Foamed, opacifying elements with thermally transferred images

Abstract

A foamed, opacifying element has a thermal colorant image on either an opposing external surface and an internal surface of a porous substrate. The internal surface has a dry foamed composition disposed thereon as a dry opacifying layer that comprises: (a) 0.1-40 weight % of porous particles; (b) at least 10 weight % of an at least partially cured binder material; (c) at least 0.2 weight % of one or more additives comprising a surfactant; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the one or more (c) additives, which opacifying colorant absorbs predetermined electromagnetic radiation. The thermal colorant image is derived from thermal colorant transfer of sublimable colorants from a thermal donor element.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Reference is made to the following copending and commonly assigned patent applications:[0002]U.S. Ser. No. 15 / ______ (filed on even date herewith by Herrick and Nair), and entitled “Method for Preparing Thermally Imaged Opacifying Elements” (Attorney Docket K002167 / JLT);[0003]U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 181,766 (filed Feb. 17, 2014 by Lofftus, Nair, and Brick), now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication 2015 / 0234098;[0004]U.S. Ser. No. 15 / 144,893 (filed May 3, 2016 by Brick, Nair, and McHugh) that is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 730,280, filed Jun. 4, 2015 by Brick, Nair, Lindner, and Pyszczek, now abandoned.[0005]U.S. Ser. No. 15 / 144,875 (filed May 3, 2016 by Nair, Brick, and Pyszczek), recently allowed, that is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 730,269, filed Jun. 4, 2015 by Brick, Nair, Lindner, and Pyszczek, now abandoned;[0006]U.S. Ser. No. 15 / 144,911 (filed May 3, 2016 by Brick, Nair, Lindner, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides foamed, opacifying elements that have several advantages over existing technologies. These elements are durable and can withstand the temperatures required for thermal transfer printing operations. The elements have a porous substrate and a single dry opacifying layer that is derived from a foamed composition. They also have a thermally transferred colorant image and can have a decorative pattern applied to either or both sides. The foamed, opacifying elements have low levels of opacifying colorants that are not damaged by high temperatures, reducing the escape of colorant and its effect on other materials. They also enable more efficient thermal colorant transfer.

Problems solved by technology

Draperies made from fabrics and printed as described above to create a desired visual effect are generally ineffective for preventing a substantial quantity of light penetration into a room from outside sources resulting in a corresponding undesirable level of illumination where light is not needed.

Costs to fabricate light-blocking draperies (lined with a blackout material) are higher, compared to that of single-textile or unlined draperies, due to added expense of creating a blackout liner material and labor for attaching the blackout liner material to the face fabric.

These multi-layer blackout liners are sufficiently impermeable to light but unsuitable for thermal transfer printing.

They are prone to substantial off-gassing thereby producing unacceptable levels of noxious fumes at the temperatures required to sublime and transfer sublimable colorants.

High temperatures may also cause multi-layer blackout materials to suffer delamination or loss of adhesion between layers.

Poor image quality due to incomplete and inconsistent transfer of the sublimable inks from donor elements to multi-layer blackout liners is commonly reported.

Such problems can arise with multi-layer blackout liners known in the art even those that comprise polyester or another synthetic fabric including a blend, because of the continuous layer of sandwiched carbon black that can absorb heat and thereby act as a heat sink during the intended sublimation process.

These unwanted effects could arise in metallized blackout curtains as well.