JPH0278596A - Thermal transfer recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve fixing properties by incorporating a satd. linear polyester having a specific softening point in a second heat-softening layer. CONSTITUTION:A second heat-softening layer contains a satd. linear polyester having a softening point of 50-150 deg.C, or the second heat-softening layer contains a polyester having a weight average molecular weight of 1000-70000 other than said satd. linear polyester having a softening point of 50-150 deg.C. As a substrate in this thermal transfer recording medium, papers, resin films, composites of papers and resin films, a metal sheet such as an aluminum foil, and the like are used. A first heat-softening layer is provided between the substrate and the second heat-softening layer and contains a hot melt substance, e.g., waxes, such as a vegetable wax, an animal wax, a paraffin wax, and a mineral wax. As the satd. linear polyester, a satd., unsatd. linear, or non-linear polyester of satd. dibasic acids and diols can be used. In this manner, a high-quality printing image enhanced in fixing properties can be formed on any recording medium.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a thermal transfer recording medium, and more specifically, it is capable of producing high-quality printed images with good fixing properties and dot reproducibility, and without voids or fading. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording medium that can be easily formed and that can achieve high print quality even when performing high-speed printing.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Recording materials for printing with thermal transfer recording media include smooth paper for thermal transfer specially prepared for thermal transfer, RPC paper, and rough paper (for example, bond paper). ), OHP sheets, etc.

Conventional thermal transfer recording media either have improved printing quality or fixing properties for each of the various recording media, or have high printing quality and good fixing properties for any of the various non-recording media. It cannot be printed.

For example, 1. Well-known wax transfer type or solid melt ink type thermal transfer recording media (so-called ink ribbons) for word processors can print relatively well on smooth paper for thermal transfer. However, very insufficient printing can be performed on PPC paper, rough paper, and OHP sheets, especially rough paper.

In addition, some thermal transfer recording media that can print on rough paper with high print quality have been proposed. It has a new problem that it is inferior.

Although thermal transfer recording media that can perform high-quality printing individually on various recording media have been proposed, it is difficult to achieve high print quality on any of the above-mentioned various recording media. It is no exaggeration to say that there is still no thermal transfer recording medium on which printing can be performed with good fixability and dot reproducibility.

This invention aims to solve the above problems.

That is, an object of the present invention is to improve fixability and dots on any recording medium specially prepared for thermal transfer, such as smooth paper for thermal transfer, PPC paper, rough paper (for example, bond paper), OHP sheet, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording medium that can be used to print high quality prints with good reproducibility and no voids or blurring.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording medium that can perform high quality printing as described above, whether at low speed or high speed.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention for solving the problems described above includes providing a second heat-softening layer on a support via at least one first heat-softening layer, and In a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium comprising a coloring material in at least one of the first heat-softening layer and the second heat-softening layer, the second heat-softening layer has a softening point of 5
A thermal transfer recording medium characterized by containing a saturated linear polyester having a temperature of 0 to 150°C.

Further, the present invention provides a second heat-softening layer on the support via at least one first heat-softening layer, and at least one of the first heat-softening layer M and the second heat-softening layer. In the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium containing a coloring material in the layer, the second heat-softening layer has a molecular weight per weight of t, ooo to
70,000 polyester.

Next, the structure of the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the present invention will be described in detail in the order of the support, the first heat-softening layer, and the second heat-softening layer.

(11) Support (11) It is desirable that the support in the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention has good heat resistance strength and high dimensional stability.

The materials include, for example, papers such as plain paper, capacitor paper, laminated paper, and coated paper; resin films such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyimide; composites of paper and resin films; and aluminum foil. Metal sheets such as the above are preferably used.

The thickness of the support is usually 30 μm or less, preferably 2 to 30 μm.
It is within the range of 30pm. If the thickness of the support exceeds 30 pm, thermal conductivity may deteriorate, leading to deterioration in printing quality.

In addition, in the thermal transfer recording medium of this invention.

The structure of the back side of the support is arbitrary, and for example, a backing layer such as an anti-sticking layer may be provided.

(11) First heat-softening layer--The first heat-softening layer is formed between the support and the second heat-softening layer described in detail below.

The first heat-softening layer contains at least a heat-melting substance.

Specific examples of the heat-melting substances include vegetable waxes such as carnauba wax, wood wax, auriculie wax, and Nispar wax; animal waxes such as beeswax, insect wax, shellac wax, and spermaceti wax; paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, and polyethylene wax. , petroleum waxes such as ester waxes and oxidized waxes; and lit waxes such as montan wax, osichelite and ceresin; furthermore, in addition to these waxes, waxes such as valmitic acid, stearic acid, margaric acid and Higher fatty acids such as behenic acid, palmityl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol,
Higher alcohols such as marganyl alcohol, myricyl alcohol and eicosanol: cetyl valmitate,
Higher fatty acid esters such as myricyl valmitate, cetyl stearate and myricyl stearate; amides such as acetamide, propionic acid amide, valmitic acid amide, stearic acid amide and amide wax; and stearylamine, behenylamine and valmitylamine, etc. Examples include higher amines.

These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Among these, preferred is a wax whose melting point is within the range of 50 to 100°C as measured using a Yanagimoto MJP-2 model.

The content rate of the thermofusible substance in the first thermosoftening layer is:
Generally, 5 to 9
Within the range of 5% by weight, preferably 10-90% by weight
is within the range of

The first heat-softening layer may contain a thermoplastic resin together with the heat-melting substance.

Jingji thermoplastic resins include ethylene copolymers, polyamide resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, acrylic resins, vinyl chloride resins, cellulose resins, rosin resins, ionomer resins, and Resins such as petroleum resins: Elastomers such as natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, imprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, and diene copolymers: Rosin derivatives such as ester gum, rosin maleic acid resin, rosin phenol resin, and hydrogenated rosin : and polymeric compounds having a softening point of 50 to 150° C. such as phenol resins, terpene resins, cyclopentadiene resins, and aromatic hydrocarbon resins.

Among the various thermoplastic resins, acrylic resins, diene copolymers, and ethylene copolymers are preferred. This is because by using these, it is possible to obtain a thermal transfer recording medium with particularly good high-speed printing quality.

Preferred thermoplastic resins will be explained below.

Examples of the acrylic resin include acrylic resins obtained by polymerizing monobasic carboxylic acids such as (meth)acrylic acid or their esters and at least one type of compound that can be copolymerized with these. It's coming.

Examples of the carboxylic acid or its ester include (
(meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid methyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid ethyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid isopropyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid methyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid isobutyl ester, (
meth)acrylic acid amyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid hexyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid octyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid decyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid dodecyl ester, Examples include (meth)acrylic acid hydroxymethyl ester and (meth)acrylic acid hydroxyethyl ester.

Further, examples of the above-mentioned copolymerizable compounds include vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and vinylidene chloride.

Maleic anhydride, fumaric anhydride, styrene, 2-methylstyrene, chlorstyrene, acrylonitrile, vinyltoluene, N-methylol(meth)acrylamide, N
-butoxymethyl (meth)acrylamide, vinylpyridine and N-vinylpyrrolidone.

Examples of the diene copolymer include butadiene-styrene copolymer, butadiene-styrene-vinylpyridine copolymer, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, chloroprene-styrene copolymer, and chloroprene-acrylonitrile copolymer. .

Examples of the ethylene copolymer include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-isobutyl acrylate copolymer, and ethylene-acrylic acid. Examples include copolymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymers, and ethylene-acrylic acid metal salt copolymers.

These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The content rate of the thermoplastic resin in the first thermosoftening layer is:
Usually within the range of 1 to 40% by weight, preferably 3 to 40% by weight.
Within the range of 20% by weight, more preferably 5 to 15%
Within the range of % by weight.

In addition to the above-mentioned components, the first heat-softening layer may contain a surfactant, such as a polyoxyethylene button-containing compound, in order to adjust the peelability.

Furthermore, inorganic or organic fine particles (metal powder, silica gel, etc.) or oils (linseed oil, mineral oil, etc.) may be added.

In the heat-sensitive recording medium of the present invention, the first heat-softening layer may contain a coloring material.

Examples of the coloring material include pigments such as inorganic pigments and organic pigments, and dyes.

Examples of the inorganic pigments include titanium dioxide, carbon black, zinc oxide, Prussian true, cadmium sulfide, iron oxide, and chromates of lead, zinc, barium, and calcium.

Examples of the organic pigments include azo, thioindigo, anthraquinone, anthanthrone, and triphenedioxazine pigments, vat dye pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, such as copper phthalocyanine and its derivatives, and quinacridone pigments.

Examples of the dye include acid dyes, direct dyes, disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes, and metal-containing oil-soluble dyes.

When the first heat-softening layer contains the coloring material, the content of the coloring material in the first heat-softening layer is usually in the range of 5 to 40% by weight, preferably 10 to 30% by weight. Within the range of %.

The first heat-softening layer can be formed by hot-melt coating method, water-based coating method,
The coating can be applied using a coating method using an organic solvent.

The thickness of the first heat-softening layer coated on the support by such a coating method is usually in the range of 0.3 to 8.04 m, preferably 0.5 to 6.0 pm. Within range.

On the first heat-softening layer thus formed, a second heat-softening layer, which will be described in detail below, is laminated, for example, via an intermediate layer or directly.

-1 Second thermosoftening layer 11 One of the important points of this invention is that the first thermosoftening layer can be softened directly on the first thermosoftening layer or through another layer such as an intermediate layer. Point 50-+50℃1 Especially 60-10
A second heat-softening layer containing a saturated linear polyester at 0°C or a polyester resin other than the saturated linear polyester having an ff1ffi average molecular weight (Mw) of 1.000 to 70,000 is provided. There is a particular thing.

By containing the specific saturated linear polyester in the second heat-softening layer, high-quality printed images with good fixing properties and dot reproducibility can be printed at low speed without being selective to the recording medium. It can be formed in both high-speed and high-speed printing.

In particular, when a saturated linear polyester with a softening point of 50 to 150°C is contained in the second heat-softening layer, it has good fixability even on resin recording materials such as OHP sheets and rough paper, and eliminates voids and scratches. A high-quality printed image free of blemishes is formed in both low-speed and high-speed printing.

Furthermore, among saturated linear polyesters, a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium in which the second heat-softening layer contains a polyester compound having a softening point of less than 50°C may have a reduced shelf life, and may have a softening point of less than 50°C. If a polyester compound having a temperature higher than 150° C. is used, the fixability of printing on an OHP sheet will be poor.

Examples of the saturated linear polyester having a softening point of 50 to 150°C include condensation polyesters of saturated dibasic acids and diols, which have a softening point of 50 to 150°C.

Examples of the saturated dibasic acids include aromatic dibasic acids such as phthalic acid, phthalic anhydride, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, dimer acid, isophthalic acid, and hydroxybenzoic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, and 3°6-nindomethylenetetrahydro. Phthalic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic acid, 3,6-
Examples include aliphatic dibasic acids or alicyclic dibasic acids such as dichloromethylenetetrachlorophthalic acid and thiodiglycolic acid, and lactones such as caprolactone.

In addition, as diols, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, butylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, bisphenol A,
Examples include bisphenol dioxyethyl ether, bisphenol dioxypropyl ether, neopentyl glycol and butyne diol.

Each of the various saturated dibasic acids and diols may be used singly or in combination of two or more thereof.

Among the polyesters obtained from the various saturated dibasic acids and diols, preferred are linear polyesters having an ester bond (-Go-0-) in the main chain and solid at room temperature and derivatives thereof, and polyester waxes. is particularly preferred.

The polyester wax is one containing three or more ester bonds (-Co-0-) in one molecule, and has a weight average molecular weight of i (Mw') or I, Son to +2. O.D.
Refers to compounds within the range of D.

Such compounds include, for example, polycondensates of polyhydric alcohols and polybasic acids, or lactone compounds such as I51! It can be obtained as a ring polymer.

Preferred specific examples of the polyester wax are shown below.

(1) Polycondensate of adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol (Mw = 2,000, softening point 55°C), (Z) (
- caprolactone; ring-opening polymer (Mw = 4.ODD, softening point 60°C)
, (3) Sebacic acid-decamethylene glycol copolymer (Mw = 3,000)
, (4) Adipic acid-propylene glycol copolymer (Mw = 3,000), (5) ω-hydroxydecanoic acid polymer Mw = 4,000), (5) δ-valerolactone polymer (Mw = 4. OQG), the polyester wax that can be suitably used in the present invention may be a compound containing such polyester in the molecule in the form of a block or a graft, and further has an alkyl group or an amide group at the end. It may also have one or more hydroxyl groups, amino groups, carboxyl groups, or carbonyl groups. Furthermore, it may partially have an ether bond, amide bond, or urethane bond in the main chain or side chain.

Polyester waxes are not limited to those synthesized using dibasic acids and dihydric alcohols, polybasic acids and polyhydric alcohols shown in the above examples, but also those synthesized using other dibasic acids and dihydric alcohols, polysalt 2&acids and It may be synthesized using polyhydric alcohol.

Polyester wax can also be obtained commercially. Specifically, "Plaxel" [Product name: manufactured by Daicel Chemical ■] series, "R Elythyl" [Product name;
Examples include the Unitika series.

A more preferred saturated linear polyester than the polyester wax is a saturated linear polyester. ! It is a saturated aromatic polyester obtained from a saturated dibasic acid and a diol in which either the base acid or the diol has an aromatic nucleus.

A thermal transfer recording medium with a second heat-softening layer having a saturated aromatic polyester exhibits even better resistance to rough paper than a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium with a second heat-softening layer having a saturated aliphatic polyester. This is because printing can be performed with high printing quality.

In addition, although the saturated aromatic polyester has an aromatic double bond in the molecule, it must not have a double bond in the molecule that allows graft copolymerization of styrene, etc. In this sense, it is saturated, and as far as this goes, there are no particular restrictions.

Such saturated aromatic polyesters, for example,
Examples include glyptal resin, glybutal resin, isophthalic acid resin, terephthalic acid resin, and polyarylate.

The saturated linear polyester with a softening point of 50 to 150°C in the present invention has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of t, ooo to
70,000, preferably 1. It is preferably within the range of Goo to In,000.

When the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the saturated linear polyester is within the range of 1,000 to 70,000, the effects of the present invention will be even more effective.

Further, the saturated linear polyester has a glass transition point (T
g) is preferably 30'C or higher.

When the glass transition point (Tg) of the saturated linear polyester is 30° C. or higher, the effects of the present invention are further exhibited.

The content of the saturated linear polyester in the second thermosoftening layer is usually in the range of 5 to 100% by weight, preferably in the range of 10 to 90% by weight.

In the present invention, a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 70,000, particularly 2,000 to 20
It is also preferable for the second thermosoftening layer to contain a polyester within the range of .

A weight average molecular weight of 1.000 to 70 other than the saturated linear polyester having a softening point within the range of 50 to 150°C
,000 can include unsaturated linear polyesters and non-linear polyesters.

Unsaturated linear polyesters include unsaturated dibasic acids such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, chlorinated maleic anhydride, and diphenylmethane-di-γ-ketocrotonic acid 4,4'. Examples include polyesters obtained by condensing an acid with a diol having an unsaturated double bond such as the diols explained in connection with the saturated linear polyester or butynediol.

Moreover, as a nonlinear polyester, the polyester obtained by condensing a polybasic acid and a polyhydric alcohol can be mentioned.

The second heat-softening layer is applied onto the first heat-softening layer directly or by using a coating method similar to that which can be applied to the first heat-softening layer. It can be coated through an intermediate layer.

The thickness of the second heat-softening layer coated in this way is usually in the range of 0.3 to 2.5 gm, preferably in the range of L5 to 2.5 gm. Q: Within the range of ILm.

In addition to the saturated linear polyester compound having a softening point within a specific range or a polyester having a specific weight average molecular weight, the second thermosoftening layer may also contain other materials such as a thermofusible material, a thermoplastic resin, etc. It may contain ingredients.

These can be made by using the same materials as those used in the first heat-softening layer described above.

Furthermore, the second thermosoftening layer may contain a coloring material.

On the other hand, when the first heat-softening layer contains a coloring material and functions as an ink layer, the second heat-softening layer
It may contain the coloring material, or it may not contain the coloring material.

While the first heat-softening layer contains a coloring material and functions as an ink layer, when the second heat-softening layer does not contain a coloring material, this second heat-softening layer protects the ink layer. At the same time, it acts as an overboot layer for improving the fixing properties to a recording medium, especially an OHP sheet.

m-Others-1 In the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention, a conventionally known release layer or anchor layer may be provided between the support and the first heat-softening layer, as long as it does not impede the object of the present invention. Alternatively, an intermediate layer may be provided between the first heat-softening layer and the second heat-softening layer.

After each layer has been coated in this manner, it is optionally subjected to a drying step, a surface smoothing step, etc., and then cut into a desired shape to obtain the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention.

The thermal transfer recording medium obtained in this way is as follows.

For example, it can be used in the form of a tape or a sheet.

The heat-sensitive transfer method using this heat-sensitive transfer recording medium is not different from a normal heat-sensitive transfer recording method, but will be explained using an example in which the most typical thermal head is used as a heat source.

First, the heat-softening layer of the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium and the resin recording medium are brought into close contact with each other, and if necessary, heat pulses are further applied from the back of the recording medium using a platen, and a heat pulse is applied using a thermal head. The heat-softening layer corresponding to the printed or transferred pattern is locally heated.

The temperature of the heated portion of the thermosoftening layer increases.

It quickly softens and is transferred onto the recording medium.

At this time, since the first heat-softening layer contains at least a heat-melting substance, it is quickly peeled off from the support even when printing is performed at high speed, and the second heat-softening layer contains at least the above-mentioned specific material. Since it contains polyester, it exhibits good fixing properties to the recording medium and can form high-quality printed images.

In addition, when the second thermosoftening layer is used as an overcoat layer,
It exhibits good fixing properties even on resin-made recording materials, and can form high-quality printed images.

[Example] Next, Examples and Comparative Examples of the present invention will be shown to further specifically explain the present invention.

(Example 1) The following heat-softening columnar layer composition was applied on a polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 3.5 gm to a dry film thickness of 2.0 gm.
The first heat-softening layer was formed by coating the film in such a manner that the film had a thickness of 100 m.

The first heat-softening columnar layer composition was applied by a hot-melt method using a wire bar.

-Paraffin wax: 65% by weight Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer: 15% by weight Carbon black: 20% by weight Then, the following is described. The JJI overcoat layer composition (second heat-softening columnar layer composition) was applied to the first heat-softening layer to a dry film thickness of 1.5.
gm, and a second heat-softening layer was formed as an overcoat layer to produce a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the present invention.

The overcoat footwear composition was applied by dissolving or dispersing the overcoat footwear composition in methyl ethyl ketone and using a wire bar.

Overcoat polyester wax ["Erythyl 8001", manufactured by Unitika ■, softening point 65°C]...The obtained thermal transfer recording medium of 100% by weight was transferred to a commercially available printer (24 dot serial head, applied energy: 30 mJ/ Printing was carried out on various recording media shown in Table 1, and the fixation of the print and print quality were evaluated.

The results are shown in Table 1.

The fixation of the print was evaluated as follows.

That is, the printed image remaining on the recording medium-F is detected by closely adhering an adhesive tape [Boston Cheve J; manufactured by Sumitomo 3M ■] to the obtained printed image and then peeling it off. was evaluated.

In Table 1, the meanings of the symbols are as follows.

Anal seedlings ◎・・・・・・No voids or scratches, sharp and good dot reproducibility.

○: There are no voids or blurring, and the sharpness is excellent.

△・・・・・・There are some voids.

X: There are many voids and the letters are difficult to read.

Constant hardness O... There is almost no change in printing after tape FA port.

△・・・・・・Ink peels off slightly.

X...The printing has peeled off and cannot be read.

(Example 2) Example 1 was repeated in Example 1 except that the overcoat footwear composition shown below was used in place of the overcoat footwear composition used in Example 1. It was carried out in the same manner.

The results are shown in Table i1.

Overcoat, ■ Polyester wax [1 Plaxel 240], manufactured by Taisel Chemical: M 4,000, softening point 58℃ 1]...
...50% by weight Paraffin wax...20% by weight Ethylene-vinyl acetate comonomer...30% by weight (Comparative Example 1) In the above Example 1, the above Example A thermal transfer recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the following overcoat footwear composition was used in place of the overcoat footwear composition used in Example 1, and the resulting thermal transfer The recording medium was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 above.

The results are shown in Table 1.

1 Barco paraffin wax...70i 1% Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer...30 TIE amount% (Comparative Example 2) In the above Example 1, the overcoat used in the above Example 1 was worn. A thermal transfer recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the overcoat footwear composition shown below was used instead of the overcoat composition. The evaluation was conducted in the same manner.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Overcoat - Acrylic resin [Mw 4. OOQ, softening point 1 [i (1°C)] ・--
50ffi amount% paraffin wax...2
0% by weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer...30% by weight (Example 3) The following heat-softening columnar composition was applied to a polyethylene terephthalate film with a dry film thickness of 3.5 pm.
A first heat-softening layer was formed by coating the resin to form a first heat-softening layer.

The first heat-softening columnar layer composition was applied by a hot-melt method using a wire bar.

I+ Paraffin wax [melting point: 69°C]...75% by weight Tire Karuna-30 [Mitsubishi Kasei Corporation]...7% by weight EV
210 [E DuPont Polychemical H]・・・・・・
5% by weight Carbon black: 18% by weight Next, the composition for a second heat-softening columnar layer described below was applied onto the first heat-softening layer to a dry film thickness of 1.5% by weight. A second heat-softening layer was formed by applying the resin to a thickness of 0 tiles to produce a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the present invention.

The second heat-softening column layer composition was applied by dissolving or dispersing the second heat-softening column layer composition in methyl ethyl ketone and using a wire bar.

Terpolyester resin [Mw 2. :100, softening point 80
°C, condensate of phthalic acid and bisphenol compound] T
g35℃] 45% by weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) [vinyl acetate (VA
) Contains! -40%]...20% by weight Rosin modified resin [melting point 80°C]...20wt, 1-% carbon black...15wt% The thermal transfer recording medium was attached to a reprint printer (24F sat serial head, applied energy: 30 J/h) and heated to 1°C.
Printing was performed on the recording media shown in Table 1, and the fixation of the print and the print quality were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 1.

(Example 4) +iη In Example 3, in place of the second heat-softening column layer composition used in Example 3, the following second heat-softening M1 elbow shell was used. was carried out in the same manner as in Example 3 above.

The results are shown in Table 1.

polyester resin [phthalovar NP, phthalic acid and polyhydric alcohol composite, manufactured by RASFA, softening point 85°C]
......70% by weight polybutyl methacrylate...20% by weight EVA [VA content 4+ (Example 5) In Example 3, ■In place of the composition for the first heat-softening columnar layer used in Example 3, the following composition for the heat-softening columnar layer was used; ■The second heat-softening property used in Example 3 Example 3 was carried out in the same manner as in Example 3, except that the second thermally softened column layer composition shown below was used in place of Layer Set I&.

The results are shown in Table 1.

EMMA resin [Acrift 50b]・IO 0% by weight Carnauba wax・・・・・・・・・15% by weight Paraffin [melting point 75℃]・・・・・・60% weight carbon black・・・・・・・・・・・・・15fii%-bipolyester resin [condensation product of phthalic acid and glycol.
Mw 9,000, softening point 107°C, Tg 53
．． 5°C]... 100% by weight (Example 6) In Example 5, in place of the second thermally softened column layer composition used in Example 5, the following first thermal Example 5 was carried out in the same manner as in Example 5 except that a soft layered ffl material was used.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Polyester resin %1 [condensate of phthalic acid and glycols, Mw 38,000, softening point 120°C. Tg8℃]
...50% by weight alkylphenol resin [softening point 80°C] ...4
0wt% Polybutyl methacrylate 10wt% (Comparative Example 3) In Example 3, the following was used instead of the second heat-softening footwear composition used in Example 3. A heat-sensitive transfer recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 3, except that the second heat-softening layer set shown above was used, and the obtained heat-sensitive transfer recording medium was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 3. I did it.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Mini polystyrene resin [Mw2,000, softening point 80°C]
45% by weight EVA [VA content 4+ rosin modified resin [melting point 80°C] 20% by weight Carbon black 15% by weight (Comparative Example 4)
) In the above Example 5, the second heat softenable footwear composition shown below was used in place of the second heat softenable layer composition used in the above Example 5. A thermal transfer recording medium was produced in the same manner as in Example 5, and the obtained thermal transfer recording medium was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 5 above.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Two-ketone resin [melting point 90°C] ... so 1% by weight Polybutyl methacrylate ... to 314% alkylphenol resin ... 40% by weight (Laigou, hereafter blank) (Evaluation) It is clear from Table 1 As described above, the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention exhibits excellent fixing properties to any recording medium even when printing is performed at high speed on any recording medium, and print quality does not deteriorate. That was confirmed.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, (1) A high-quality printed image with good fixability can be formed on any recording medium.

(2) Furthermore, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer recording medium which has the following advantages: even when the printing speed is increased, there is little deterioration in printing quality and it is excellent in adaptability to high-speed printing.

Patent applicant: Konica Corporation - 4゛ +l8 and-

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A second heat-softening layer is provided on the support via at least one first heat-softening layer, and at least one of the first heat-softening layer and the second heat-softening layer is provided. A heat-sensitive transfer recording medium containing a coloring material, wherein the second heat-softening layer contains a saturated linear polyester having a softening point of 50 to 150°C. (2) A second heat-softening layer is provided on the support via at least one first heat-softening layer, and at least one of the first heat-softening layer and the second heat-softening layer is provided. In the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium containing a coloring material, the second heat-softening layer is made of a material other than a saturated linear polyester having a softening point of 50 to 150°C and having a weight molecular weight of 1,000 to 70,000.
A thermal transfer recording medium characterized by containing polyester.