer coating solution Hydroxyethyl cellulose 2.95 parts Glycerin 0.5 parts Surfactant (Compound 1) 0.05 parts Infrared absorbing dye (IR-1) 1.5 parts Distilled water 95 parts (Preparation of image-receiving sheet) Thickness 75 μm PE with transparent conductive layer
T (previously: T-100G) is laminated with EVA (P1407C manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Polychemical Co., Ltd.) to a thickness of 30 μm, and a dry coating of an image receiving layer coating solution having the following composition is applied to the base.
An image receiving sheet was obtained by applying the solution so that the thickness became 1.0 μm.

Image- Receiving Layer Coating Solution Styrene-Acrylic Resin (Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd .: SBM-100) 9.2 parts EVA (previously: EV-40Y) 0.5 part Silicone resin particles (Toshiba Silicone Co .: Tospearl 108) 0.3 part MEK 70 parts Cyclohexanone 20 parts (Image formation and evaluation) Face the ink layer of the above ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet, wrap them around the drum-shaped decompressor of the apparatus shown in FIG.
After exposure with a semiconductor laser of 30 nm, the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet were peeled off, and the image transferred to the image receiving sheet was observed and evaluated.

The optical system of the apparatus used for image formation is 100 m
The W semiconductor laser is focused to a beam diameter of 6 μm (1 / e ^{2 of} peak power), and the laser power on the irradiation surface is 33
mW. The drum pressure reducer has a drum circumference of 33 inches.
The rotation of the drum was used as the main scanning, and the optical system was moved in synchronization with the rotation of the drum to be the sub-scanning. Evaluation of transferability is
The exposure was performed by changing the rotation number of the drum.

The results are shown in Table 1.

<< Ink Layer Drying Temperature >> The temperature at which cracking does not occur was determined by changing the drying temperature when applying the ink layer.

<< Cracking with time >> Room temperature, January and 55
The cracks under the conditions of storage at ℃, 20% RH and one week were evaluated in the following three grades.

◯: No cracks were found Δ: Some cracks were found ×: Completely cracked << Light-heat conversion layer drying temperature >> The temperature at which bleed-out of the infrared absorbing dye does not occur by changing the drying temperature of the light-heat conversion layer I asked.

<< Transmission Missing >> In the evaluation by the above-mentioned transfer, about 20 μm mixed between the recording material and the image receiving material at the time of material installation.
The transfer omission due to the thread dust was evaluated in the following three stages.

O: Completely transferred except for the dust part. Δ: About 200 μm around the dust is transfer omission. ×: Completely transfer around the dust (about 1 mm).

[0082]

[Table 1]

Gel: Alkali-treated gelatin APS:
Acid-treated pigskin gelatin IEG: amphoteric ion exchange gelatin CEG: cation exchange gelatin HBS: high boiling organic solvent Lx: latex GLx: gelatin-stabilized latex PVA: carboxy-modified poval HEC: hydroxyethyl cellulose Gly: glycerin As is clear from the results, In the ink sheets of Examples 1 to 10, even if the material of the cushion layer has large penetration and is soft at room temperature, the crack initiation start temperature during application of the ink layer is high, and there is no crack during storage over time. . Further, the image formed using the ink sheet of the present invention at a drum rotation speed of 245 rpm was an image without scattering or transfer of the photothermal conversion layer and no color turbidity.

[0084]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, light-to-heat conversion which is highly sensitive and prints well on a recording medium having low smoothness, and is free from cracks in the light-heat conversion layer during handling or application of the ink layer. A mold heat mode recording material is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing winding of a photothermal conversion type heat mode image receiving material and a recording material of the present invention around a drum-shaped decompressor.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing a drum-shaped decompressor and the periphery of the decompressor.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pressure roll 2 Decompression hole (2-1 shows an open state, 2-2 shows a closed state) 3 Heat mode recording material (3-1 is yellow, 3-2
Is magenta, 3-3 is cyan, and 3-4 is black recording material) 4 Heat mode image receiving material 5 Heat mode recording material replenishing means 6 Heat mode image receiving material replenishing means 7 Decompressor holding part 8 Optical writing means 9 Casing Body 10 pressure reducing valve

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A surface of a photothermal conversion heat mode recording material having an ink layer and an image receiving surface of the photothermal conversion heat mode image receiving material are superposed so as to face each other, and the ink is irradiated with light according to image information. A photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material used in a heat mode recording method for transferring a layer to the image receiving surface, at least a cushion layer on a support,
A photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material, comprising a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer laminated in this order, and subjected to a softening treatment so that the breaking elongation of the photothermal conversion layer is 10% or more. 2. The photothermal conversion heat mode recording material according to claim 1, wherein the photothermal conversion layer comprises a hydrophilic colloid layer containing at least gelatin as a binder. 3. The gelatin is cation exchange-treated gelatin,
The photothermal conversion type heat mode recording material according to claim 2, which is a gelatin selected from both ion-exchange treated gelatin and acid-treated pigskin gelatin. 4. The light-heat conversion layer is softened by adding a high-boiling point organic solvent.
The light-heat conversion type heat mode recording material described. 5. The light-heat conversion heat mode recording according to claim 2, wherein the light-heat conversion layer is softened by using gelatin and a water-soluble resin and / or latex together as a light-heat conversion layer binder. material. 6. The light-heat conversion heat mode recording material according to claim 5, wherein the latex is a latex stabilized with gelatin. 7. The photothermal conversion heat mode according to claim 2, wherein the cushion layer has an elastic modulus of 100 kg / mm ² or less, or the cushion layer has a penetration of 15 or more. Recording material.