JPS6233679A - Heat sensitive transfer material - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is suitable for high-speed thermal transfer recording, and also provides transfer recorded images with good print quality even on recording media with poor surface smoothness. The present invention relates to a heat-sensitive transfer material that can be used.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, with the rapid development of the information industry, various information processing systems have been developed, and recording methods and devices suitable for each information processing system have also been developed and adopted. One such recording method is the thermal recording method.
The equipment used is lightweight, compact, noiseless, and has excellent operability and maintainability, and has recently been widely used.

However, ordinary thermal recording paper used in thermal recording methods is expensive because it is a color-forming processed paper containing a coloring agent and a color developer, and the recording can be tampered with.
The recording paper has disadvantages in that the recording paper easily develops color due to heat or organic solvents, and the recording image fades in a relatively short period of time, resulting in poor recording stability.

A thermal transfer recording method has recently been attracting particular attention as a method that maintains the advantages of the above-mentioned thermal recording method and compensates for the drawbacks associated with the use of thermal recording paper.

This thermal transfer recording method generally uses a thermal transfer material in which a thermal transferable ink layer made of a heat-melting binder and a coloring material dispersed is coated on a sheet-like support.
This thermal transfer material is superimposed on a recording medium so that its thermal transferable ink layer is in contact with the recording medium, and heat is supplied from the support side of the thermal transfer material by a thermal head to transfer the melted ink layer to the recording medium. According to this method, a transfer ink image is formed on a recording medium according to the heat supply shape (turn). According to this method, the above-mentioned advantages of the thermal recording method are maintained, and plain paper can be used as a recording medium. This also eliminates the drawbacks associated with the use of heat-sensitive recording paper.

However, in order to spread the use of conventional thermal transfer recording methods and improve recording performance, attempts have been made to make the entire device compact and to make the support thinner in order to efficiently transfer the thermal transfer ink layer. be. In addition, in order to perform high-speed recording, efforts are being made to shorten the heat application pulse period and apply heat energy in a concentrated manner over a short period of time to promote transfer.

There have been attempts to perform high-quality transfer recording on paper with low smoothness by increasing the printing heating energy and increasing the amount of ink transfer.

On the other hand, with conventional thermal transfer materials, when recording is performed for a long time, the high heat energy applied to the support causes the skin to melt and adhere to the thermal head, interfering with the running of the thermal head. This may result in a so-called sticking phenomenon), and the deposits may cause a decrease in heat transfer from the heat generating portion of the thermal head to the thermal transfer material. Furthermore, the printing was not satisfactory because holes were formed in the support and the printing was distorted.

As a countermeasure for this, conventional methods have been to improve the heat resistance of the support by using thermoplastic resin such as silicone resin, fluororesin, or thermosetting resin such as epoxy resin, which has good heat resistance, on the side of the support that comes into contact with the thermal head. It has been proposed to provide a heat-resistant protective layer using resin.

However, in the case of conventionally used thermoplastic resins, they tend to melt and cause sticking, and they also have insufficient heat resistance and are easily deformed, so if the amount of applied heat is increased considerably, the print quality will deteriorate. It happened.

Furthermore, if the layer is made thicker in order to increase heat resistance, the printing heating energy will not be sufficiently transmitted to the ink layer, resulting in poor transferability and failure to obtain good printing.

Furthermore, with resin layers cured using light or heat, high-energy light or heat is required for curing, or irradiation or It requires a long heating time, which is extremely disadvantageous in terms of production.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the conventional drawbacks and provide a thermal transfer material that can prevent poor running due to the sticking phenomenon, melting of the support, holes, etc. even during thermal transfer recording using a high amount of applied heat. It has been done.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat-sensitive transfer material that can prevent deformation due to melting of the support, disturbance of heat conduction to the ink layer, and mixing of molten ink into the support.

The present invention is further suitable for high-speed thermal transfer recording, and
This invention was made in order to provide a heat-sensitive transfer material that can provide a transferred recorded image with good print quality even on a recording medium with poor surface smoothness.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a heat-sensitive transfer material in which the heat-resistant protection treatment of the support is simple and easy.

[Failure to solve the problem]

That is, the heat-sensitive transfer material provided by the present invention has a heat-transferable ink layer on a support, and a layer mainly composed of aromatic polyamide is provided between the support and the heat-transferable ink layer. It is characterized by having the following.

[Detailed description and examples of the invention]

The thermal transfer material of the present invention has a structure as shown in FIG. 1, for example. That is, for example, on a sheet-like support 1, there is provided a layer 2 containing aromatic polyamide as a main component and a thermal transferable ink layer 3.

The aromatic polyamide used in the present invention is basically (in the formula,
Ar and Ar' each represent an optionally substituted arylene group such as a phenylene group.

n represents the degree of polymerization. ), and this basic skeleton can be formed by a conventionally known method into a combination of duamine and dicarboxylic acid, or its conductor, such as a combination of acid Halai P and diamine, or noisocyanate. and dicargo/acid by interfacial polycondensation method, low-temperature solution polymerization method, etc.

Specific examples of the structural unit of the general formula include the following.

X Y (However, X and Y each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a nitro group, or a phenyl group). In addition to one or more types of skeletons, it may contain a sulfone bond such as and an ether bond such as. Further, in addition to the amide bond found in the basic skeleton, it may contain a urea bond or an imide bond.

When the layer 2 mainly composed of aromatic polyamide is provided on the support, for example, aromatic polyamide? It is simple and easy to provide because it can be provided by applying a solution of lyamide and drying it. That is, first, an aromatic polyamide is prepared, for example, dimethylformamide.

dimethylamide, hexamethylphosphoramide,
Dissolved in polar solvent such as N-methylpyrrolidone, bar coater, roll coater.

The layer can be formed by applying it to the support using any method such as an applicator and drying it.

Further, other resins having good heat resistance may be mixed into this solution, or all of a leveling agent, a surfactant, etc. may be mixed in order to improve coating.

The thickness of the layer 2 mainly composed of aromatic polyamide is optimized considering heat resistance and transferability, but is 0.05 to 10 μm.
m, more preferably 0.1 to 2 μm.

As the support l, it is possible to use a support mainly made of a heat-resistant material that has been conventionally used in heat-sensitive transfer materials, but in the present invention, in particular, adhesion with the aromatic polyamide layer is taken into consideration. For example, polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarnate, triacetylcellulose film, cellophane, etc. can be used. The thickness of the support is preferably about 0.5 to 30 μm, more preferably about 1 to 15 μm, when considering a thermal head as a heat source during thermal transfer recording.

Further, the support may be multi-layered for reinforcement, if necessary.

Furthermore, on the side of the support 1 on which the layer 2 mainly composed of aromatic polyamide is not provided, a layer mainly composed of the above-mentioned aromatic polyamide or a conventionally used silicone resin or fluororesin is applied. A heat-resistant protective layer made of polyimide resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, acrylic resin, nitrocellulose, etc. may be provided.

The thermally transferable ink layer 3 can be provided using a thermally meltable material (pinder), a coloring material, various additives, etc. that are added as necessary. As a heat-melting binder,
Waxes such as carnauba wax, paraffin wax, Sasol wax, microcrystalline wax, castor wax; stearic acid, mother lumitic acid,
OA class fatty acids such as lauric acid, aluminum stearate, lead stearate, barium stearate, zinc stearate, zinc rumitate, methyl hydroxystearate, crystallol monohydroxystearate, or derivatives such as their metal salts and esters. , polyamide resins, polyester resins, extremely high molecular weight epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, polyacrylic resins (e.g. polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylamide), vinyl resins including polyvinylpyrrolidone, vinyl chloride resins, etc. resins (e.g., vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc.), cellulose resins (e.g., methyl cellulose,
ethyl cellulose, calkoxymethyl cellulose, etc.),
/! ') Vinyl alcohol resins (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol, etc.), petroleum resins, rosin derivatives, bear mouth/indene resins, terpene resins, novolac type phenolic resins, polystyrene resins, polyolefin resins (For example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc.), I-rivinyl ether resin, ? Examples include polyethylene glycol resin, elastomers, natural rubber, styrene, butadiene rubber, and isoprene rubber.

The softening temperature of the thermofusible material ranges from 40°C to 150°C, preferably from 60°C to 140°C. Also, the melt viscosity is 1
20,000 to 200,000 centipoise at 50°C (rotational viscometer)
It is preferable that it shows.

As the coloring material, all the various dyes and pigments used in the fields of printing and recording can be used. For example, carbon black, nigrosine dye, lamp black, sudan f lac SM, 7 earth yellow G, benzicine yellow, pigment yellow, indo first orange, ilcanone red, paranitroaniline red, toluidine red, carmine FB, /41-Manent Bordeaux FRB, Pigment Orange R,
Lysol φ Red 2G, Lake Red 0, Rhodamine FB, Rhodamine B Lake, Methyl Violet B
Lake, Phthalocyanine True, Pigment Blue, Turrillant Green B, Phthalocyanine Green, Oil Yellow GG, Deden-Fast Yellow OGG
, Kayaset Y963, Kayasera) YG, Xmi 7'7
St.Ero GG, Degon First Orange RR,
Oil Scarlet, Sumigerast Orange G, Orazol Φ Brown B, Zagon 7 Earth Scarlet O
G, Eisensbiron Red BEH, Oil Pink OP, Victoria Blue F4R17 Earth Danpuru 5007. All known dyes and pigments such as Sudan Blue and Oil Peacock Blue can be used. These colorants are typically combined with, for example, a hot melt binder 10
It is preferably used in a ratio of 3 to 300 parts by weight to 0 parts by weight.

Two or more types of these heat-melting binders and colorants may be used.

In addition to these, additives such as dispersants, fillers made of fine metal powders, fine inorganic powders, etc., plasticizers, oil agents, etc. may be used.

The thermal transfer ink layer 3 is prepared by adding a colorant and additives to a heat-melting binder and melting and kneading them using a dispersion device such as an attritor, or by adding them together with an appropriate solvent. The ink is kneaded to obtain a hot-melt ink or a solution or dispersion ink, and the ink is applied onto the layer containing the aromatic polyamide as a main component, followed by drying if necessary.

The thickness of the thermal transferable ink layer 30 is about 0.5 to 30 μm,
More practically, it is about 1 to 15 μm.

Alternatively, the thermally transferable ink layer can have a laminated structure of two or more layers.

Although the planar shape of the thermal transfer material of the present invention is not particularly limited, it is generally a tie print material. It is used in the form of a tape or a wide tape used in line printers. In addition, for color recording, a heat-sensitive transfer material coated with heat-melting inks of several different tones can also be used.

The thermal transfer recording method using the above-mentioned thermal transfer material is not particularly different from a normal thermal transfer recording method, and a heat source such as a thermal head or radar light can be used as a heat source for thermal transfer recording. EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples.

Example 1 A polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter abbreviated as PET) film with a thickness of 6 μm is used as a support.

On this film, an aromatic polyamide obtained from p-phenylenediamine and terephthaloyl chloride was dehydrochlorinated and neutralized in dimethylformamide, and then made into a 10% dimethylformamide solution. It was coated using an aggregator and dry marked at 100° C. for 10 minutes to form a 0.5 μm layer mainly composed of aromatic polyamide.

Next, each component of the ink having the following composition was heated to 100° C. and mixed in a sand mill for 30 minutes to disperse carden black, thereby preparing Ink 1.

<Composition of Ink 1> This Ink 1 was hot-melt coated using a Mayer parser onto the layer containing the above-mentioned aromatic polyamide as a main component, and a thickness of 5.
Thermal transferable ink layer has a thickness of ~6 μm.

In this way, a thermal transfer material (g) was obtained.

Using this thermal transfer material (4), thermal transfer recording was performed under the following conditions.

The recorded image obtained by this method had good transferability, sharpness, and density, and during recording,
No sticking occurred, there were very few holes in the PET film after recording, the support and ink layer were normal, and there were no particular problems with transfer or printing.

Example 2 Aromatic polyamide was coated on both sides of a PET film with a thickness of 3.5 μm as in Example 1 in a thickness of 0.5 μm each in the same manner as in Example 1, and the main component was aromatic polyamide, 1 + 7 amide. Provide layers.

Next, on one side of the PET film provided with the layer containing the aromatic polyamide as a main component, ink l was applied under the same conditions and method as in Example 1, so as to be laminated on the heat-resistant layer. A thermal transfer material CB) was obtained.

Using this thermal transfer material (B), thermal transfer recording was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1. The recorded image obtained is clear,
There was no stickiness, there were no holes in the PET film after recording, and the transferred recorded image was good.

Comparative Example Ink 1 was directly applied to 5 μm of PET film with a thickness of 3.5 μm without the heat-resistant layer in Example 1 and Example 2.
Apply hot melt coating to a thickness of ~6 μm.

A thermal transfer material (C) was thus obtained.

Using this thermal transfer material (C), the same conditions as in Example 1,
Thermal transfer recording was performed using the method. The obtained recorded image lacked sharpness, the PET film had many holes after recording, and the presence of deposits due to melting of the thermal transfer material (C) was also observed on the thermal head.

Furthermore, during long-term recording, the accumulation of deposits on the thermal head caused running problems.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the thermal transfer material of the present invention, even when thermal transfer recording is performed using a high amount of applied heat, there is no possibility that printing or transfer defects will occur due to poor running due to the sticking phenomenon, melting of the support, holes, etc. There is no. Further, it is possible to prevent deformation and distortion of the heat-sensitive transfer material due to melting of the support, disturbance of heat conduction to the ink layer, and mixing of molten ink into the support.

Therefore, it can pass through high-speed thermal transfer recording, and can provide transfer recording with good print quality even on recording media with poor surface smoothness.

Further, since the aromatic polyamide is used, the heat-resistant insulating treatment of the support becomes simple and easy, which is extremely advantageous industrially.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of the thermal transfer material of the present invention. 2... Support, 2... Layer containing aromatic polyamide as a main component, 3... Thermal transferable ink layer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A heat-sensitive transfer material having a heat-transferable ink layer on a support, the heat-sensitive transfer material having a layer containing aromatic polyamide as a main component between the support and the heat-transferable ink layer.